Light Kit for Beginner
- Thread starter etrust
- Start date
What you think about this cheap Kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/2300-Watt-3-Poi...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4ce72893aa
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PerroneFord
Deals in Lead
This question gets asked one or twice a week. Please spend some time looking at the hundred plus threads where people have asked the exact same question.
Thanks.
Thanks.
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
eTrust,
a good approach to this problem might be to think about what type of light you want? Think about what sort of shooting you are doing, how you want things to look, and then what constraints you have.
Are you looking a just getting "more light", are you trying to shoot dramatic stuff with harder shadows, or perhaps sit down interviews with more neutral lighting. Look around at videos ( & images) that look like the type of things you are trying to achieve, then think about how they did it - not what gear was used, just how it was used.
Once you have an idea of what type of things you are trying to emulate, then you can start to look at what gear can allow you to do that. And at that point you then take into consideration your practical needs like budget, portability, power usage, heat, etc...
Concentrate on what you want to achieve, then find the tools to do it.
- Mikko
a good approach to this problem might be to think about what type of light you want? Think about what sort of shooting you are doing, how you want things to look, and then what constraints you have.
Are you looking a just getting "more light", are you trying to shoot dramatic stuff with harder shadows, or perhaps sit down interviews with more neutral lighting. Look around at videos ( & images) that look like the type of things you are trying to achieve, then think about how they did it - not what gear was used, just how it was used.
Once you have an idea of what type of things you are trying to emulate, then you can start to look at what gear can allow you to do that. And at that point you then take into consideration your practical needs like budget, portability, power usage, heat, etc...
Concentrate on what you want to achieve, then find the tools to do it.
- Mikko
Hi Mikko,
thank you and everybody for helping me..
I want to shot music videos and short films. I could find a lot of great music videos on youtube, but they don't explained which Lights and how they use them to get a really nice Look :=(
There is to much of light types on the market. I don't have the possibility to test them..
Maybe this could be a beginning: http://vimeo.com/7770278 . He wrote there that he used "a 2k Arri (tungsten) & 4 500w omni's w/ flag kit and 1 650w ".
I like the Look very much. A guy sent me nice links with prices of these lamps..
It cost a lot but i think it's necessary to have them..
Maybe i should start with these lights.. But first i need money
Thank you all again and sorry to ask stupid questions..
thank you and everybody for helping me..
I want to shot music videos and short films. I could find a lot of great music videos on youtube, but they don't explained which Lights and how they use them to get a really nice Look :=(
There is to much of light types on the market. I don't have the possibility to test them..
Maybe this could be a beginning: http://vimeo.com/7770278 . He wrote there that he used "a 2k Arri (tungsten) & 4 500w omni's w/ flag kit and 1 650w ".
I like the Look very much. A guy sent me nice links with prices of these lamps..
It cost a lot but i think it's necessary to have them..
Maybe i should start with these lights.. But first i need money
Thank you all again and sorry to ask stupid questions..
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
You know what he used, but you don't know how. Or Why.
If they don't openly present how they did it, then think about how one might do it. Try and figure out where the light is coming from in the shots. Is it hard, soft? warm, cold? high, low? describe the light to yourself in words. Read up on some lighting theory on ways to accomplish the shot. Post up still here on 'user and ask "how do you think this was achieved? I think they used a flood up high, but where's this shadow from?" ask for help that way, about the HOWs, not the WHATs.
It might seem a little backwards, but learning to light (or any task) will greatly help you choose what tools you need to do the job.
- Mikko
PerroneFord
Deals in Lead
It might also be helpful to purchase a couple of DVDs on how to light. These instructional videos go over what lights are used, when, and why. A good course or study book in photography is also incredibly helpful. It helps you begin to SEE the light, and understand what you are seeing. What color is the light, is it hard or soft, what kinds of shadows does it create, and how does that make someone feel.
Once you understand what the light is DOING, and what emotions it is bringing, then learning to replicate that kind of light when you want the same mood is pretty easy. And can help guide you toward how to spend your money.
Once you understand what the light is DOING, and what emotions it is bringing, then learning to replicate that kind of light when you want the same mood is pretty easy. And can help guide you toward how to spend your money.
Wilson
Active member
Yes, as stated above, there are MANY different kinds of lights and MANY more ways that they can be used. It is perhaps best to learn a bit about lighting first, but don't be afraid to experiment! With video it is so easy to instantly see what works, take the time to mess around before the shoot. Seek out lighting videos or maybe intern with a Gaffer/Dp.
Good Luck,
W
Good Luck,
W
Hi Guys,
I'm back :=)
Could I archieve a similiar look like this: http://vimeo.com/7770278
With this Lowel Kit: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287723-REG/Lowel_TORP_955.html
I have about 2500$ to spent on a Light Kit.
Please let me know.
I'm back :=)
Could I archieve a similiar look like this: http://vimeo.com/7770278
With this Lowel Kit: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287723-REG/Lowel_TORP_955.html
I have about 2500$ to spent on a Light Kit.
Please let me know.
PerroneFord
Deals in Lead
Not a chance.
That said, you could "probably" get those looks for that budget if you knew what your were doing. I'm almost certain I could get those looks for that money. The only potential problem would be in lighting the club or lighting that night scene at the bridge or whatever with the white Porsche. That's a pretty big light, and the club scene could require a dozen lights or so depending on what practicals were going to be used.
I am guessing from your question that you didn't buy the books or dvds as we suggested. That would have helped tremendously in answering this question. The trick in lighting people when you want to make them look "pretty" is big sources. Unless you've got a fat budget, this means using strong, hard lights with bounce material or shooting through softening material. If you want to get a nice soft light on a woman you should be thinking about using a 4x4 or 8x8 source or something similar. And that light should be mostly frontal. You can sculpt that light with a complementary hard light elsewhere on her hair or whatever.
Lighting something like that bridge is in the realm of a 5K or 1 10k instrument, preferably an HMI fresnel. The other close up stuff isn't too tough to pull off.
The Lowel kit you linked to is a nice starter kit and will teach you some things you really need to know about lighting well. But you are looking at a video light by an obvious professional, with real resources at their disposal (maybe rental) and you are trying to emulate that look with what amounts to a starter kit.
Hi Perrone,
thank you for you post.
About Books and DVDs..
I have buy a book about Light for Film. There was Film Scenes from 1950..2000 and Richard Blank and other Directors told about Light and definition but not about specific Equipments and how they used it:=(
What I really need is a DVD with some practical examples / tutorials. Where can I find it something like that?
I have realize only 3 Projects. I rent some Lights and a DOP. My mistake was that I only paid him to do the job and don't remember what I exactly rent. But he used everytime max 3 Lights. You can find bellow some pics maybe you can see it..
Project 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTLIjdWnTxY
Kino Flo and maybe 2-3 Omni or Fresnel i think. It was no more lights. Here you can find Making of pictures: http://badboyproductions.ch/ (it's a german page. But is on the first page bellow "Wreckid feat. Gimma")
Project 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abEgK0jjacY
Kino Flo and maybe 2-3 Omni or Fresnel i think. It was no more lights. Here you can find Making of pictures: http://badboyproductions.ch/ (it's a german page. But is on the first page in the middle "Give me a Sign")
Project 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNU1CkAmY
No Budget project. From 2:50 you can see a small party
I was the DOP: 3 construction lamps max 500 w and Sun :=)
About the video I'm trying to archive the Look: http://vimeo.com/7770278
I can see that I should rent lights for the porsche Scene and the club, but do you think that I could reach the same look for the close up scenes? This Lowel Kit has a lot of light?
I could use the Softbox on the left and a Tota and the umbrella on the other side. For the Bachground Light maybe the Pro light that is on the box. Than I still have 2 omni Light to play with.
Maybe I can use the installed club light to help me to get all a little bit brighter?
For the porsche scene: What if I plug my complete Kit and point to the same position? Would 3.2kw be very low?
The Last Point: What would you buy if you would beginn again as a starter, but with the experience that you have today? Budget: 2500-3000$. I think this is a interesting question :=)
thank you for you post.
About Books and DVDs..
I have buy a book about Light for Film. There was Film Scenes from 1950..2000 and Richard Blank and other Directors told about Light and definition but not about specific Equipments and how they used it:=(
What I really need is a DVD with some practical examples / tutorials. Where can I find it something like that?
I have realize only 3 Projects. I rent some Lights and a DOP. My mistake was that I only paid him to do the job and don't remember what I exactly rent. But he used everytime max 3 Lights. You can find bellow some pics maybe you can see it..
Project 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTLIjdWnTxY
Kino Flo and maybe 2-3 Omni or Fresnel i think. It was no more lights. Here you can find Making of pictures: http://badboyproductions.ch/ (it's a german page. But is on the first page bellow "Wreckid feat. Gimma")
Project 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abEgK0jjacY
Kino Flo and maybe 2-3 Omni or Fresnel i think. It was no more lights. Here you can find Making of pictures: http://badboyproductions.ch/ (it's a german page. But is on the first page in the middle "Give me a Sign")
Project 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNU1CkAmY
No Budget project. From 2:50 you can see a small party
I was the DOP: 3 construction lamps max 500 w and Sun :=)
About the video I'm trying to archive the Look: http://vimeo.com/7770278
I can see that I should rent lights for the porsche Scene and the club, but do you think that I could reach the same look for the close up scenes? This Lowel Kit has a lot of light?
I could use the Softbox on the left and a Tota and the umbrella on the other side. For the Bachground Light maybe the Pro light that is on the box. Than I still have 2 omni Light to play with.
Maybe I can use the installed club light to help me to get all a little bit brighter?
For the porsche scene: What if I plug my complete Kit and point to the same position? Would 3.2kw be very low?
The Last Point: What would you buy if you would beginn again as a starter, but with the experience that you have today? Budget: 2500-3000$. I think this is a interesting question :=)
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