Any suggestions for an HDR effect?

M

michellefinch

Member
Hello!
I'm going to be shooting a post-apocalyptic web series next spring/summer and I'm hoping to get an HDR-type of effect, with a high dynamic range of contrast, sharpness, and real dirty and gritty-looking images.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this or any combinations I could use with in-camera settings, filters/lens adapters, and post-production? I'd like to do as much in-camera as possible.

I'm shooting on the DVX100B, and editing in FCP. We may or may not have the budget for an adapter (like Redrock Micro) and some prime lenses, matte box and accessories.

(If anyone can suggest a good inexpensive lens/filter rental kit, that'd be awesome too. I'm in Chicago.)

Thanks!
 
Short answer; Red Giant 'Looks'.

HDR is all about pulling detail out of shadows while holding on to the highlights (without them blowing out).

I don't think having an adapter will help you get the result you seek.

To get your exposure right I'd suggest you make a series of tests first.
You're already ahead of the game by having a grasp that it's a sequence of interconnected components leading to the desired result.
[In film they know going in that the print coloration is going to be a certain way, so they light, gel, and expose toward that end result.]

I've seen some incredible HVX footage that sounds like what you might be looking for.
Look there (here) for some examples.
*Not that the 100B isn't up to the task- but maybe you can find a 'look' to emulate with the B.

If you're running Studio 2 (for FCP) you might look at Color too.
On COW there's lots of in depth discussion about extending dynamic range with Color.
*Unfortunately it's not as convenient as this forum to follow a thread.
**Creative COW. sorry.

If I was going after that 'look' I'd probably bring a 3 ton gaffer truck with me.
It'll get down to how you light the scenes, I believe.
The word 'gritty' is about hard edged and not 'noisy'- because running up gain to shoot in dimly lit locations only gets you grainy images. Not what you want I'd bet.

It is possible, and you'll have some fun with it.
Like making a stew, lots of ingredients mix together to make a good one.

HEY- have you gotten your background to stop 'breathing'??
Where'd that end up? I lost track about five pages in to the thing...
 
Thanks for the tips...

And the "breathing" background issue hasn't quite been solved.... at least I still don't know what caused it, but haven't seen it in any new footage yet. Next time I'm in a post suite I plan to pop the original tape into a deck hooked up to a direct (big) monitor, but haven't had a chance.

The thread seems to be convinced that it's the OIS steady thing that's on while the camera is on a tripod, but I know for an absolute fact that the steady shot function wasn't on when I shot that footage or any of the other breathing footage. I guess that solved it for some other users, but not for me.

I'm convinced it happened in post somewhere, but haven't had the time or the materials to really check that theory.
:(
 
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