BROODER LAMPS

hillcity

hillcity

Well-known member
Howdy! I've been a phantom for a while. I got my DVX from Rush at EVS last week, I have nothing but positive feedback...
anyhow, I've been hunting home depots and hardware stores all over for those "clip on light sockets" mentioned in so many posts...
I finally found them online at :

http://www.cornerhardware.com/item_...er-Lamp-With-Clamp-And-Tpe-Cold-Flex-Cor.html

The proper name for them is "Brooder Lamp"
I should have known...we use them here on the farm to keep the chicks warm in the winter. (They're ideal for heat lamps). Anyhow, look for the ones with the clips.
I also heard them referred to as "finisher's lamps". It appears that they were used by painters to create a glare on the wall to examine and touch up a paint job. I say "were" because it also seems like they're not as popular or available as they have been in the past. EVERYWHERE I went, EVERYONE knew what I was talking about, EVERYONE had seen them somewhere, but NOBODY could find them. Oy. Anyway, couple that with some full spectrum coiled 32w Fluors, and you have a pretty sweet freakin setup for run and gun guerillaness....peace.

(((They're also available on Ebay at some sweet prices (i'm getting six 300w lamps for 33.95) but the link above is obviously going to be consistently available.)))

I saw Napoleon Dynamite 5 times....
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

I picked up two of these about a month or so ago for use with Photofloods. I got mine at Lowes pretty cheap ($12.00 each I think). I havent shoved a Floro in it but the Photofloods (daylight balanced) work well in them. I also use some frosty diffusion paper over them to soften it up (What the hell are these called? 'Vello' something?) LOL
 
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LOL Vellum Paper?
If your lights are hot, that'll probably wind up providing MORE "light" than you want, if you know what I mean ;) !

The truth is, that all this fluor stuff is in theory...my plan is to use a gunkload of the lights and just use a lot of little diffused light sources.
(Eliminating any need for scrims or diffusion). I've always hated traditional lighting. It's always seemed like 90% damage control to me.
And people who hate fluorescent light peeve me off too. In school they teach us a billion ways to avoid the evil green-ness, but I rather like it, and it's not a pain to correct for it in post, WHAT'S MORE is that when you use the bank lights instead of brooders, you can include the light source in the shot, and most people aren't the wiser because fluorescents are so commonplace to begin with, and not to re-hash another thread, but it's also much cooler, and can be placed closer to the subject. I guess it depends on the shooting style.

I shot a tan skinned little girl under some fluorescent lights the other day, and as I looked at her with my eye, I saw her skin looking pale-yellow. With the right white balance on the dvx she looked just as warm as could be! I'd never had my eye work like that...it's usually the other way around. 'Thing of beauty.
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

[quote author=hillcity link=board=lighting;num=1096760320;start=0#2 date=10/03/04 at 00:00:38]LOL Vellum Paper?
If your lights are hot, that'll probably wind up providing MORE "light" than you want, if you know what I mean ;) !
[/quote]

LOL Of course. My Brooders came with a wire outer shell that extend about 8 inches off the edge. I prefer bouncing anyway. Im trying to fabricate some 'barndoors' using aluminum siding and wire.
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

update:
The brooders are looking pretty sweet.
I shot a little video that's posted in the grabs area...called "FOOD CLIPS"
I used the brooders with some coiled fluorescent bulbs (so amazingly cool to the touch even after 30 mins of operation)
Only the shots of the plates are lit.
Nice subtle splashes if you ask me.
run over and check it out if anyone's interested.

(The lights are actualy in a few shots, but they kind of blend in to the stainless steel decor of the kitchen, lol)
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

I use brooders in my wee home studio (never knew the name - thanks for the heads up). For my tight space, I've had good luck with GE Reveal 75 & 100 watt bulbs - nice balance.

Rather than vellum paper, I use baker's paper stolen from the wifey's baking drawer (Waxtex brand name - heat-resistant). Nice diffusion and less chance of flame-out.

In fact I have a small brooder clipped to the back of my studio cam with a sheet of b-paper taped over the front. 100 watt bulb and no issues with heat (and it's a real nice key light - again, small studio) .

Softbox: nice feature of the brooders - the aluminum cone (i'm sure there's a better term) can be screwed off leaving a standard sized socket. Been looking to replace the cone-thingy with a square, lightweight lamp shade (reverse attached). Then add baker's paper to open end (creating the mother off all 'ugly softboxes')... I've also heard of using hvac housings but haven't tried.

I agree, brooders make for a cheap, quick, no muss set up.

They even work well for fill on a rather large green screen.

- Rob
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

Today I picked up a 26 Watt (equivalent X 4) DAYLIGHT balanced compact flourescent ($18.00. Probally can find it cheaper if I had actually looked). It is made by Westinghouse and is the Energy Saving TWIST style balanced at 6500K.

The thing Im wondering is:

Is there flicker with this (Must I use the DVX syncroscan). If not, I figure 4 of them would be equivalant to over 400 Watts. (This bulb replaces a 100W neodymium bulb).

Stay tuned.
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

Probably won't flicker, I think all those CFL's have an electronic ballast. May be some buzz or hum though.
 
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No flicker on the LCD at all. Very encouraging. Apparently supposed to last 10,000 hours. Ill be shooting this weekend and see what I come up with.
 
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I've been messin about with this light and I am becoming more and more satisfied. Visually one is limited but these lights are putting out the same look as used in Panic Room, Fight Club, Se7en (I should just say Fincher) and 21 Grams and Amorres Perros.

The CRI rating is 87 (90 is ideal) but it is looking nice after a White Balance. Each bulb is a 26W Floro (100W) and has ZERO heat. You can actually touch the bulb while its on.

I bring this up as not all of us can afford the Light Kit. $10.00 for a brooder and $18.00 for the bulb (which is stated to last 10,000 hours). I figure 2 or 3 of these and you have some interesting and easy lighting solutions.

I have to invest in some flags as the spill is pretty wide off the lamps and I am still trying to fabricate some barndoors.

Just sharing.
 
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Much appreciated. I suppose since there is no heat to speak of, you could use the regular clip-on lamps. Not only are they cheaper, but I have a few that are narrower. They might have a bit less spill.
 
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Always gotta ask yourself, can this be fixed with black wrap or gaff tape? You'd be suprised how often the answer is "yes." :P

For example, do I need a mattebox? Or can I make a sunshade out of black wrap and gaff tape my filters on.

I'm kidding! Don't anyone do that!
 
Re: BROODER LAMPS

Don't do that? We've all done it. And those who haven't, will...

I mean, just for the intro to the DVX DVD we just did, I needed a shade for the Century .6 because we were getting bad flaring. A sheet of black wrap and we were all set! :)
 
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Truth be told, I've done it too. I was more talking about taping the filters on. Don't do that if you've got nice glass!
 
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I've taped a tiffen 4x4 polarizer to a bult in sunshade on a PD0150 with some paper permacel. Now I have the strangest of the vignetes on one of my shots... You live and learn, I guess... It wasn't MY equipment, by the way... ;D
 
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