Help with Outdoor Shoot... at DVinfo.net

Tim Polster · March 11th, 2007, 03:11 PM

Hello,

I have a project in a few weeks that will mainly be shot outdoors.

We looked at locations yesterday and most will be be a pond or in the woods.

I have not shot a lot outdoors and wanted to get some opinions about the need for lighting.

The project is about local wildlife in a community and there will be an interviewer and an expert in most of the shots, using two or three cameras.

I would think since there are two people involved, powered lighting would give me more options to work with compared to reflectors since we will have to shoot at different times of the day.

There is a budget for a generator rental btw.

What do you think?

Do I use reflectors only or lights?

One other consideration is that without the generator, I would need to get more battery power for my cameras as I only have one battery belt right now.

Thanks for your input.

Jack D. Hubbard · March 11th, 2007, 04:22 PM

Tim,

How about renting HMI's instead of using a generator. They are daylight and work well. How large and area and what subjects are you lighting?
jh

Richard Andrewski · March 11th, 2007, 06:17 PM

I think he still needs a generator for the locations he's going to. HMI's use power also. Personally I'd seriously consider reflectors unless your going to have a huge crew, big budget and all that. If your shooting at night then of course, you may need extra lighting.

Tim Polster · March 11th, 2007, 06:46 PM

Thanks for your replies.

My main concern is going with reflectors only and getting to the job and not getting the image that I want.

Renting a whisper quiet trailor generator will be $450 for the day, but would be worth it to me to have good audio and light where I might need it.

I was thinking of renting some flo's as I only own an Omni, 2 totas & 2 pro lights.

When filters are put in front of these lights, the output has a hard time competing with sunlight.

I will look into HMI lights as well.

I will be lighting people (2) in various settings, some in shade, some in sunlight.

Last time I shot an interview outside I had to stop down to expose for the background, which created a real need for subject illumination, which i don't know if a reflector would give enough light.

Thanks for any more help.

Richard Andrewski · March 11th, 2007, 08:45 PM

As you said, the fluorescents would have a hard time competing with the daylight (even without filters). They might be great in the shade though.

Out of the shade and in these situations there's usually a silk or some kind of sunblock overhead to guard against the direct sun then they come back and add what's necessary. Anything from just reflectors to several 18K HMI's to generate their own artificial and controlled studio environment outside. You can really spend a lot of time and money getting a super pro look outside. You'll have to think it through pretty well before you go out there, have the plan, know how many people you'll need to help you, what equipment, generators, etc.

Kevin Randolph · March 11th, 2007, 10:52 PM

Check out these two links, Tim...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=88564

http://www.efplighting.com/?Outdoor_Interviews

Tim Polster · March 12th, 2007, 08:26 AM

Thanks Kevin!

Great information.

I can see the baseball player setup working well for my situation.

Christopher Witz · March 12th, 2007, 09:12 AM

http://www.dazian.com/cgi-bin/page.p...=117&cat_id=45

these guy's have the coolest stuff!

I buy all my fabs from them... they do all the broadway theater stuff to!

Ralph Keyser · March 14th, 2007, 01:19 PM

Reflectors can certainly provide you enough light, but they will need to be adjusted every 10 minutes or so. It's more work, but reflectors are cheap, light, and easy to lug around. I would go for lights myself and HMI's are the answer for outdoors. There's also a fair amount of grip equipment needed to tame sunlight and sun lit exteriors.

Also, when working with a generator, don't forget to order the right distribution to go with it. You don't want to be working right on top of the generator. They're quiet, but not silent.

Tim Polster · March 14th, 2007, 09:46 PM

Thanks.

I found a diesel generator with the distribution box for about $150 a day.

I will also rent a couple of HMI's for the shoot as well.

My Omni and Totas just are not up to outdoor work.

Paying more and having more control over the outcome is worth it to me.

March 11th, 2007, 03:11 PM	#1
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Help with Outdoor Shoot... Hello, I have a project in a few weeks that will mainly be shot outdoors. We looked at locations yesterday and most will be be a pond or in the woods. I have not shot a lot outdoors and wanted to get some opinions about the need for lighting. The project is about local wildlife in a community and there will be an interviewer and an expert in most of the shots, using two or three cameras. I would think since there are two people involved, powered lighting would give me more options to work with compared to reflectors since we will have to shoot at different times of the day. There is a budget for a generator rental btw. What do you think? Do I use reflectors only or lights? One other consideration is that without the generator, I would need to get more battery power for my cameras as I only have one battery belt right now. Thanks for your input.

March 11th, 2007, 04:22 PM	#2
Jack D. Hubbard Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Menlo Park, CA Posts: 342	HMI's? Tim, How about renting HMI's instead of using a generator. They are daylight and work well. How large and area and what subjects are you lighting? jh

March 11th, 2007, 06:17 PM	#3
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	I think he still needs a generator for the locations he's going to. HMI's use power also. Personally I'd seriously consider reflectors unless your going to have a huge crew, big budget and all that. If your shooting at night then of course, you may need extra lighting. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz

March 11th, 2007, 08:45 PM	#5
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	As you said, the fluorescents would have a hard time competing with the daylight (even without filters). They might be great in the shade though. Out of the shade and in these situations there's usually a silk or some kind of sunblock overhead to guard against the direct sun then they come back and add what's necessary. Anything from just reflectors to several 18K HMI's to generate their own artificial and controlled studio environment outside. You can really spend a lot of time and money getting a super pro look outside. You'll have to think it through pretty well before you go out there, have the plan, know how many people you'll need to help you, what equipment, generators, etc. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz

March 11th, 2007, 10:52 PM	#6
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	Check out these two links, Tim... http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=88564 http://www.efplighting.com/?Outdoor_Interviews __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

March 11th, 2007, 06:46 PM	#4
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks for your replies. My main concern is going with reflectors only and getting to the job and not getting the image that I want. Renting a whisper quiet trailor generator will be $450 for the day, but would be worth it to me to have good audio and light where I might need it. I was thinking of renting some flo's as I only own an Omni, 2 totas & 2 pro lights. When filters are put in front of these lights, the output has a hard time competing with sunlight. I will look into HMI lights as well. I will be lighting people (2) in various settings, some in shade, some in sunlight. Last time I shot an interview outside I had to stop down to expose for the background, which created a real need for subject illumination, which i don't know if a reflector would give enough light. Thanks for any more help.

March 12th, 2007, 08:26 AM	#7
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks Kevin! Great information. I can see the baseball player setup working well for my situation.

March 12th, 2007, 09:12 AM	#8
Christopher Witz Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 591	http://www.dazian.com/cgi-bin/page.p...=117&cat_id=45 these guy's have the coolest stuff! I buy all my fabs from them... they do all the broadway theater stuff to!

March 14th, 2007, 01:19 PM	#9
Ralph Keyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 287	Reflectors can certainly provide you enough light, but they will need to be adjusted every 10 minutes or so. It's more work, but reflectors are cheap, light, and easy to lug around. I would go for lights myself and HMI's are the answer for outdoors. There's also a fair amount of grip equipment needed to tame sunlight and sun lit exteriors. Also, when working with a generator, don't forget to order the right distribution to go with it. You don't want to be working right on top of the generator. They're quiet, but not silent.

March 14th, 2007, 09:46 PM	#10
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks. I found a diesel generator with the distribution box for about $150 a day. I will also rent a couple of HMI's for the shoot as well. My Omni and Totas just are not up to outdoor work. Paying more and having more control over the outcome is worth it to me.