Lighting Write-Ups, Tutorials & Set-up Examples

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

In an effort to clean-up the number of stickies dedicated to lighting diagrams and tutorials, yet keep the wonderful information easily accessible... this sticky will link to the many fantastic threads which offer some great insight into lighting technique and design.


DVXuser's Lighting Setup Examples edited by Luis Caffesse

Lighting for Beginners! Tutorials/Links Collection edited by Matthew C
Another Lighting Write Up: Basics by Timur Civan
Informative Lighting Write Up by Slondon
Lighting Alchemy by Ryan E. Walters
Why We Need Light by Ryan Patrick O'Hara

I hope it is alright to ad mine to the list:
Lighting Alchemy (See behind the scene lighting setups on Commercials, Shorts, and Feature Films)
http://www.ryanewalters.com/Videos/T.../lighting.html

[Ryan E. Walters]

I hope it is alright to ad mine to the list:
Lighting Alchemy (See behind the scene lighting setups on Commercials, Shorts, and Feature Films)
http://www.ryanewalters.com/Videos/T.../lighting.html

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

I added you to the list, and I'll leave your post up (that has as description) until I revise this sticky and give descriptions to all of the articles, so people know what they are clicking.

Thanks for the addition and you're one of my favorites here at DVXuser, so if you have anything else you'd like to share in Cinematography or Lighting section, contact me!

[Svart]

Are there any sources of "rule of thumb" type of information? We all understand the notion of reading and learning everything possible but sometimes we forget pieces, some kind of rule-of-thumb list would be great.

[Airboxlights]

Rule of thumb for figuring out what?
You know the one using "paper amps" to calculate your amperage load quickly? I'll assume you do, but I'm sure someone reading this won't"
add up all the non-fluorescent watts of all teh fixtures you're going to have on the set
divide that number of watts by 100
presto: that's how big a generator your need/that's how many 20 circuits you'll need.

Example: you've got a 2 5k, 2 2ks, 4 1ks, 4 650s, and 4 200. Common enough little tungsten package you might find on a light 3ton truck.

so that's how many:
2x5k=10000
2x2k= 4000
4x1k= 4000
4x650= 2600
4x200= 800

21,400 watts total. divided by 100 to do it the quick way gives you 214 amps. This package would be fine with a 300A genny. In reality, you divide by the actual voltage, anywere from 110 to 124 to get the real amperage draw, but paper amps is fast and easy.

-Tom Guiney, Gaffer, LD, DP in NYC
Owner, Airboxlights.com
inflatable softboxes for LED lights
lighting tips on Twitter: @airboxlights.com