Looking for suggestions at DVinfo.net

Michael Best · October 12th, 2006, 06:27 PM

Shooting 24p dv, location is a nursing home, outdoor light not a factor, the ceilings have 24" x 24" flourescents all throughout and are the main lighting of the interior. They are not intense but they are there. There will be many shots, wide, medium, close, etc. First, for wide, what concerns am I facing with just the fact that they are flourescents and shooting DV. Second, if I attempt to create some contrast in closer shots how will say, a bounced 650 fresnel mix? Should I maybe employ some CTB? Forget fresnels and use Kino's with daylight bulbs? Any/all suggestions are most appreciated..

Matt Irwin · October 12th, 2006, 07:07 PM

First, you should find out what type of coating the practical flos use. Most likely they're cool white (~4200K).

Mixing tungsten with fluorescents can be tricky... it's definitely a specific "look" not really suitable for all story types.

There are a few ways to deal with the color (let's say they're cool white)...
-Replace the tubes with kino tubes (very expensive)
-Gel the fluorescents with Full Minus Green and (usually) 1/4-1/2 CTB to get in the ballpark of daylight balance
-Gel the fluorescents with Fluorofilter for tungsten balance, then use tungsten floor lights.
-Use kino flos as your floor lights and relamp them with cool white tubes to match the practicals, then white balance.
-If there's a window, you can kill the fluorescents and bash (fake or real) daylight in for a different kind of mood.
-Kill the flos and rig your own tungsten units above with wall spreaders.
-Or something else i'm undoubtedly forgetting...

A few options for contrast...
-If the fixtures are grouped together so more than one switch controls the ceiling lights, just turn off part of the lights to so half the room is lit from above, half not.
-If the flos are all on one switch, you can ladder up to the fixtures and pull tubes from the harnesses. Pull tubes on one side of the room and leave the other side alone.
-ND some of the fixtures to taste.
-Kill the flos and rig your own lights how you want.

Are these bare-tube practicals or do they have lucite panels? Having some diffusion gel standing by might be a good idea...

If it were me, I'd probably use kinos lamped with cool whites and white balance. Maybe pull a couple tubes from the practicals. Simple. Fast. Yes, it does skew the colors a bit, but I've gotten away with it before issue-free.

Michael Best · October 12th, 2006, 07:43 PM

Nice post, thanks for taking the time. There are hundred's of them, they have egg crates on them and of course I cannot disturb the environment, it's a real assisted living home full of well, you know.. I have to maintain the given lighting and yet need contrast, I've got Arri's, Kino's, gels, and fortunately can avoid all windows, (you'd have to see it). Being fully populated I can't tear the place apart, I have to 'add' what ever I can to achieve, in other words, the existing light stays..

Matt Irwin · October 12th, 2006, 08:03 PM

In that case, I'd go with Kino/Cool Whites and, if you need them, gel the Arris with Full Plus Green and 1/2 (?) CTB to match the cool whites.

Michael Best · October 12th, 2006, 08:08 PM

Urghh, lacking the green gels, Matt, you're a gem, shoot starts Saturday 6 am..

Matt Irwin · October 12th, 2006, 08:19 PM

Heheh, glad I could help. Good luck with the shoot.

Joe Carney · October 13th, 2006, 03:55 PM

No issues with flickering at 24p?

Charles Hohenshilt · October 14th, 2006, 06:06 AM

No flicker problems at 24p.

Unless the flows are damaged.

Cheers

Bring pleanty of rubber matt (no pun intended). The locals don't see as well as they use to.

Michael Best · October 14th, 2006, 07:22 PM

Whew....was able to get half the main room closed off and killed the flos. Shot 3200, happy indeed.. Thanks for the help

October 12th, 2006, 06:27 PM	#1
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Looking for suggestions Shooting 24p dv, location is a nursing home, outdoor light not a factor, the ceilings have 24" x 24" flourescents all throughout and are the main lighting of the interior. They are not intense but they are there. There will be many shots, wide, medium, close, etc. First, for wide, what concerns am I facing with just the fact that they are flourescents and shooting DV. Second, if I attempt to create some contrast in closer shots how will say, a bounced 650 fresnel mix? Should I maybe employ some CTB? Forget fresnels and use Kino's with daylight bulbs? Any/all suggestions are most appreciated..

October 12th, 2006, 07:07 PM	#2
Matt Irwin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 327	First, you should find out what type of coating the practical flos use. Most likely they're cool white (~4200K). Mixing tungsten with fluorescents can be tricky... it's definitely a specific "look" not really suitable for all story types. There are a few ways to deal with the color (let's say they're cool white)... -Replace the tubes with kino tubes (very expensive) -Gel the fluorescents with Full Minus Green and (usually) 1/4-1/2 CTB to get in the ballpark of daylight balance -Gel the fluorescents with Fluorofilter for tungsten balance, then use tungsten floor lights. -Use kino flos as your floor lights and relamp them with cool white tubes to match the practicals, then white balance. -If there's a window, you can kill the fluorescents and bash (fake or real) daylight in for a different kind of mood. -Kill the flos and rig your own tungsten units above with wall spreaders. -Or something else i'm undoubtedly forgetting... A few options for contrast... -If the fixtures are grouped together so more than one switch controls the ceiling lights, just turn off part of the lights to so half the room is lit from above, half not. -If the flos are all on one switch, you can ladder up to the fixtures and pull tubes from the harnesses. Pull tubes on one side of the room and leave the other side alone. -ND some of the fixtures to taste. -Kill the flos and rig your own lights how you want. Are these bare-tube practicals or do they have lucite panels? Having some diffusion gel standing by might be a good idea... If it were me, I'd probably use kinos lamped with cool whites and white balance. Maybe pull a couple tubes from the practicals. Simple. Fast. Yes, it does skew the colors a bit, but I've gotten away with it before issue-free. __________________ Matt Irwin DP / matt.irwincine.com

October 12th, 2006, 08:03 PM	#4
Matt Irwin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 327	In that case, I'd go with Kino/Cool Whites and, if you need them, gel the Arris with Full Plus Green and 1/2 (?) CTB to match the cool whites. __________________ Matt Irwin DP / matt.irwincine.com

October 12th, 2006, 08:19 PM	#6
Matt Irwin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 327	Heheh, glad I could help. Good luck with the shoot. __________________ Matt Irwin DP / matt.irwincine.com

October 13th, 2006, 03:55 PM	#7
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	No issues with flickering at 24p? __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

October 12th, 2006, 07:43 PM	#3
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Nice post, thanks for taking the time. There are hundred's of them, they have egg crates on them and of course I cannot disturb the environment, it's a real assisted living home full of well, you know.. I have to maintain the given lighting and yet need contrast, I've got Arri's, Kino's, gels, and fortunately can avoid all windows, (you'd have to see it). Being fully populated I can't tear the place apart, I have to 'add' what ever I can to achieve, in other words, the existing light stays..

October 12th, 2006, 08:08 PM	#5
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Urghh, lacking the green gels, Matt, you're a gem, shoot starts Saturday 6 am..

October 14th, 2006, 06:06 AM	#8
Charles Hohenshilt New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manalapan, NJ 07726 Posts: 17	No flicker problems at 24p. Unless the flows are damaged. Cheers Bring pleanty of rubber matt (no pun intended). The locals don't see as well as they use to. __________________ To capture an image, any camera needs a certain amount of illumination for proper exposure. Then start taking light away.

October 14th, 2006, 07:22 PM	#9
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Whew....was able to get half the main room closed off and killed the flos. Shot 3200, happy indeed.. Thanks for the help