Campfire hand-held

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Doc Peter

Member
Hello -- I'm pretty new to the DVX100b and I have been reading this forum and doing tests based on the recommendations found here -- so first off, thanks in advance. I have deep appreciation for this board and anyone who takes the time to help someone else out. This is a valuable place for learning.

I start shooting a documentary at the end of the month that is half interviews in offices and workplaces and half in the woods -- including some crucial night-time, around-the-fire coverage I have to get -- and that's worrying me.

I can't add light. I won't have control over how big the fire will be so I'm not even sure how to do tests... It's going to be hand-held and I prefer not to have a lot of motion blur.

I would love to hear some strategies for getting the best coverage under the circumstances. I think I want to shoot the whole movie in 24p because my subject lends itself to a photographic look -- not video -- but that could just be my inexperience talking.

Thanks for your help. --Peter
 
I did a couple of campfires a while back. At night I used the spark setting and shot @ 60i with manual focus and AWB. I had the subject sit so I could be just to the side that was being lit most by the fire (not head on). Everything came out well, even the fire itself for some extra footage at the opener.


You might do test in your home with candles and all the lights out to give you and idea, this is how I got a heads up on it.



Welcome.
 
the dvx100b isn't bad at all in low light situations.
you should be fine so don't worry.
as long as you have a light sorce (fire) your good.

good luck with your shoot
 
Ryvac -- thank you. Yes, worrying doesn't help anything. A few low light tests will put me at ease. I love this camera.

MovieLighter -- Thank you. The bulk of the movie will be inside interviews and I didn't want the 60i look for them... I will research the Spark Setting. What are the drawbacks of shooting 24p?

Also, if I White Balance by firelight, am I going to eliminate the (orangeish) color thrown by the fire? ( I'm actually okay with that, sometimes firelight looks too pretty to look real -- but I also don't want the warmth to disappear entirely...)

Thank you again for responding. Sometimes just writing the questions helps...
 
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