Advice for wedding dance at DVinfo.net

Chris Harvey · May 24th, 2004, 07:14 PM

I am taping my first wedding dance soon using my new Bescor 50 watt (dimmable) light. I will be using this light with a GL1. The dance floor will be dark besides the DJs lighting. My question is this, how close will I need to be to the couple dancing with a 50 watt light in order to get decent footage? Thanks for your help.

Patrick Gault · May 24th, 2004, 08:35 PM

Do some tests. Find a friend. Stand in a dark room.
Fire up the camera and the light. See what works best.

When you start making some profit, buy a second light and a fairly tall stand. Now you have a back light. This will make your wedding videos stand out from everyone else's. Just be careful to position yourself to avoid flair.

Rick Bravo · May 24th, 2004, 08:53 PM

50 watts doesn't sound like much but, up close, it is a Flamethrower!

You will probably have to dim the light considerably, especially if you are going to be up close and personal. I know that it is difficult, but try to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Good luck, RB.

Don Bloom · May 24th, 2004, 09:06 PM

I have a Bescor 50W non dimmable that I use a softbox/diffuser with to bring it down to about 20W and thats plenty at about 10-12 feet using a PD150. For news type stuff I'll go with the full 50W but for most everything at a wedding reception its diffused as described above and it works fine.
Don

May 24th, 2004, 07:14 PM	#1
Chris Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 72	Advice for wedding dance I am taping my first wedding dance soon using my new Bescor 50 watt (dimmable) light. I will be using this light with a GL1. The dance floor will be dark besides the DJs lighting. My question is this, how close will I need to be to the couple dancing with a 50 watt light in order to get decent footage? Thanks for your help.

May 24th, 2004, 08:53 PM	#3
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	How fast is your camera? 50 watts doesn't sound like much but, up close, it is a Flamethrower! You will probably have to dim the light considerably, especially if you are going to be up close and personal. I know that it is difficult, but try to be as unobtrusive as possible. Good luck, RB. __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

May 24th, 2004, 08:35 PM	#2
Patrick Gault Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cereal City USA Posts: 286	Do some tests. Find a friend. Stand in a dark room. Fire up the camera and the light. See what works best. When you start making some profit, buy a second light and a fairly tall stand. Now you have a back light. This will make your wedding videos stand out from everyone else's. Just be careful to position yourself to avoid flair.

May 24th, 2004, 09:06 PM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I have a Bescor 50W non dimmable that I use a softbox/diffuser with to bring it down to about 20W and thats plenty at about 10-12 feet using a PD150. For news type stuff I'll go with the full 50W but for most everything at a wedding reception its diffused as described above and it works fine. Don