What Lowel 3 piece kit is ideal for lighting an interview?

K

Krunko

Well-known member
The DV kit with 2 totas and 1 omni?

or.. the DV kit with 1 tota, 1 omni, and one pro light?

or...some other combination?

I'm going to be doing an documentary/informational video next month and I need to decide on a lighting kit. I'm also looking to buy a used one if anyone has any leads in the LA area.

thanks!
 
I like the 1 tota , 1 omni and one pro light out of the lights that you suggested but if you had the money I would get a Rifa light, 2 omnis and some pro lights.

You can light an interview with less lights but having more doesn't hurt.

Key Light ( Rifa )
Fill Light ( Omni - Into Umbrella or Foamcore )
Rim/Kicker ( Pro Light )
Background Light ( Omni )

The tota is fine as a light but it's very hard to control. I use it mainly to just blast light on the scene
 
Would a reflector do the job as a fill light put on the opposite side of the key light if I wanted to save some money? Thanks for the response by the way.
 
Yes its possible if you like the look it gives you. Why not try it and see the effect. People use a reflector for fill quite commonly.
 
Hey Krunko I do alot of interviews and I use 2 omni 1 prolight and a reflector and they all turn out awesome I use 1 omni as the key light a reflector for the fill 1 omni with a gel and foamcore as back light and a prolight for a kicker
 
I would recommend the 2xTota + 1xOmni kit.

Use the Omni as the back/rim light, use 1 Tota + Umbrella as the key light, and then
reflect the other Tota off of the ceiling to light the room/background. Use a reflector for the fill.
 
Hi Krunko,

Here's the kit recommended in the DVD "How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Interviews" (prices are out of date):

LIGHTING GEAR
Manfroto Avenger A630B Light Stands (2) - $80 ea
Manfroto Avenger A625B Light Stands (2) - $60 ea
Manfroto 3398 Boom Stand - $117
Small Photo SilverDome Softbox - $110
Photoflex Fabric Grid - $90
Photoflex Swivel Mount - $23
Photoflex Speed Ring - $80
LowetTota 500 watts - $110
42 inch Collapsible Reflector - $60
Flexfit Adjustable Holder - $60
Lowel Pro Lights (2) - $110 ea
Lowel Snoot - $35
Lowel 4-way Barn Doors
Impact 600 watt Dimmers (2) - $25 ea
Several 15 foot Electrical Cables - $50
Rosco Cinegel Sampler Kit (10x12) - $32
Warm Cards White Balacing System - $90
Black Foam Core - $10 (cookie)
Matthews 2-1/2 inch Grip Head - $25
C47, Clamp, Gaffers Tape - $20
Empty Lowel Light Kit


If you want to get it right, the DVD is worth far more than the $40 cost - highly recommended. Doug Jensen has been in the biz over 25 years, doing thousands of interviews for celebrities; and aside from the technical stuff, the video is interesting and professionally mastered.

Good luck, Michael
 
This is a Lowel Rifa for the key, reflector for the fill, pro light for the rim light, and a DP with black wrap w/holes poked in it for the background.

1167410555.jpg
 
Matt G I'm not trying to be mean, but this pic demonstrates why I hate lowel lights, they're uncontrollable. The shadow under the neck makes this young man look as if he has turkey neck. The kicker on his left side hair leads straight into the gold book which makes my eyes want to go up and out of the frame; it totally loses the chiaroscuro effect. I'm not drawn to his eyes because the shoulder and neck is too hot. The highlight on the background off of the subjects right makes it look like the same light. Then his arms are too bright once again competing for attention. I would rather have Arris or Moles in a Chimera and fresnels through a cuco for better control of the light especially on the background to emphasize light and dark areas. Check out this link for more about chiaroscuro

http://www.efplighting.com/?The_Chiaroscuro_Principle
 
Yeah, well we had to fly, and these are the lights that were packable without bogus extra airline chrges. When I'm in my home areas its all about the Arri Softbank DIV kit.

You have to go with what you have available.

And you know what? In the end, the CLIENT loved it. Absolutely went gaga over it. Which, in the end, is what matters the most.
 
Gopher_Greene said:
Matt G I'm not trying to be mean, but this pic demonstrates why I hate lowel lights, they're uncontrollable. The shadow under the neck makes this young man look as if he has turkey neck. The kicker on his left side hair leads straight into the gold book which makes my eyes want to go up and out of the frame; it totally loses the chiaroscuro effect. I'm not drawn to his eyes because the shoulder and neck is too hot. The highlight on the background off of the subjects right makes it look like the same light. Then his arms are too bright once again competing for attention. I would rather have Arris or Moles in a Chimera and fresnels through a cuco for better control of the light especially on the background to emphasize light and dark areas. Check out this link for more about chiaroscuro

http://www.efplighting.com/?The_Chiaroscuro_Principle
Click to expand...

Good points but the sample doesn't necessarily mean the problem is the lights as much as setup problems - certainly a pro setup would never consider a low-angle camera shot, etc. I thought Doug Jensen did a great job in his video using his Lowell kit. Besides, he's got cute models <wink>

Regards, Michael
 

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mcgeedigital said:
Yeah, well we had to fly, and these are the lights that were packable without bogus extra airline chrges. When I'm in my home areas its all about the Arri Softbank DIV kit.

You have to go with what you have available.

And you know what? In the end, the CLIENT loved it. Absolutely went gaga over it. Which, in the end, is what matters the most.
Click to expand...

Spoken like a true pro! I know you do good work.

G
 
Honestly, if I had to roll with only three lights (and low costs) I would go with an Omni in a Chimera, 2 Peppers and a flex-fill. I have shot with this many a time and enjoy the portability immensely.
 
wr-

i can appreciate the peppers and i'm a firm believer in the flexfill but why choose an omni with a chimera when a rifa 55 offers the same features with even more portability? not trying to pick a fight but rather to learn from your experience.

thanks in advance for sharing

be well

rob
harvest films
 
Gopher_Greene said:
Matt G I'm not trying to be mean, but this pic demonstrates why I hate lowel lights, they're uncontrollable. The shadow under the neck makes this young man look as if he has turkey neck. The kicker on his left side hair leads straight into the gold book which makes my eyes want to go up and out of the frame; it totally loses the chiaroscuro effect. I'm not drawn to his eyes because the shoulder and neck is too hot. The highlight on the background off of the subjects right makes it look like the same light. Then his arms are too bright once again competing for attention. I would rather have Arris or Moles in a Chimera and fresnels through a cuco for better control of the light especially on the background to emphasize light and dark areas. Check out this link for more about chiaroscuro

http://www.efplighting.com/?The_Chiaroscuro_Principle
Click to expand...

How would an Arri w/Chimera differ from the Rifa used as key in this setup?
And there are barndoors for every Lowel light, so you get similar results like with other fixtures.

Don´t blame the lights, blame the user.
 
I have not used a Rifa, but with the chimera you have egg crates and other control devices. Lowels are open face lights and don't give an even spread. The tota light barn doors are a joke. Do a side by side test for yourself, I use Lowell lights frequently for a commercail customer I shoot for, and always end up bouncing the light to get any kind of even lighting with them. Whereas with my moles I can place them in a soft box or use them direct and get exact control over what I want to light. IF they work for you use them, personally I will go for Moles any day. Plus if I ever rented a grip and lighting package and thats what they showed up with I'd be finding another grip truck fast.

I'm a firm believer that every light has its purpose, and for lowels I find them to be low end static shots, they're cheap and light weight. So if you're on a tight budget and just shooting a get in and get out type of setup, then they work great. But if your going to have them on for extended periods I'd be very cautious, because I have melted the plugs on them before.
 
Gopher_Greene said:
I have not used a Rifa, but with the chimera you have egg crates and other control devices. Lowels are open face lights and don't give an even spread.
Click to expand...

The Rifa is a softbox, that´s why I was asking.
There is no diference to any other softbox, except that it folds down like an umbrella and probably weights a 1/4 of a conventional openface w/softbox setup.
They also have egg crates of course.

I know you are simply trying to help, but maybe you shouldn´t talk about lights you haven´t used yet.

For lightweight travelling there is just no comparison.
The whole point of lowel lights is lightweight traveling I guess.
Granted, the Tota is the most basic light one can get.
But it´s not the only light by Lowel.
And its eg perfect for covering larger areas.

I have Arris, Kinos, Lowels, VidLeds and each one I would prefer in a certain situation.
But none I couldn´t do without.
 
robfilms said:
wr-

i can appreciate the peppers and i'm a firm believer in the flexfill but why choose an omni with a chimera when a rifa 55 offers the same features with even more portability? not trying to pick a fight but rather to learn from your experience.

thanks in advance for sharing

be well

rob
harvest films
Click to expand...


I have never used a Rifa and didn't feel like I could comment with any sort of knowledge on them. Is the integrated softbox as versatile as a Chimera?
 
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