Lighting

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Well the lighting and grip for this film was all rented, so I don't know exactly where they get their electric.

However, I have been able to find ceramic sockets at Home Depot, which can support up to 200W. As for wiring, I'm sure you can find a similar low gauge wire at HD, just make sure it's grounded. I also have gotten 200W bulbs at HD, simple tungsten pure white globes.

[TimurCivan]

ive had up to 1000W in a 42" china ball. its safe so long as youre vigilant and the lamps dont touch the paper.....

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Yep.

[PaPa]

ive had up to 1000W in a 42" china ball. its safe so long as youre vigilant and the lamps dont touch the paper.....

i guess its just cause my cable is rated for 75 watts max, and i am not sure how your sticking higher wattages in them without them breaking? Should i attempt any higher wattages?

[MalcolmOng]

Great images all - papa your grab looked great, and Andrew - wow. Just...wow. Curiously though, two questions are egging at me - firstly, for your shot of the night exterior with the guy warming himself by the fire, why'd you have to place your softsun so far back? Could you accomplish the same thing by placing the lighting closer and using a smaller wattage? (assuming the same framing in the grab is used) My guess is that you placed it so face back simply as a matter of necessity since you had a much wider shot as well?

Also, regarding the softness of light, i read somewhere that it depends on how big the source is compared to the talent. Going on that, if say you flagged a chinaball, that would probably result in a smaller effective source, and would that yield a harsher light?


Thanks all,
Malcolm

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Good questions Malcom. Basically the idea in placing a light further away is the way it falls off. A light much closer to the subject, though diffused, will still have a much sharper falloff, and more spotted throw. When a light is further away, those fc's of light have time to spread out, and thin out, which results in a more distilled, realistic light. Think of how far away the moon is...What would its light look like if it was 100,000 miles closer to earth?

In regards to your question about flagging a chinaball, usually Chinas are used for ambient fill, or for as a key or fill. The great thing about Chinas, is that they have a very small throw so they can be placed close to the subject, without really affecting the surrounding lighting. (obviously that varies between subject distance, and the wattage of the china.)

When it comes to controlling, like any soft source, this can be difficult. And yes, the more you flag off the light, the less effective area of light will hit the subject. This is usually what is desired, but you have to make sure you start with a large enough source, to lose some of it in the "shaping" process. How hard or soft the shadow will be varies by the distance the flag or controlling device is placed in relation to the light. Very far away, close to subject will yeild a more defined shadow, and closer to the lamp/source will create a softer diffused shadow.

[ProfessorU]

Re: sockets and cables
Almost any lamp cable in the US is going to be rated for 12 Amps or more, at 110V that's about 1300W. You're going to exceed the socket's ability to handle heat well before you exceed the cable's ability to carry current.
Re: soft sources and flags
Imagine a point on the surface of your subject. The softness of the light is relative to the degrees at which the source is visible from that point. Flagging the source or changing the distance can change how hard or soft the source appears. Flag your source or move it away (relative to the subject) and the light will appear harder.


Timur... what lamp and socket do you use for 1000W in a chinaball?

[Wilson]

Now PaPA's post is the most helpful of all. It is nice to see the framed shot, and then all the lighting instruments. I think I'll start doing more of that during my shoots!

Here is a still that I Gaffed a while ago:



12k through a 1/4 silk thru the back window (hot edge)
4k bounced into a mirror and into widow camera left to key
return bounce card on floor for backround and another for fill on her face.
And a mess of net and cutters here and there.
Must have had something outside as well...maybe a few 1200 pars for greenery.

As for China Balls..I've used 300 watt bulbs quite often in china balls. If you find an electrical supply store you can find these, and even in some big box stores.
An old trick is to wire two ceramic fixtures inside the same ball, both with their own cords, labeled so that you can put a 100watt and a 300 watt bulb in there, or even a daylight and a tungsten bulb.
You can use bailing wire to make a HARP. A HARP is simply the wire harness that comes with the balls, with a long piece of 1/4 threaded tubing (like the stuff you buy when installing a fixture in your house only longer) attached to your ceramic fixtures with a threaded adapter. The reason for the tubing is that it allows for something to connect the wire harness to AND it keeps the bulbs in one place as to not touch the side of your paper china ball and burn up your shoot, really ruining your day.

Good Luck - Wilson

[Wilson]

Now PaPA's post is the most helpful of all. It is nice to see the framed shot, and then all the lighting instruments. I think I'll start doing more of that during my shoots!

Here is a still that I Gaffed a while ago:



12k through a 1/4 silk thru the back window (hot edge)
4k bounced into a mirror and into widow camera left to key
return bounce card on floor for backround and another for fill on her face.

Good Luck - Wilson

[TimurCivan]

I have custom made fixtures they can hold 1000 W

[Tatsuya Graham]

Hello

Hi, I am new here... Thought I might share my lighting setup.
I recently decided to try out a better light setup. I chose to go with fluorescent lighting. The total price for about 2 light fixtures and 4 bulbs was around $25 USD. To me, it was worth it. All I need now are better stands (possibly the diy c-stand).

Image Below---

1 - 48" fluorescent fixture hanging to your left by a chain attached to a microphone boom.

I then white balanced my camera to a diy grey card.







~ Tatsuya Graham

[MalcolmOng]

That's really cool - Simple, and elegant

[Tatsuya Graham]

Thanks

Thank you.

By the way, I saw your 30min film. It was outstanding.

congrats!

[TimurCivan]

One light usually does the trick!

[muroshi]

Barry,

Was that bar scene thungsten balanced and what bulbs did you use with your chinas? Looks really nice.