Bright lights not welcome at DVinfo.net

Sergio Barbosa · September 4th, 2006, 01:00 PM

Hello!

The link that follows shows a very common situation that happens to me, which is shooting a bride walking down (or up) the aisle with her father...
Whenever the church is much darker than the outside, a bright glow invades the picture. Look at the bride's father!!!
Should this happen?!

Note that, for ethical reasons, I blurred, in Photoshop, everyone's faces, but the father's, who is already unrecognizable.

http://somethingdifferent.com.sapo.p...ht%20light.jpg

Is there anyway to avoid this kind of situation?
I had a Sony DVCAM dsr250p, and though this used to happen, it wasn't so obvious (horrible).

Thanks!
Sergio Barbosa.

Scott Jaco · September 4th, 2006, 01:13 PM

Switch the iris to manual mode.

Stephen L. Noe · September 4th, 2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Barbosa

Hello!

The link that follows shows a very common situation that happens to me, which is shooting a bride walking down (or up) the aisle with her father...
Whenever the church is much darker than the outside, a bright glow invades the picture. Look at the bride's father!!!
Should this happen?!

Note that, for ethical reasons, I blurred, in Photoshop, everyone's faces, but the father's, who is already unrecognizable.

http://somethingdifferent.com.sapo.p...ht%20light.jpg

Is there anyway to avoid this kind of situation?
I had a Sony DVCAM dsr250p, and though this used to happen, it wasn't so obvious (horrible).

Thanks!
Sergio Barbosa.

Sergio,

Absolutely there is a way to avoid it. Camera placement. Take a look at the environmental surroundings and set the camera to avoid this scenario and if you can't avoid the scenario completely, maybe let your artistic side take over and take advantage by creating silhouette shots.

S.Noe

Stephan Ahonen · September 4th, 2006, 10:13 PM

Problem: Bright lights produce glare in the image
Solution: Don't frame your shots with bright lights in the background?

Joe Carney · September 4th, 2006, 11:00 PM

Would it be possible to set up a diffusion screen outside the door, far enough to avoid impeeding the procession, but close enough to do the job? Some sort of screen material or even Muslin and some pvc pipe or something similar to hold it,some clamps and some guy ropes? Then the light would work as a natural back light.

Lee Wilson · September 4th, 2006, 11:22 PM

Get someone (an assistant or relative) to slowly and quitely close the church doors after the couple have walked in.

Or....

Get the groom to wear a giant ND filter just over his head.

Joe Carney · September 5th, 2006, 12:58 AM

If you set up some sort of diffusion, you don't have to interfere with the wedding. Client first uber alles.

Sergio Barbosa · September 5th, 2006, 02:47 AM

Hello, and thanks everyone for your answers.
In the first place, Scott, the iris was in manual mode, otherwise, it would probably be darker.
I know... the most obvious way to fix it is to frame differently.
The diffusion screen should work, yet there would always be someone who wouldn't appreciate that... ''a big piece of plastic in front of the church, on my wedding day?!?!?"
Do you think there's a way to tweak the camera settings so that I can close the iris, yet retaining some information on the people walking, and then, in post, brighten them up...that should reduce the glare, right?

Thanks!

Richard Hunter · September 5th, 2006, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Barbosa

Do you think there's a way to tweak the camera settings so that I can close the iris, yet retaining some information on the people walking, and then, in post, brighten them up...that should reduce the glare, right?

Hi Sergio. Yes you should definitely close the iris a bit to prevent the backlight blowing out so much. You could try adjusting the white clip Knee and the black stretch together with this in order to reduce the overall contrast and still keep some detail in the darker areas. If necessary, you could also change the gamma settings and the Master Black level to reduce the contrast further. Then use a curves filter in your NLE to restore the image.

Richard

John Yamamoto · September 5th, 2006, 05:04 AM

I think what i see is good enough
u can always put a ND filter to cut the light at entrance
as a DP i think this is fastest way

but i think overall is very OK,
u may up the fill in a bit, put a huge reflector behind ur camera and on floor

JY

John Yamamoto · September 5th, 2006, 05:05 AM

i mean ND film on entrance not on camera,
u can go to shop sell plastic film to put on glass windows

JY

Lee Wilson · September 5th, 2006, 08:04 AM

Get someone to close the door !

Simple, free, does not involve setting up large sheets of plastic over windows/doors on someones wedding day.

!!??

Jay Yellamaty · September 5th, 2006, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Wilson

Get someone to close the door !

Simple, free, does not involve setting up large sheets of plastic over windows/doors on someones wedding day.

!!??

The voice of wisdom

Joe Carney · September 5th, 2006, 11:19 AM

Closing the door after each and every couple walks through could disrupt the procession (bride and Father of the bride come through last). I wasn't talking about plastic, you could use gossamer curtains to cast a sort of soft 'heavenly' light behind them. Be creative, work with the wedding planner so no one is offended, make it part of the overall 'look' of the wedding. The bride will want everything to look perfect.

Then if all else fails, just close the door :-).

Marc Colemont · September 6th, 2006, 01:06 PM

I treat a wedding like any other shoot.
I always go a few hours before the wedding looking in the church, together with the pastor. I ask him turn on all the lights in the church. Then I measure the different places with a lightmeter. If needed, I discretely place some extra lights (in cooperation with the pastor to make sure he feels good about it). Of course, taping the cables so nobody will notice is needed, and it makes the pastor more comfortable in what you are doing in his church securing the cables before he even can ask a question about it...
I use lights with dimmers and flaps, so they don't beam into somebodies face.
And... I always let the lights burn for at least an half hour @ full. To make sure I don't blow circuit-breakers during the wedding.
While the lights are testing I testout the PA system of the church. If needed I use my own mics and transmit them wireless to the HD100. If the sound system is OK, I setup one wirless Mic on one of the speakers.
Some people ask me, why do you do all this effort. Simply because it makes such a difference in the edited end-result. And I can ask more money for the few weddings a year.

September 4th, 2006, 01:00 PM	#1
Sergio Barbosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 140	Bright lights not welcome Hello! The link that follows shows a very common situation that happens to me, which is shooting a bride walking down (or up) the aisle with her father... Whenever the church is much darker than the outside, a bright glow invades the picture. Look at the bride's father!!! Should this happen?! Note that, for ethical reasons, I blurred, in Photoshop, everyone's faces, but the father's, who is already unrecognizable. http://somethingdifferent.com.sapo.p...ht%20light.jpg Is there anyway to avoid this kind of situation? I had a Sony DVCAM dsr250p, and though this used to happen, it wasn't so obvious (horrible). Thanks! Sergio Barbosa.

September 4th, 2006, 11:00 PM	#5
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Would it be possible to set up a diffusion screen outside the door, far enough to avoid impeeding the procession, but close enough to do the job? Some sort of screen material or even Muslin and some pvc pipe or something similar to hold it,some clamps and some guy ropes? Then the light would work as a natural back light. __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

September 5th, 2006, 12:58 AM	#7
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	If you set up some sort of diffusion, you don't have to interfere with the wedding. Client first uber alles. __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

September 5th, 2006, 05:04 AM	#10
John Yamamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 94	what's wrong with it I think what i see is good enough u can always put a ND filter to cut the light at entrance as a DP i think this is fastest way but i think overall is very OK, u may up the fill in a bit, put a huge reflector behind ur camera and on floor JY

September 5th, 2006, 05:05 AM	#11
John Yamamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 94	i mean ND film on entrance not on camera i mean ND film on entrance not on camera, u can go to shop sell plastic film to put on glass windows JY

September 4th, 2006, 01:13 PM	#2
Scott Jaco Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 471	Switch the iris to manual mode.

September 4th, 2006, 10:13 PM	#4
Stephan Ahonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 512	Problem: Bright lights produce glare in the image Solution: Don't frame your shots with bright lights in the background?

September 4th, 2006, 11:22 PM	#6
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Get someone (an assistant or relative) to slowly and quitely close the church doors after the couple have walked in. Or.... Get the groom to wear a giant ND filter just over his head.

September 5th, 2006, 02:47 AM	#8
Sergio Barbosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 140	Hello, and thanks everyone for your answers. In the first place, Scott, the iris was in manual mode, otherwise, it would probably be darker. I know... the most obvious way to fix it is to frame differently. The diffusion screen should work, yet there would always be someone who wouldn't appreciate that... ''a big piece of plastic in front of the church, on my wedding day?!?!?" Do you think there's a way to tweak the camera settings so that I can close the iris, yet retaining some information on the people walking, and then, in post, brighten them up...that should reduce the glare, right? Thanks!

September 5th, 2006, 08:04 AM	#12
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Get someone to close the door ! Simple, free, does not involve setting up large sheets of plastic over windows/doors on someones wedding day. !!??

September 5th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#14
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Closing the door after each and every couple walks through could disrupt the procession (bride and Father of the bride come through last). I wasn't talking about plastic, you could use gossamer curtains to cast a sort of soft 'heavenly' light behind them. Be creative, work with the wedding planner so no one is offended, make it part of the overall 'look' of the wedding. The bride will want everything to look perfect. Then if all else fails, just close the door :-). __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

September 6th, 2006, 01:06 PM	#15
Marc Colemont Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 695	I treat a wedding like any other shoot. I always go a few hours before the wedding looking in the church, together with the pastor. I ask him turn on all the lights in the church. Then I measure the different places with a lightmeter. If needed, I discretely place some extra lights (in cooperation with the pastor to make sure he feels good about it). Of course, taping the cables so nobody will notice is needed, and it makes the pastor more comfortable in what you are doing in his church securing the cables before he even can ask a question about it... I use lights with dimmers and flaps, so they don't beam into somebodies face. And... I always let the lights burn for at least an half hour @ full. To make sure I don't blow circuit-breakers during the wedding. While the lights are testing I testout the PA system of the church. If needed I use my own mics and transmit them wireless to the HD100. If the sound system is OK, I setup one wirless Mic on one of the speakers. Some people ask me, why do you do all this effort. Simply because it makes such a difference in the edited end-result. And I can ask more money for the few weddings a year.