Bad Golf Course Interview Footage

Spotlight Media

Spotlight Media

Well-known member
I shot this 3 weeks ago and I was worried how it was going to come out. I had nothing as far as lights go and no filters.

My guess is a polarizing filter would have helped? Any other quick suggestions? I need to re-shoot this so I thought I would ask you guys.

http://www.vimeo.com/14043995

 
What tools would you take if you had to do a shot like this? No electric and the entire budget is $5k. I suppose a properly placed reflector might help, but I had no crew other than a boom operator and an interviewer.
 
A large reflector and a polarizing filter would be a necessity, in my opinion.

I shot a golf show a few years ago and that was all we used.
Though honestly, the weather is really the biggest factor.

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I AGREE
 
Make a shiny board out of reflectix and use that to bounce light back onto the talent.

You never want the bkg that much hotter than your talent.

Or rent a few 8x8 double nets with frames and knock that bkg down.
 
As the guys have said the background needs to come down, personally I would add some front light to fill in more as he is standing in the shade and my cameratop Paglight with it's HMI bubble and diffuser would be my personal choice, it would also fill in the dark eye sockets and bring the background down a few stops.
 
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nope * would not have made a difference* either position the interview properly or get some serious bounce on the subject. Few lighting sources if any compete with the sun.
 
You could try this...

You could try this...

Jason,

You might try something like this:

attachment.php



You can view the video here that explains the setup: http://www.podfeed.net/episode/FS+I...en+Your+Background+Outdoors+Free+Show/1805112.

The guy accomplishes what it sounds like you're wanting to do without any lights.

I've never used the background scrim before as he does, and you would probably want to test it first..... In my opinion, it tends to make the background look like you are shooting inside and the background is seen through a large window. But it might just work for you and seems like it would fit within your general criteria (cheap, no lights...)

A couple of light stands with the fabric clamped between would get the job done a bit more cheaply than buying the the whole setup.

One thought though - if you look closely in the video (especially just after he cuts to the CU of the final setup) you can see a ripple or wave occur in the fabric. He seemed to have a bit of a breeze when shooting, and i suspect just a tiny bit more wind would have made the background scrim quite visible in the shot. So you probably would only want to do this on a really calm day. Or just make sure you've got the netting really tight (clamped to light stands sounds better than the scrim jim at this point).

Here's the manufacture's page: http://www.fjwestcott.com/products/product.cfm?itemnum=1814&tbl=products&head=scrim

Here's the B&H page for the fabric: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374525-REG/Westcott_1814_Fabric_ONLY_for_Scrim.html

And for the frame: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374515-REG/Westcott_1898_Frame_ONLY_for_Scrim.html

You'll need to supply the lighting stands.

Good luck. And if you go this route, I'm sure others would love to see the results here.

Cheers,
Robert
 

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Spotlight Media said:
Thank you all. Gary is this what you are talking about? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300253-REG/PAG_9003_Paglight_M_On_Camera.html
Click to expand...

Yes it is and in the UK the HMI bubble is enough to compete with our feeble sunlight! It doesn't compete with the Sun but I have found adds enough to fill in the shadows on the face and reduce the background by a stop or two.

If you look at the TV pres people at golf tournaments and most media events they all have HMI lights up and if your camera is within six feet of the subject even a 50watt pag light HMI will help fill in.

I am not keen on reflectors as you need someone to hold them and they can be a bit too hot and focused at times, they also can cause the light to move or wobble and this becomes distracting.
 
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Jason,

I have a Zylight Z90 which allows me to dial in color temp. Its good for run and gun and quick setups - throws good light with little current draw. Don't think its the cure for your shot - but a nice tool to look into.
 
I have one of those LED lights and it is OK for nightime or indoor shooting, it certainly wouldn't have enough grunt to be useful in sunlight, LED's just don't have the throw of tungsten or HMI lights.

One other solution if you have access to power is to put up an 800 watt redhead with a dichroic filter or blu gel on it!
 
That Power arc is the HMI bubble that I have mentioned, they also do a LED for the paglight but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

It is a very flexible light and I have two of them now and a third older paglight as a tungsten handbasher!
 
keylight said:
Jason,

You might try something like this:

attachment.php



You can view the video here that explains the setup: http://www.podfeed.net/episode/FS+I...en+Your+Background+Outdoors+Free+Show/1805112.

The guy accomplishes what it sounds like you're wanting to do without any lights.

I've never used the background scrim before as he does, and you would probably want to test it first..... In my opinion, it tends to make the background look like you are shooting inside and the background is seen through a large window. But it might just work for you and seems like it would fit within your general criteria (cheap, no lights...)

A couple of light stands with the fabric clamped between would get the job done a bit more cheaply than buying the the whole setup.

One thought though - if you look closely in the video (especially just after he cuts to the CU of the final setup) you can see a ripple or wave occur in the fabric. He seemed to have a bit of a breeze when shooting, and i suspect just a tiny bit more wind would have made the background scrim quite visible in the shot. So you probably would only want to do this on a really calm day. Or just make sure you've got the netting really tight (clamped to light stands sounds better than the scrim jim at this point).

Here's the manufacture's page: http://www.fjwestcott.com/products/product.cfm?itemnum=1814&tbl=products&head=scrim

Here's the B&H page for the fabric: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374525-REG/Westcott_1814_Fabric_ONLY_for_Scrim.html

And for the frame: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374515-REG/Westcott_1898_Frame_ONLY_for_Scrim.html

You'll need to supply the lighting stands.

Good luck. And if you go this route, I'm sure others would love to see the results here.

Cheers,
Robert
Click to expand...
Robert,
That is a very interesting idea though I, as you have mentioned, would be concerned about wind. Especially for this shot which is happening in the mountains of NC. But that is some very valuable info, thank you for posting!
 
Spotlight Media said:
Gary, What the "bleep" is a handbasher?
Click to expand...

Its a british term for a hand held small light such as the Paglight, I have a 100w paglight on a handle so it can be held by an electrician or assistant, it gets the light closer to the subject.

There is one pictured here but I appreciated that the terminology may be rather fruity:http://www.filmsat59.com/hire/products/250w-tungsten

I have to admit though that as a guitarist I am also a Plank Spanker!
 
So i re-shot this yesterday with some fill light and a Circ Polarizer. I will post the results after my shoot today. Thank you all.
 
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