What are some combination of a nice looking sharp clean look? I have seen some videos of behind the scene look and yes, it does look like video from behind the scene. However, when watching the actual movie, even though it's same scene as from the behind the scene camera, the look and feel of the movie is totally different. Are these nice clean and sometimes soft look of the movie came from lighting, color grading, filter in post, and/or a nice camera lens etc? How do indie filmmaker with no-budget mimic something like that?
Combination of nice sharp clean look
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PhilJackson
Active member
The medium being recorded on helps. Then I'd say lighting is the next important thing almost more important than the medium really.
PhilJackson
Active member
If you can get good exposure from natural or pre-rigged sources that's good. You can work with that to either take away or enhance the lighting with some negative/fill. But don't forget that it's more than just a pretty image that goes into what makes people think film-like. It's the combination of camera, lighting, actors, set decoration, and much more that goes into the film look. Don't spend all of your time worry about lights and the make up.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
That is not really a very fair question and, IMHO, there is no "Better" in either approach. The main reason that big Hollywood productions have huge lighting set-ups is because of the ability to be in control of the lighting. While it is possible to make great images with natural light, total control over it is impossible. The real control of natural light is nature itself. While the light just before and after sunrise, and just before and after sunset, is fantastic, it only lasts for a very short time; just minutes usually. Shooting a complicated scene with nature in control of the lighting will lead to inconsistency in the lighting. So a large budget movie just can not afford that, so they bring in the tools they need to control the light for as long as they need. A low budget filmmaker, with great preparation and patience, can use natural light to make great images. One would just need to understand the limitations.
Many thanks for the tip. As an independent filmmaker, I cannot afford huge amount of lighting equipments. Every bit of tips helps.
Thanks for the suggestion. One of the reasons I asked is because I have seen many films that just have this very smooth and silky look to it. At the moment, this is what I'm trying to understand how it's done first.
That is a very good explanation. Any particular reason(s) why before/after sunrise and before/after sunset are the best light?
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
The early morning and late evening light is more pleasing based in its angle and color of the light, which tends to the warmer end of the spectrum, until or before the sun sets or rises. It is my understanding that as the sun gets lower on the horizon, its rays pass through a thicker blanket of atmosphere and this changes the spectrum of light that is able to pass through. Now once the sun sets, or before it rises, the light is actually bounce (or actually scattered) light that comes from the sky and it starts very warm and gets cooler over time (while setting, just the opposite as it rises). This light, called "Magic hour" light, is very pleasing to the eye because it give a nice soft light. It does not last very long though and to shoot under it takes planning and careful preparation (to be able to move fast and get the shots that you need).
Now during the day, as the sun rises, the light become less and less pleasing to photograph under because as it moves towards noon, the light become more and more flat, and harsh. The luminance range, the difference in light intensity between light and shadow during mid day, under direct sunlight is very high and difficult for imaging systems (video imagers and film) to capture. In other words it is hard to get proper exposure for both the highlights and shadows under harsh mid day sun. That is the reason for the use of the sunlight diffuser noted above. It is also the reason filmmakers use reflectors, or large daylight balanced lights, outside during the day, to throw light into the shadows, to lower the luminance range to a level that can be captured with the imaging system being used.
Also, the flatter light of mid day sun is not flattering and is, IMHO, very boring looking.
Now during the day, as the sun rises, the light become less and less pleasing to photograph under because as it moves towards noon, the light become more and more flat, and harsh. The luminance range, the difference in light intensity between light and shadow during mid day, under direct sunlight is very high and difficult for imaging systems (video imagers and film) to capture. In other words it is hard to get proper exposure for both the highlights and shadows under harsh mid day sun. That is the reason for the use of the sunlight diffuser noted above. It is also the reason filmmakers use reflectors, or large daylight balanced lights, outside during the day, to throw light into the shadows, to lower the luminance range to a level that can be captured with the imaging system being used.
Also, the flatter light of mid day sun is not flattering and is, IMHO, very boring looking.