Shooting NIGHT FOR DAY

A

armadillo

Well-known member
Hi, I am working on setting up an urban NIGHT FOR DAY shot and I wanted to see if anyone had any tips or techniques that have worked for them in the past. Thanks!
 
Do you mean night for day? or day for night? Night for day would mean you are trying to make it look like daylight while shooting at night. Day for night means you are shooting during the day and then making it look like night. If it's day for night, then you want to diffuse all light and avoid showing the sky as much as possible. Also a reflector on the ground filling the shadows under the chin seems to be more believable to me. Also be careful not to blow out the background. Shoot against darker walls if possible. This will save you a ton of post work. Any reason why you aren't just shooting at night? or if shooting night for day, then why are you not shooting during the day?
 
I saw those day for night filters. Are those filters any good or do I still have to a lot of post work even if use those day for night filters?
 
If you're shooting outside, wait for sunrise or sunset. It's called the magic hour, and it's used to save lots of time and money. You can substitue day for night, and vice versa.
 
I saw those day for night filters
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What "day for night filters"? It's just about contrast... the rest of the trick is done in post.

The only filter I can think of would be a grad ND filter to darken the sky a bit. Other then that I can't think of a filter which would help.
 
I wouldn't call any day for night high end... Has anyone ever seen it done in a decent movie/tv show?
 
I haven't used the filter, but based on the sample image, it gets you closer, but there will still be work to do in post. Yes, it CAN be done on high-end productions, just like it can be done on low-end productions....in either case, it's difficult to get it "right."

Not only are there challenges with the realism of trying to get contrast/blues/etc but there's shadows to watch out for that just simply aren't caused by moonlight (not saying moonlight doesn't cause shadows...been on too many night recon missions while active duty to say it doesn't).

Someone in this thread said it.... "magic hour" is probably the most optimal time to film it.
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
Day-for-Night Filter -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/104566-REG/Tiffen_44CDFN_4x4_Day_for_Night.html
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Thank you for the response, but I need to comment on how unbelievably useless that filter is.

The sample image is of course an overcast day with little contrast, which is first of all ideal for day for night. Second ALL it seems to do is add a specific shade of blue.

Edit: Slight contrast filter as well... but going the opposite way?

Tinting blue is not the key trick for day for night.

Sorry but there is no magic filter for the trick, and this filter is of some use, but really could be done 100% in post... besides all it's really doing is probably cutting exposure which you might need.
 
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lol, especially when there is snow on the ground, making it brighter than the sky in the first place...
 
the best example i have seen is in 28 weeks later. When you watch the trailer, there are clearly scenes shot during a sunny day where they are running through streets. In the actual movie those same exacts shots take place in darkness. They did it pretty well.
 
thetony said:
the best example i have seen is in 28 weeks later. When you watch the trailer, there are clearly scenes shot during a sunny day where they are running through streets. In the actual movie those same exacts shots take place in darkness. They did it pretty well.
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Not well enough if you noticed :)
 
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