Shooting White Cyclorama/cove with V1U at DVinfo.net

Josh Hayes · July 17th, 2007, 02:36 PM

This will be my first time filming a white cyclorama for a studio shoot with my V1U, and I was wondering if anyone out there has done so yet? Are their any tips and tricks you've learned along the way, or simply basic key points to stress.
I've lit quite a few greenscreens, and I'm hoping that a similar lighting approach (2 1k for the background {white cove} and a standard 3 light kit for the subject in the foreground {2 people in an optometry office setting}).

Any knowledge on the matter (especially with regards to using my V1U) would be very useful.

Marcus Marchesseault · July 17th, 2007, 06:58 PM

It sounds like you are on the right track. I shot a whit background and did not have enough light for the cyc. It ended up light grey instead of white. It was still good enough that color correction could fix it, but I would have preferred more light. The V1 needs a lot of light and to make pure white will take lots. If you have extra lights for the background, bring them along just in case. I'm guessing 2K will be enough, but if extra lights are available it might be prudent to have them in the car.

If possible, report back here what light worked. I'm curious to the ratio of light needed between talent and white background. My job was unpaid so I could not rent extra lights and the lights at the location had bad lamps so I only used my own kit. It just wasn't enough to light a 3-person interview and the background.

Benjamin Hill · July 18th, 2007, 08:16 AM

I agree with Marcus, you can't have too many lights for the task. Still easier than a chroma key set if you ask me.

For a children's video I did last winter we constructed a large white cyc out of seamless paper and used the waveform monitor to make sure it had even lighting, and deliberately overexposed it to pure white. Then we lit the subjects separately, about 20'-25' off the cyc. All in all probably 15-20K watts of light used for the setup.

Josh Hayes · July 18th, 2007, 03:33 PM

thanks for the heads up guys. I'll shoot it tomorrow and once the footage turns out I'll let you know. And I'll be sure to bring along some extra lights!

July 17th, 2007, 02:36 PM	#1
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	Shooting White Cyclorama/cove with V1U This will be my first time filming a white cyclorama for a studio shoot with my V1U, and I was wondering if anyone out there has done so yet? Are their any tips and tricks you've learned along the way, or simply basic key points to stress. I've lit quite a few greenscreens, and I'm hoping that a similar lighting approach (2 1k for the background {white cove} and a standard 3 light kit for the subject in the foreground {2 people in an optometry office setting}). Any knowledge on the matter (especially with regards to using my V1U) would be very useful.

July 18th, 2007, 08:16 AM	#3
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	I agree with Marcus, you can't have too many lights for the task. Still easier than a chroma key set if you ask me. For a children's video I did last winter we constructed a large white cyc out of seamless paper and used the waveform monitor to make sure it had even lighting, and deliberately overexposed it to pure white. Then we lit the subjects separately, about 20'-25' off the cyc. All in all probably 15-20K watts of light used for the setup. Attached Images __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

July 18th, 2007, 03:33 PM	#4
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	re: thanks for the heads up guys. I'll shoot it tomorrow and once the footage turns out I'll let you know. And I'll be sure to bring along some extra lights!

July 17th, 2007, 06:58 PM	#2
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	It sounds like you are on the right track. I shot a whit background and did not have enough light for the cyc. It ended up light grey instead of white. It was still good enough that color correction could fix it, but I would have preferred more light. The V1 needs a lot of light and to make pure white will take lots. If you have extra lights for the background, bring them along just in case. I'm guessing 2K will be enough, but if extra lights are available it might be prudent to have them in the car. If possible, report back here what light worked. I'm curious to the ratio of light needed between talent and white background. My job was unpaid so I could not rent extra lights and the lights at the location had bad lamps so I only used my own kit. It just wasn't enough to light a 3-person interview and the background.