Backlight fix in post

Peter Rush · March 13th, 2009, 02:36 PM

Hi - so I'm filming the speeches when I leave my main camera running on a tripod and go out front to get some guest reaction shots (I film alone) when the sun comes out, and half of the groom's speech is now horribly backlit.

Anyone know of a good fix for this? I use Premiere Pro/Matrox RTX setup. I have tweaked the levels to little effect but the shadow/highlight filter does at least bring some detail out in the light. But what i really want to do is tone the backlight down and stop the groom looking like he's talking in the doorway to an alien spaceship!

Thanks in advance

Chris Barcellos · March 13th, 2009, 02:45 PM

You need to post a clip of before and after with changing light.

Don Bloom · March 13th, 2009, 02:47 PM

about the only thing I can think of is to mask out the background, then adjust the levels of the subject to get it as acceptable as possible, knowing that you will never get it 100%, then bring the clip back in on another track under that, sync them and now mask out the subject and adjust the background as best you can. It will be a PITA especially if the subject is moving around while talking.
Other than that, it sounds like you've done about all you can.

Peter Rush · March 13th, 2009, 02:50 PM

Hi Guys - I haven't access to my footage at the moment but I'll try and post a couple of frames tomorrow - lesson learned here. I nearly always have an unmanned camera tucked away in a corner filming reaction footage, but in this case there was no room so I hade to leave my main camera to get some B-Roll - never again

Pete

Alastair Brown · March 13th, 2009, 03:00 PM

Magic bullet looks has a spot exposure tool, or, mask as said above.

Warren Kawamoto · March 14th, 2009, 09:02 AM

How about inserting those reaction shots you were shooting? If your inserts are too short, slo mo them.

March 13th, 2009, 02:36 PM	#1
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Backlight fix in post - anyone? Hi - so I'm filming the speeches when I leave my main camera running on a tripod and go out front to get some guest reaction shots (I film alone) when the sun comes out, and half of the groom's speech is now horribly backlit. Anyone know of a good fix for this? I use Premiere Pro/Matrox RTX setup. I have tweaked the levels to little effect but the shadow/highlight filter does at least bring some detail out in the light. But what i really want to do is tone the backlight down and stop the groom looking like he's talking in the doorway to an alien spaceship! Thanks in advance

March 13th, 2009, 02:45 PM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	You need to post a clip of before and after with changing light. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

March 13th, 2009, 02:47 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	about the only thing I can think of is to mask out the background, then adjust the levels of the subject to get it as acceptable as possible, knowing that you will never get it 100%, then bring the clip back in on another track under that, sync them and now mask out the subject and adjust the background as best you can. It will be a PITA especially if the subject is moving around while talking. Other than that, it sounds like you've done about all you can. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

March 13th, 2009, 02:50 PM	#4
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Hi Guys - I haven't access to my footage at the moment but I'll try and post a couple of frames tomorrow - lesson learned here. I nearly always have an unmanned camera tucked away in a corner filming reaction footage, but in this case there was no room so I hade to leave my main camera to get some B-Roll - never again Pete

March 13th, 2009, 03:00 PM	#5
Alastair Brown Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Posts: 626	Magic bullet looks has a spot exposure tool, or, mask as said above.

March 14th, 2009, 09:02 AM	#6
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	How about inserting those reaction shots you were shooting? If your inserts are too short, slo mo them.