Help with my lighting!

E

e3graphics

Member
Ok, so I threw up some lighting over the weekend in my garage to test it out. I am totally new to the lighting game...and quite frankly suck. I will be doing some interview shoots in the next few months and need to get a good handle on how to light properly for an interview.

Here is a link to a clip that has four different setups. Any suggestions? Which one looks the best and how can I improve on it?

Thank you

http://vimeo.com/721736
 
what do you have as far as lights go? you can light an interview very simply with a good Key light, and a reflector.
 
I have three 600w Arri lights right now. That should be more than enough for an interview. I think it is almost too much light actually.
 
well that's what the scrims are for to cut them down to have one maybe a 300 or so. I saw you had a side light so I'd say to experiement with having more of a rim/back light to make it pop. I'd also highly recommend those masters of light books and any good book on portrait photography... Will help your skills tremendoulsly.. You could also cheaply augment your kit with some flo's or maybe some practicals. Don't also forget to get some black wrap and to possibly get a cookie or make one.


One of my lighting tricks is to bring a plastic house plant with me and stick that in front of the wall light and bingo.. instant natural looking cookie. Works well with cheap blinds or making a blind/checker cookie.. It's all about having fun and trying to create a mood.


cheers and don't ever say you suck. Say you are learning and that's enough.. Now Michael Bay, he sucks!
 
One thing i will say is light everything seperately.

If the light is aiming at the subject from one direction make sure the camera is on the opposite side.

One light for the wall, One Key light for the Subject with a fill light.

Have you as Soft light?

Get as far away from a wall as possible.

Good luck
 
Instead of stacking up only on lights I'd actually spend some dough and get some books I can say helped out a whole lot...

Motion Picture and Video Lighting by Blain Brown
Film Light by Kris Malkowitz (sp)

Blain Brown's book came with a dvd as well and is very simple and easy to read into either as a beginner or for someone experienced. The book includes several different bits on setups and other stuff that'll help you choose your approach to lighting. Lastly the dvd which I found it to be useful and quite thoughtful demonstrates alot of the techniques and such explained in the book; ranging from gripology to helping understand electrical distrobution and back to types of light and how to use them. Look for it on Amazon.com- the book is singly the best $39 i've spent in six years of practice.

peace,
Elijah

p.s.- I am in no way affiliated with either author/publisher but I do believe cinematography/videography students must help each other out.
 
Have you seen any of the video podcasts over at Izzyvideo.com? He has had a few episodes where he goes over lighting.

I second the getting away from the wall as much as possible. I ran into that same issue when doing some test footage at home. Also applies to green screen work - at least in my experience.

Off topic, but I've been noticing more and more people are using vimeo.com. From what I can see the video quality is better than youtube.com but just wanted to see if there are other reasons.

Ho...
 
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