Getting started with lights, I could do with some help. at DVinfo.net

Steve Mellor · June 16th, 2009, 04:53 AM

OK, so I'm somewhat new to this and I'm trying to read posts to get ideas on what I should be using but I am totally lost.

I am breaking it down by scene. The first thing I need to shoot is a home gym. I have an idea about how I'm going to achieve this.

Black out the window.
Two lights right in front of the window (one with a 'blinds' gobo effect).
One, soft, fill light (probably a reflector actually) on the face.

Would that work? What kind of lights would be best for that.

My initial idea was to buy a set of three lights with umbrellas/soft boxes/gels etc. Now I am thinking that this won't be good enough as I also have to shoot the following locations.

Kitchen (day)
Warehouse (night)
Club (night)
Office (day)
Cellar (day)
Supermarket (night)
Street (night)
Car (day)

We are shooting in November in the UK (so it's likely to be overcast) and we were going to use day for night for the street scenes at night. The club is worrying me though, and the cellar and car (although I have got some good pointers from another thread and the car won't be moving).

Any and all advice is welcomed.

Philip Ulanowsky · June 18th, 2009, 02:10 PM

The range of situations you indicate is, at least potentially, enormous in its requirements, depending on how much you will need to light and to what effect. for example, shooting in a warehouse could mean using existing practicals supplemented by local additions; vast lighting to fill the place with adequate light for, say, a medium aperture, or a very small kit to light small places within the warehouse. The budget for the lighting could run from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.

In short, more information, please.

Richard Gooderick · June 19th, 2009, 01:54 AM

You are trying to do so much with so little experience or knowledge. In your shoes I would try to find someone with lighting skills to help out.

Shaun Roemich · June 19th, 2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Mellor

One, soft, fill light (probably a reflector actually) on the face.

One light on the most important thing in the scene? Assuming you aren't also getting light from your "window side" light(s) on your subject, ICK!

Your subject is ALWAYS the most important thing in the scene and should be lit accordingly. Background and effects lights should come AFTER the fact, using what you have left.

This is the same as those "hot rodders" that put a brand new paint job with flames et al over top of a rusted out car body. Take care of the "meat and potatoes" first, then go for the "gravy".

Bill Pryor · June 21st, 2009, 11:35 AM

This is not a good project to learn about lighting from scratch. I agree with that second post--you should find somebody with experience. Take him to all the locations, then he can rent whatever you need for the specific location.

Max Allen · June 27th, 2009, 12:54 AM

There's a way to shoot with enough lights, and a way to do it with no money. If you don't have money for more lights shoot with available light, use home made reflectors, correction gels on existing lights, flashlights for background elements... I'm sure you can find many great tips in this forum. Rule of thumb with minimal lights... go for the subject and then separate them from the background. More isn't necessarily always better.

June 16th, 2009, 04:53 AM	#1
Steve Mellor Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gloucester, UK Posts: 34	Getting started with lights, I could do with some help. OK, so I'm somewhat new to this and I'm trying to read posts to get ideas on what I should be using but I am totally lost. I am breaking it down by scene. The first thing I need to shoot is a home gym. I have an idea about how I'm going to achieve this. Black out the window. Two lights right in front of the window (one with a 'blinds' gobo effect). One, soft, fill light (probably a reflector actually) on the face. Would that work? What kind of lights would be best for that. My initial idea was to buy a set of three lights with umbrellas/soft boxes/gels etc. Now I am thinking that this won't be good enough as I also have to shoot the following locations. Kitchen (day) Warehouse (night) Club (night) Office (day) Cellar (day) Supermarket (night) Street (night) Car (day) We are shooting in November in the UK (so it's likely to be overcast) and we were going to use day for night for the street scenes at night. The club is worrying me though, and the cellar and car (although I have got some good pointers from another thread and the car won't be moving). Any and all advice is welcomed.

June 18th, 2009, 02:10 PM	#2
Philip Ulanowsky Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Purcellville, VA Posts: 55	Lights dependent The range of situations you indicate is, at least potentially, enormous in its requirements, depending on how much you will need to light and to what effect. for example, shooting in a warehouse could mean using existing practicals supplemented by local additions; vast lighting to fill the place with adequate light for, say, a medium aperture, or a very small kit to light small places within the warehouse. The budget for the lighting could run from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. In short, more information, please.

June 19th, 2009, 01:54 AM	#3
Richard Gooderick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 795	You are trying to do so much with so little experience or knowledge. In your shoes I would try to find someone with lighting skills to help out. __________________ http://www.gooderick.com

June 21st, 2009, 11:35 AM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	This is not a good project to learn about lighting from scratch. I agree with that second post--you should find somebody with experience. Take him to all the locations, then he can rent whatever you need for the specific location.

June 27th, 2009, 12:54 AM	#6
Max Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NY Posts: 186	There's a way to shoot with enough lights, and a way to do it with no money. If you don't have money for more lights shoot with available light, use home made reflectors, correction gels on existing lights, flashlights for background elements... I'm sure you can find many great tips in this forum. Rule of thumb with minimal lights... go for the subject and then separate them from the background. More isn't necessarily always better.