JB Seesselberg
Member
Does anyone have any tips for lighting a dark cul de sac at night? the idea is to accentuate the streetlights, but then also keying and filling and whatnot. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!
Dead End Street
- Thread starter JB Seesselberg
- Start date
filmat11
Well-known member
Are there houses around the cul de sac ? Is this one of those wide turning circle at the end types, or literally a dead end street type?
I ask because motivating some light from a couple of houses around the cul de sac would provide some believability and lend credence to where the light was coming from. If this is as dark as you say it is, is the street light at the middle or one side or another of the cul de sac. ?
Parking a car right under the street light would allow bounce cards or foam core to redirect light into a car. But if you watch ANY film or tv show where the action takes place at night, you will see edge and fill light coming from "who knows where", so your not alone here. Adding car head lights from a passing car or even your actors car would add some believability. Putting a chinese lantern or Jem ball on a pole and hanging it outside of frame would help if your actors get out of the car or even if they are in it.. Is there even a car in your shot ?? I forgot to ask.. But assumed since your on a street at night..
I ask because motivating some light from a couple of houses around the cul de sac would provide some believability and lend credence to where the light was coming from. If this is as dark as you say it is, is the street light at the middle or one side or another of the cul de sac. ?
Parking a car right under the street light would allow bounce cards or foam core to redirect light into a car. But if you watch ANY film or tv show where the action takes place at night, you will see edge and fill light coming from "who knows where", so your not alone here. Adding car head lights from a passing car or even your actors car would add some believability. Putting a chinese lantern or Jem ball on a pole and hanging it outside of frame would help if your actors get out of the car or even if they are in it.. Is there even a car in your shot ?? I forgot to ask.. But assumed since your on a street at night..
ProfessorU
Veteran
Are you going indie and doing one setup for the whole scene? If your action is in the circle, I'd set up 3 hard lights each 120 degrees apart, ideally motivated by the post lights around the culdesac. That will give you a beginning of a flattering key-fill-backlight from all angles. Then you can just sprinkle as needed. If you go with the "blue moonlight" convention, I would only use it for backlight, never key or fill.
Don't forget to light the houses. It's nice to have some lighter background to contrast a dark subject. I'd bring a bunch of cheap 500w halogen work lights (like you'd get at a hardware store) so you can light the buildings without having to use your real fixtures.
A lot of your decisions depend on how much movement and area you're trying to cover, and what is in the space to motivate your light.
Don't forget to light the houses. It's nice to have some lighter background to contrast a dark subject. I'd bring a bunch of cheap 500w halogen work lights (like you'd get at a hardware store) so you can light the buildings without having to use your real fixtures.
A lot of your decisions depend on how much movement and area you're trying to cover, and what is in the space to motivate your light.
JB Seesselberg
Member
There are actually no vehicles in it, save for the cars already parked on the street. it would have to be multiple setups, because we are trying to give the illusion of traveling a few blocks, but staying in the cul de sac during production. I guess i could just use a few 1k's to accentuate the streetlights (which was going to be more my primary lighting focus), but it would still require quite a few setups.
ProfessorU
Veteran
If you have to use the same street for two sets, just use opposite 180 degree portions and you'll be ready to go.
If you're actually getting light from streelights, check your WB. Most streetlights are sodium, which is lower temp than tungsten. Or you might get mercury vapor and that can throw a green monkeywrench in everything.
If you're actually getting light from streelights, check your WB. Most streetlights are sodium, which is lower temp than tungsten. Or you might get mercury vapor and that can throw a green monkeywrench in everything.