Lighting and fast shutter speed at DVinfo.net

Dushan Horvat · October 27th, 2003, 11:08 PM

Quick question... I know I can adjust my shutter speed on my DVX100 to 250 and get the same stuttered look like Gladiator/blackhawk down, however, it is so dark, even with alot of lighting and full open iris.
So how can I increase my shutter speed to get that look without having it so dark?

Charles Papert · October 27th, 2003, 11:56 PM

Boost the gain, or light it even hotter.

John Hudson · October 28th, 2003, 12:22 PM

Yes, definatley. I recently was playing around with my DVX to attempt to achieve this look and I stumbled across it using 250 shutter. The lighting I was under was very bright and I did notice that.

If you look at some of the shots in SPR they are very well lit; most of them being outside using very bright light.

Dushan Horvat · October 28th, 2003, 01:31 PM

hehe, I can't light it any hotter...had about 3000watts going and it was still dark. And I can't even boost the gain because I was in 24p mode, unfortunately, the gain doesn't function in that mode. I suppose I could just go video and change the shutter speed there and boost the gain..I'll try that.
I think you are right John, most of the shots are outdoors! Can't get brighter than the sun!
There's got to be a way to do it for creepy zombie indoor scenes. I guess they must be *flooding* the indoor areas with tons of lights.
Any other ideas?

John Hudson · October 28th, 2003, 04:29 PM

Did you by any chance have the ND on?
Can you open the IRIS more?

Zombie flick, huh? A man after my own heart.

Dushan Horvat · October 28th, 2003, 08:46 PM

Hmm..just in case, I re-examined and no, no ND and the iris was full open. I have a funny feeling that they only pull off the 250 shutter in broad daylight, but how did they do that in 28 Days later? Alot of it was in the dark, but it had the same strobe effect. Maybe in post? If so, what's the best way to acheive that look in post? Any ideas?

Dushan Horvat · October 28th, 2003, 08:48 PM

John, when I said zombie flick, I was referencing 28 days later :) Mind you, I would love to film/direct one, but I am so busy filming/directing martial arts sequences for products, I just don't have time. One day though...one day ... :)

Charles Papert · October 29th, 2003, 12:06 AM

I spoofed the "28 Days Later" look and theme for a festival opening (can be seen here; scroll down to "IF010 Opening"). I did variable amounts of shutter for different shots as needed. This was on an XL1s. I don't remember exactly, but I know I boosted the gain 6db and even more here and there. But this was night exterior--for an interior, I think it should have been possible with 3 1K's going at 0 db.

Dushan Horvat · October 29th, 2003, 09:07 AM

Very nice Charles!
I am gonna have to experiment I guess and see what works...
Thanks guys :)

John Hudson · October 29th, 2003, 11:32 AM

Nice Charles.

As far as the effect Dushan;

Just light it hot! Get your subject lighted well and use practicals for the background, splash the lights!

Dushan Horvat · October 29th, 2003, 07:20 PM

That's what I am gonna do...spash the lights like crazy...stay tuned :)

John Hudson · October 30th, 2003, 01:57 PM

An observation:

I was watching 28 Days Later last night and the footage we seem to like is all splashes and highlights. Most of the ZOMBIEs are backlit and appear in a silloutte (spell?) form.

So, PRIVATE RYAN is very bright
28 Days is dark with careful use of light.

October 27th, 2003, 11:08 PM	#1
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	Lighting and fast shutter speed Quick question... I know I can adjust my shutter speed on my DVX100 to 250 and get the same stuttered look like Gladiator/blackhawk down, however, it is so dark, even with alot of lighting and full open iris. So how can I increase my shutter speed to get that look without having it so dark?

October 27th, 2003, 11:56 PM	#2
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Boost the gain, or light it even hotter. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 29th, 2003, 12:06 AM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I spoofed the "28 Days Later" look and theme for a festival opening (can be seen here; scroll down to "IF010 Opening"). I did variable amounts of shutter for different shots as needed. This was on an XL1s. I don't remember exactly, but I know I boosted the gain 6db and even more here and there. But this was night exterior--for an interior, I think it should have been possible with 3 1K's going at 0 db. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 28th, 2003, 12:22 PM	#3
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Yes, definatley. I recently was playing around with my DVX to attempt to achieve this look and I stumbled across it using 250 shutter. The lighting I was under was very bright and I did notice that. If you look at some of the shots in SPR they are very well lit; most of them being outside using very bright light.

October 28th, 2003, 01:31 PM	#4
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	hehe, I can't light it any hotter...had about 3000watts going and it was still dark. And I can't even boost the gain because I was in 24p mode, unfortunately, the gain doesn't function in that mode. I suppose I could just go video and change the shutter speed there and boost the gain..I'll try that. I think you are right John, most of the shots are outdoors! Can't get brighter than the sun! There's got to be a way to do it for creepy zombie indoor scenes. I guess they must be flooding the indoor areas with tons of lights. Any other ideas?

October 28th, 2003, 04:29 PM	#5
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Did you by any chance have the ND on? Can you open the IRIS more? Zombie flick, huh? A man after my own heart.

October 28th, 2003, 08:46 PM	#6
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	Hmm..just in case, I re-examined and no, no ND and the iris was full open. I have a funny feeling that they only pull off the 250 shutter in broad daylight, but how did they do that in 28 Days later? Alot of it was in the dark, but it had the same strobe effect. Maybe in post? If so, what's the best way to acheive that look in post? Any ideas?

October 28th, 2003, 08:48 PM	#7
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	John, when I said zombie flick, I was referencing 28 days later :) Mind you, I would love to film/direct one, but I am so busy filming/directing martial arts sequences for products, I just don't have time. One day though...one day ... :)

October 29th, 2003, 09:07 AM	#9
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	Very nice Charles! I am gonna have to experiment I guess and see what works... Thanks guys :)

October 29th, 2003, 11:32 AM	#10
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Nice Charles. As far as the effect Dushan; Just light it hot! Get your subject lighted well and use practicals for the background, splash the lights!

October 29th, 2003, 07:20 PM	#11
Dushan Horvat New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 22	That's what I am gonna do...spash the lights like crazy...stay tuned :)

October 30th, 2003, 01:57 PM	#12
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	An observation: I was watching 28 Days Later last night and the footage we seem to like is all splashes and highlights. Most of the ZOMBIEs are backlit and appear in a silloutte (spell?) form. So, PRIVATE RYAN is very bright 28 Days is dark with careful use of light.