DV500 - Lighting Critique.. What Would You Do Different ?

I'm glad I got this shiny new G5 last sunday :) As for the video... I actually know nothing about lighting. I can only say that I felt the guy almost merged with the background. Maybe add some (more) backlight? And I didn't like his shadow - with soft fill light from the left it would look better. But, like I said, I know nothing about it, just ignore me.
 
dude, don't apologize because it's in quicktime or even quicktime 7...how many years have mac users had to put up with windows media from pc users even though quicktime has been cross-platform the whole time? they could have used quicktime and *both* pc users and mac users would have been able to view their clips but no, they shut us out, and now you want to apologize? unbelievable...besides like I said before, viewing anything in the wmv format, even on a pc is a pain in the ass, the player and scrubber bar are horrible. Best believe when I post it's going to be in quicktime and if anyone complains, then now they know how it feels, and at no point did they care about mac users, so relax, let them whine, they're so used to getting their way, geezus...
 
Simon - I think he's apologizing for using the latest Quicktime because most people have not installed it yet. But, trust me, nobody has ever apologized for using Quicktime in general. It's the preferred format for PC and Mac users. I'm a PC user and I cringe whenever I must download a movie trailer in a format other than MOV. What about Real Media? Ahhhhh! I had a client who wanted the final output to be an RM and I almost refused to do the job. "You want me to make a good video, that will end up looking like crap when viewed?" Finally talked them into quicktime and wmv. It's always best to suppy both MOV and WMV for people. Let the viewer choose.

Wells - As mentioned before, can you provide a screen grab?

-pk
 
Let's put it this way. If 98% of us can't view it, than you'll have the trust the 2% of users that can. I don't like those odds.

Want help? Help us help you.

I think he's ultimately apologizing because Quicktime 7 is currently only available for Macs, PC users can only get version 6.5, therefore we can't view it.
 
Here ya go, guys.

Here ya go, guys.

prezmedium.jpg

preztight.jpg
 
I like the depth of field on the close-up. But there's just something not right with the lighting. The colors are muted. His skin is basically the same color as the backgorund. And his jacket is VERY black. You can't see any of the detail in his suit (pockets, wrinkles, etc.) Strange. I think what you have is usable, you'll just need to go in a tweak the levels. Not an expert so I can't give you any advice on how to do that.

Good luck!
 
thisiswells,

Well there is, to my eye, lots wrong with this, and I did download and watch the full video. First off your framing and composition seem off. To much headroom in the first grab, in my opinion, plus where he is looking is funky to where he's been placed. I like following the rule of thirds for interviews but if you do that (1st pic, sort of, 2nd pic maybe?) then you want the subject to look into the space, in this case looking toward frame right, not turning to look back toward frame left.

Lighting. VERY FLAT almost weird. I would like to see a key with a little fill and a hair light dimmed. (this can be done with two lights and a reflector). You might use a cookie on the backround, but actually this seems way to busy. Next time find a naked spot of wall (you only need 2'x3' about) and create your own by moving items into place. Also, if you position your subject further away from the background and you position the camera further away, you can achieve a nice DOF in a wider shot. In any case I'd still throw a cookie on the background (one I prepared) just to give it some depth and to focus attention on the subject.

Matt
 
Thanks for posting the screen grabs. I'd agree with MattC. Although I'm not sure that the background is too busy. I don't think that it would be too busy if you added a background light with some color, say purple, or blue, with a cookie to break up the light. The BG light should be darker then the lighting on the subject as it will help to seperate him from the BG. Along with using a hair light as Matt suggested.

Overall, I think that the clip is usable, and I like the DOF on the 2nd one, but adding some additional lighting will increase the production value of the shot. Hope this helps.
 
Yes, background lighting would help but in the first grab but I still think it's too busy unless you can achieve a shallower DOF.
 
True. As long as evrything stays in focus the BG is competing for the views attention. I've always like it when there are objects in the BG for an interview, if they are well placed and planned out. It allows the viewer to get to know more about the interviewee without having to have the interviewer saying something. But if it takes away from what the interviewer is talking about, then you've lost the point of the interview.
(I guess that's my preference.)
 
I agree with a lot of MattC's comments. In the future I'd certainly suggest placing the subject in front of a flat wall, not a corner as this subject is placed (so that you have a background that can be lit and cookied). I'd also like to see a stronger key, and a more predominant hair light/back light. I think the position you have this guy in makes a backlight/hairlight nearly impossible to place without having it in the scene.

You have an eye light and some nice soft diffusion in there but it's too flat overall. I agree too that the colors are strange, was this CC'd?
 
What I would have done that is different is concentrated more on a 'dark to light' relationship. Not as extreme as the infamous 10,000 Video Post of course but here:

I would have lit one side of his face stronger than the other. I would not have left the weaker fill side in darkness but just softer. I also would have prefrred a background that was darker to give the subject more pop and dimension to the frame. A rim light would have been nice as well to add to the depth.

My .02
 
Simon_Fex said:
dude, don't apologize because it's in quicktime or even quicktime 7...how many years have mac users had to put up with windows media from pc users even though quicktime has been cross-platform the whole time? they could have used quicktime and *both* pc users and mac users would have been able to view their clips but no, they shut us out, and now you want to apologize? unbelievable...besides like I said before, viewing anything in the wmv format, even on a pc is a pain in the ass, the player and scrubber bar are horrible. Best believe when I post it's going to be in quicktime and if anyone complains, then now they know how it feels, and at no point did they care about mac users, so relax, let them whine, they're so used to getting their way, geezus...
Click to expand...

Post in whatever format suits you...I'll find a way to play it
 
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