Eyelight for interviews

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I've been doing several interviews and have realized while watching my footage that an eyelight would really help bring out the person from the background. As I've been a 2 man show on a tight schedule, I earlier figured that it wouldn't be necessary to have an eyelight, but I guess my standards are getting raised. Would you just use a reflecting board or a light bulb? I'm doing this somewhat low budget DIY. Any other interview lighting tips would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Alexander
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

You can use any white or luminous object to get a catchlight/eyelight. The key to this is where you position the white/reflective surface. I usually use a photoflex "fold-out" reflector. Chinese lanterns are also very effective.
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

can someone please explain what an "eyelight" is?

I'm a newbie and need a little help. I've got to go shoot some interviews next week, I'm planning a pretty simple key, fill, back light setup.

But I'd like to know what other options i might have. This eyelight thing SOUNDS like it could be a good thing, but i don't want to jump to any conclusions.

BTW. Today I got my first good chance to shoot with my DVX-A since i got it. It was a clear day (finally) and I went at about 4PM and shot an old WWI memorial here in KC which is this beautiful concrete tower. The tower, side lit, against the sky was amazing. I'm REALLY loving this camera.
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

It's that nice little "Glimmer of Light" in a persons eye that you see in well done shots.

Adds a little *sparkle* to the face and eyes.
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

I'm not a native english speaker, so correct me if I'm wrong, but an eyelight would refer to a light source that produces a specular reflection on a subject's eyes. Or it could actually refer to the specular highlight/reflection itself. It makes a person look more lively. Producing this "specular" reflection depends on subject-light-camera position (height actually).
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

That is another way to put it, yes.

Ohhh, you're going to fit in nicely around here. I didn't know there was an actual definiton! :o
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

dont forget the shadows. Eyelights help put some light in those deep dark eye sockets.
 
Re: Eyelight for interviews

Allright. I'll ask the question the other newbies like myself haven't asked yet.

To get this effect, where you you place the light?

I'm assuming it would be fairly dim and shine from behind/beside/above the camera into the interviewees face?

Thanks,
Jared
 
An eyelight is a small-wattage light that puts a tiny dot of light in the eyes of the actor or person being interviewed. This "sparkle" adds life to the person's eyes. This is also called a "catch light".

I do not like to have such a light on the camera itself. What happens if the camera moves? The area where of the eye where the light is reflecting moves, too!

In many situations the way to add an eyelight/catch light is to put a small wattage light bulb (25 or 40 watts) in a socket then attach that to a light stand. Most hardware stores will have an inexpensive electric socket + reflector + spring clamp. Here in the US they cost about $7. Look for a narrow "bullet" reflector, not a wide one. If you want to further limit the light pattern use some black wrap foil around the reflector.

The addition of an inexpensive lamp dimmer will come in very handy to help you adjust the brightness of the light bulb.

Terry Thomas
Atlanta
 
Eye light is easiest to create from proper placing of your key light. Sometimes though the subject's face ask for key light that's way too high in the frame for the eye light to be present in the eyes for considerable amount of time (sometimes it's there and sometime sit's not depending on how the subject moves) - in that case you want to place a soft box - or another large surface and use small wattage bulbs/light to create enough light for the camera to see the large surface but not enough to seriously start affecting your lighting set-up. Just a small bulb (without the large white surface) won't really work as the "small bulb" might be too small when seen in the eyes to produce any effect.
 
Patryk_Rebisz said:
Eye light is easiest to create from proper placing of your key light. Sometimes though the subject's face ask for key light that's way too high in the frame for the eye light to be present in the eyes for considerable amount of time (sometimes it's there and sometime sit's not depending on how the subject moves) - in that case you want to place a soft box - or another large surface and use small wattage bulbs/light to create enough light for the camera to see the large surface but not enough to seriously start affecting your lighting set-up. Just a small bulb (without the large white surface) won't really work as the "small bulb" might be too small when seen in the eyes to produce any effect.
Click to expand...

All correct.
 
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