Lights ann z1 for a doc on monday .... at DVinfo.net

Marcus Martell · February 27th, 2009, 04:29 PM

On monday il'll shoot a doc scene (interview) with my z1 in a room very dark in a old castle.....
I know that i'll find 1 ianiro light (500w);maybe i'll bring with me a few papers of transparent cook paper(i don't know how to write in english) as spunglass.....
How do u suggest to set the light for the interview?I mean with the light pointing in the face of the interviewed guy or how?
What if i had 2 ianiro lights?
Thx in advance

Chris Swanberg · February 28th, 2009, 12:53 AM

Set one light up in front of the subject 45 degrees off to one side and 45 degrees up. Fill in the dark side of the face with a reflector using spill light from the first light we just discussed. If you can, set up the other light behind and above the subject, and either using a snoot or some foil to make one, direct the light to the hair and shoulders. If you can dim the one behind from 500 watts to about half that it should be fine. That's my simple advice. If you can soften the front key light so much the better.

Marcus Martell · February 28th, 2009, 06:54 AM

Thank u Chris;if i had another light(a total of 3 lights) i could put one at 45 degrees right from the camera(the key one), the second at 45 degrees left of the camera(the fill light); and the third at the back of the interviewer pointing the shouldes of the guy right?
This is the 3 point light trick right?
Sorry my friend: what's"snoot or some foil "?
Sorry if i don't understand all the english words....

Mike Barber · March 1st, 2009, 01:38 AM

The Standard 3-Point Lighting Technique | DIYPhotography.net
Three Point Lighting Tutorial
Three-point lighting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These are all in english, but should help.

Vasco Dones · March 1st, 2009, 09:30 AM

My favorite "el cheapo & lightweight" solution:
one light set up as Chris says. Period.
It works extremely well for a truly dramatic effect
(except when your talent is a Beauty Queen unwilling to show
her skin imperfections),
and I think it might fit your "old castle" environment.

I use a Lowel ProLight
(Lowel | Pro Pack One Light Kit (120-240VAC/12-30VDC) | P2-102
it's focusable, and its barndoors are "expandable"
(or "compressable") so that you can very precisely focus your light onto the talent,
leaving a wonderful dark background...

For extra drama, you might add a small "emergency light"
(I usually carry with me this little Bescor:
Bescor | VS-65 AC/DC On Camera Light | VS65 | B&H Photo Video
outfitted with a 100W lamp)
focused at a small, interesting detail in the background
(a few stones of the castle walls, a fireplace, you pick it...)

It doesn't get any cheaper and easier...

Vasco -
always working solo,
hence convinced that three-point-lighting is wonderful
for real crews (2 people or more)...

Mike Barber · March 1st, 2009, 08:39 PM

by the way, sounds like an interesting shoot. Mind the audio in those old echo chambers that are castles! ;-)

good luck!

Chris Swanberg · March 1st, 2009, 10:26 PM

If you elect to use one light, that reflector fill on the other side is very important, and also it helps for most subjects if it is soft. You will need to get that reflector as close to the subject as your framing will allow too.

Vasco... a "snoot" is like a cylinder or cone that carefullyconcentrates the light on a small area... avoids light spill and emphasizes one certain feature or close together features, like the back and side of a head, for example.

Vasco Dones · March 2nd, 2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Swanberg

Vasco... a "snoot" is like a cylinder or cone that carefullyconcentrates the light on a small area... avoids light spill and emphasizes one certain feature or close together features, like the back and side of a head, for example.

Chris,
... a "snoot", that's what it is! Thanks again.
Being a foreigner, this is exactly the kind of info I badly need.
It will prevent me from walking into B&H's store and pathetically ask for
"some sort of light-funnel, mmmh..., you see what I mean?"
:-)

A "snoot"... a "snoot"... a "snoot"... How long will I remember this thing?

Best

Vasco

February 27th, 2009, 04:29 PM	#1
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Lights ann z1 for a doc on monday .... On monday il'll shoot a doc scene (interview) with my z1 in a room very dark in a old castle..... I know that i'll find 1 ianiro light (500w);maybe i'll bring with me a few papers of transparent cook paper(i don't know how to write in english) as spunglass..... How do u suggest to set the light for the interview?I mean with the light pointing in the face of the interviewed guy or how? What if i had 2 ianiro lights? Thx in advance

March 1st, 2009, 01:38 AM	#4
Mike Barber Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 731	Google is your friend "-) The Standard 3-Point Lighting Technique \| DIYPhotography.net Three Point Lighting Tutorial Three-point lighting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia These are all in english, but should help. __________________ Mike Barber "I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

March 1st, 2009, 09:30 AM	#5
Vasco Dones Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: El Cerrito, CA Posts: 266	My favorite "el cheapo & lightweight" solution: one light set up as Chris says. Period. It works extremely well for a truly dramatic effect (except when your talent is a Beauty Queen unwilling to show her skin imperfections), and I think it might fit your "old castle" environment. I use a Lowel ProLight (Lowel \| Pro Pack One Light Kit (120-240VAC/12-30VDC) \| P2-102 it's focusable, and its barndoors are "expandable" (or "compressable") so that you can very precisely focus your light onto the talent, leaving a wonderful dark background... For extra drama, you might add a small "emergency light" (I usually carry with me this little Bescor: Bescor \| VS-65 AC/DC On Camera Light \| VS65 \| B&H Photo Video outfitted with a 100W lamp) focused at a small, interesting detail in the background (a few stones of the castle walls, a fireplace, you pick it...) It doesn't get any cheaper and easier... Vasco - always working solo, hence convinced that three-point-lighting is wonderful for real crews (2 people or more)... __________________ www.donesmedia.net bricioledamerica.blogspot.com (in Italian)

March 1st, 2009, 08:39 PM	#6
Mike Barber Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 731	by the way, sounds like an interesting shoot. Mind the audio in those old echo chambers that are castles! ;-) good luck! __________________ Mike Barber "I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

February 28th, 2009, 12:53 AM	#2
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Set one light up in front of the subject 45 degrees off to one side and 45 degrees up. Fill in the dark side of the face with a reflector using spill light from the first light we just discussed. If you can, set up the other light behind and above the subject, and either using a snoot or some foil to make one, direct the light to the hair and shoulders. If you can dim the one behind from 500 watts to about half that it should be fine. That's my simple advice. If you can soften the front key light so much the better.

February 28th, 2009, 06:54 AM	#3
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Thank u Chris;if i had another light(a total of 3 lights) i could put one at 45 degrees right from the camera(the key one), the second at 45 degrees left of the camera(the fill light); and the third at the back of the interviewer pointing the shouldes of the guy right? This is the 3 point light trick right? Sorry my friend: what's"snoot or some foil "? Sorry if i don't understand all the english words....

March 1st, 2009, 10:26 PM	#7
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	If you elect to use one light, that reflector fill on the other side is very important, and also it helps for most subjects if it is soft. You will need to get that reflector as close to the subject as your framing will allow too. Vasco... a "snoot" is like a cylinder or cone that carefullyconcentrates the light on a small area... avoids light spill and emphasizes one certain feature or close together features, like the back and side of a head, for example.