BTS Pictures of flags/cutters/nets in action?

H

Homunculus

Carbonite Member
Hello I'm learning to control light more with cutters/flags. Can some of you please help me by posting pictures of behind the scenes flags in action cutting off and shaping light on sets? I would like to see them in action please. Thank you.
 
Most BTS shots I've seen don't really show you what's happening that well, other than how things are actually attached to grip gear.

The key things with flags/etc are distance from light to flag, and distance from flag to subject, and quality of the light you're flagging. Those factors control the hardness of the cut. A diffused source 5 feet from the subject with a flag just in front of the light gives you smooth falloff. A distant open light and flag near the subject gives a harder line. That's the stuff to experiment with - what do you want the light to do in your mind's eye vs. how to get there with the gear you have. Experiment, even with a still camera.

Another massively useful thing is using sheets of fabric as ceiling-height diffusers and flags - making a tent or clothesline out of stands and pipe, and clamping onto that to make giant strip lights & softboxes. Get a few yards of sheer fabric and black felt or duvateen and play around. I've never seen a BTS of that, and it's something I developed in my still shooter days - but it's cheap and can give you awesome light that's huge and soft, with tons of control for shadows and mood.
 
The orientation of open-ended scrim goods can also affect the light level. Play with distance and how flat the goods are to the light source for different effects.
 
thanks a lot micahel carter that was very helpful. and erik olson also.

any place that i can purchase flag/cutter sets for cheap that anyone knows of?

so if a flag is close to the source that means the fall off will be smooth? So a barn door on a fresnel is considered a smooth rather than sharp fall off i take it if you use barn door to control the light. i guess i can see that
 
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