I am Second lighting? at DVinfo.net

Lalo Alvidrez · March 25th, 2011, 02:15 PM

I am wanting to duplicate the lighting for I am second. I believe there is an octobox above the subject but thats just a guess. What do you think is the setup for this style of lighting?

Mikael Couderc · March 26th, 2011, 02:41 AM

I'm guessing you won't have many answers if you don't give us a few more details.
I for one, have no idea of what you're talking about, except that you're trying to replicate a lighting setup you seem to like.
If you're finding it hard to describe what you're after, why not try and post a picture of the setup or scene you like?

edit: On second thought, maybe I didn't get what you're after cos' I'm not from the US. Is 'I Am Second' a tv series? A movie?
Still, a picture would help...

Mike Watson · March 27th, 2011, 12:40 PM

I am from the US and have also never heard of it.

But I googled it, and came up with this video (first hit):

YouTube - Brian "Head" Welch - I am Second

That seems to show a kino-style fluorescent shooting almost straight down on the subject.

Lalo Alvidrez · March 27th, 2011, 02:25 PM

Sorry about the vague description. Yes it's a web site called I am second and they have interviews with celebrities in a dark room with one light overhead subject sitting on a white chair.

Charles Papert · March 27th, 2011, 02:59 PM

2x4 (or 4x4, hard to tell) Kino with egg crate, and diffusion taped on the doors.

Nice simple scheme and looks great. Good choice of chair also. Nice clean look.

Bill Davis · March 27th, 2011, 02:59 PM

The fixture (as seen in a couple of the shots) was a boom flown 4 bank KinoFlow. It clearly has a 40% egg crate in front of the tubes, THEN they used diffusion over the front of the box. (Which is a little odd since the purpose of the grid is to RESTRICT the beam angle - while the purpose of the diffusion is to SPREAD the same beam angle!) -- I guess the DP or LD tried it both ways and best liked result that this rig delivered.

I think the other important thing to note is like in all interesting lighting setups, the WHOLE is greater than the sum of the parts.

For instance, without the stark white beads in the subject's dreads there would be NO shape to his hair. Similarly, notice that as he leans forward, his entire face and upper body functionally disappears. Useful in a controlled setting where you can do a re-take if the subject leans forward at a critical moment in his story - but a REAL hassle if you don't have control of the talent and the situation so that you can re-shoot if the severe lighting angle starts to work AGAINST your interview purpose.

It's a risky setup. But very effective for the particular content and the look of the subject in this example.

March 25th, 2011, 02:15 PM	#1
Lalo Alvidrez Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, Tx. Posts: 227	I am Second lighting? I am wanting to duplicate the lighting for I am second. I believe there is an octobox above the subject but thats just a guess. What do you think is the setup for this style of lighting?

March 26th, 2011, 02:41 AM	#2
Mikael Couderc Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Montpellier, France Posts: 81	Re: I am Second lighting? I'm guessing you won't have many answers if you don't give us a few more details. I for one, have no idea of what you're talking about, except that you're trying to replicate a lighting setup you seem to like. If you're finding it hard to describe what you're after, why not try and post a picture of the setup or scene you like? edit: On second thought, maybe I didn't get what you're after cos' I'm not from the US. Is 'I Am Second' a tv series? A movie? Still, a picture would help...

March 27th, 2011, 12:40 PM	#3
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: I am Second lighting? I am from the US and have also never heard of it. But I googled it, and came up with this video (first hit): YouTube - Brian "Head" Welch - I am Second That seems to show a kino-style fluorescent shooting almost straight down on the subject.

March 27th, 2011, 02:25 PM	#4
Lalo Alvidrez Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, Tx. Posts: 227	Re: I am Second lighting? Sorry about the vague description. Yes it's a web site called I am second and they have interviews with celebrities in a dark room with one light overhead subject sitting on a white chair.

March 27th, 2011, 02:59 PM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: I am Second lighting? 2x4 (or 4x4, hard to tell) Kino with egg crate, and diffusion taped on the doors. Nice simple scheme and looks great. Good choice of chair also. Nice clean look. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 27th, 2011, 02:59 PM	#6
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Re: I am Second lighting? The fixture (as seen in a couple of the shots) was a boom flown 4 bank KinoFlow. It clearly has a 40% egg crate in front of the tubes, THEN they used diffusion over the front of the box. (Which is a little odd since the purpose of the grid is to RESTRICT the beam angle - while the purpose of the diffusion is to SPREAD the same beam angle!) -- I guess the DP or LD tried it both ways and best liked result that this rig delivered. I think the other important thing to note is like in all interesting lighting setups, the WHOLE is greater than the sum of the parts. For instance, without the stark white beads in the subject's dreads there would be NO shape to his hair. Similarly, notice that as he leans forward, his entire face and upper body functionally disappears. Useful in a controlled setting where you can do a re-take if the subject leans forward at a critical moment in his story - but a REAL hassle if you don't have control of the talent and the situation so that you can re-shoot if the severe lighting angle starts to work AGAINST your interview purpose. It's a risky setup. But very effective for the particular content and the look of the subject in this example. __________________ Classroom editing instructor? Check out www.starteditingnow.com Turnkey editor training content including licensed training footage for classroom use.