Lighting a Room

M

mrshish

Member
I need to shoot a couple rooms in larger houses. I am trying to show the ceiling lights in the room and there won't be any actors to consider. Think of it as B-roll for an interview of an electrician. If I only use the practicals there seems to be a nice look to the lights but not enough light since I get a lot of grain. When I add enough light to get ride of the grain the room starts feeling a little washed out.

Does anyone have any good ideas to get a nice balanced light?
 
If you like the look that the practicals produce, then use them as a guide to your lighting setup.

You didn't mention what types of practicals this room used (table lamps, ceiling fixtures, etc.).

How far down are your levels with just the practicals?

Have you considered using color correct photo floods in the practical fixtures (PH-211, PH-212, ECA, ECT)?
 
it wont look as washed out if you are careful about your lighting contrast. If you put too much light in the same direction, yeah youll suffer from over lighting an area and getting rid of all of its lighting contrast.

can you give us an idea of the room setup?
 
Kmuse, the practicals are all ceiling lights and tend to be MR16s (in this case). I won't be able to swap out bulbs since I won't know what the house will look like before I get on sight. All shots will be at night to help the practicals pop a little more.

The room is a dinning room and an open kitchen connected. The camera is in the hall. I will post a few frames tonight after it's dark to show the different lighting setups.

Here is what I've done so far.

1) I started out by just putting a few 300w fresnels at eye level and pointed them into the room. The result was not very nice.

2) Then I tried raising the lights (2x300w fresnels) to the ceiling and pointing them down into the room. The result was too directional.

3) Then tried lowering the lights (2x300w fresnels) and bouncing them off the ceiling. The was getting closer but ut was generating to much light on the ceiling since I'm trying to shoot the ceiling. It also started to make things flat and over too bright.

4) Finally I pulled out a 1000w softbox and raised it to the ceiling and pointed it straight out from the corner. That gave it a better look but still not right.


The thing I'm having problems with is it's looking rather videoish and somewhat amature. I want something with a little more depth. PaPa, you might be be one to something, all the light is coming from two corners of the room. I think I'm just lighting it too flat and need to move some lights around and try to use the shodows a little more while making it look like all the light is coming form the practicals.

John, you are right I do need to learn to control my lights better. Unforunitly I havn't found anyone trying what I am to learn from. Any specific idea's are always appreciated.
 
First set your lighting to get to the key level you need. Then start introducing shadows to add contrast. Washed out isn't necessarily over exposed, it usually just lacks contrast.

Just as you have to light a scene, you also need to add shadows to create depth. Again, use your practicals as a motivation to your lighting design. Look at how they cast shadows on the various surfaces and then try and do the same with your lighting instruments and grip equipment. John is right, you need barn doors, flags, nets, scrims to accomplish the task. You might want to have some black foil on hand as well to flag your practicals if needed.
 
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