Low light shooting without grain at DVinfo.net

Dustin Alcock · January 3rd, 2009, 12:40 AM

I was wondering how to shoot low light scenes without the picture getting all grainy and losing it's clarity?

Example: Cry by Losing September. on Vimeo

So dark yet the quality is perfect. How is this achieved?

Thank you.

-Da Noob

Ken Diewert · January 3rd, 2009, 01:43 AM

Dustin,

That's not low light - it's very strong back-lighting. They probably had to stop down the iris a little. I'm a big fan of back-lighting, but I prefer not to have to stare at 4k worth of hard lighting to get it. You should be able to recreate that shot with a couple of Home Cheapo yellow halogens on stands. It looks like they had a little bounce or something very small in front (but not much).

A low light shot is the girl crying in the bedroom with the window way over-exposed and the room is unlit. They could have brought some light in there - because that shot is pushed and really doesn't look good (IMHO).

Dustin Alcock · January 3rd, 2009, 01:46 AM

I'll do a setup tomorrow night and try that out then. Also just got my HV30 today and it's really my first camera outside of using them in a couple classes so it of course will be a lot of trial and error.

Thanks.

January 3rd, 2009, 12:40 AM	#1
Dustin Alcock Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Jackson, MI Posts: 34	Low light shooting without grain I was wondering how to shoot low light scenes without the picture getting all grainy and losing it's clarity? Example: Cry by Losing September. on Vimeo So dark yet the quality is perfect. How is this achieved? Thank you. -Da Noob __________________ I like cake.

January 3rd, 2009, 01:43 AM	#2
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Dustin, That's not low light - it's very strong back-lighting. They probably had to stop down the iris a little. I'm a big fan of back-lighting, but I prefer not to have to stare at 4k worth of hard lighting to get it. You should be able to recreate that shot with a couple of Home Cheapo yellow halogens on stands. It looks like they had a little bounce or something very small in front (but not much). A low light shot is the girl crying in the bedroom with the window way over-exposed and the room is unlit. They could have brought some light in there - because that shot is pushed and really doesn't look good (IMHO). __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

January 3rd, 2009, 01:46 AM	#3
Dustin Alcock Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Jackson, MI Posts: 34	I'll do a setup tomorrow night and try that out then. Also just got my HV30 today and it's really my first camera outside of using them in a couple classes so it of course will be a lot of trial and error. Thanks. __________________ I like cake.