lighting for school/nursing home with large windows

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dishan

Well-known member
I need to shoot something in an auditorium/dining hall, one wall of which is entirely window.

I'm used to shooting in controled lighting situations (studio, night, etc), and I'm not entirely sure how to work with the natural light from that window. I have one little reflector, but I'm not sure that will be enough?
I'm scared to use Tungsten colored lights with that potential sunlight. I do have 2 85Watt photo/video CFL's that are supposed to be 5500k daylight colored. They aren't as portable and don't put out quite as much light as the Tungstens, but would I be better off with that?

Or is the reflector enough? Or should I just fight the window with the Tungstens/halogens, since the overhead lighting is probably the same color anyway?
 
I'm not necessarily going to have the opportunity to hit up a rental place before then (Monday, and I'm busy the rest of this week). But if there is something specific you recommend, perhaps I could borrow from colleagues in the area?
What kind of lighting are you picturing?

I should also add, this isn't a narrative or set that I have full control over. It is a scripted presentation to advertise this facility. The facility is going to be in use, so I can't litter the room with lights or block out the windows. That being the case, less-that-perfect lighting could be excusable. But I want the image to look as clean as possible.
 
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I shoot in a similar location (A large church) last summer. We shoot all over the place including extensively in long hallways with windows along one wall. I swallowed hard and used the window light, which was mostly skylight and reflected exterior ambiance, as my main light. I did have some 27 watt "Daylight" CFLs that I put into reflector scoops for supplemental lighting. For my close ups and medium shots I used the CFLs as my portraiture light and tried my best to frame so that the window light (and existing practical lights) took care of the rest of the scene. Yeah, the lighting was very much less than perfect but the final project was very well received and, to be honest, was very much better than they paid for.
 
I´m not seeing a problem here: If you shoot wide, show the windows, let them burn out (if you´re camera handles this well) or end your frame just short before them. If you need to shoot a close up/interview, position the person close and facing the window. Fill with your CFL in a china ball.
 
I´m not seeing a problem here: If you shoot wide, show the windows, let them burn out
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that's the rub right there. if you WANT to be able to see what's outside the windows then your're going to have to use some degree of ND filter and then fill the room with light somewhat equivalent to whats coming in from outside.

youre going to need no less than a 250w equivalent on a closeup to compete with the sun (even shaded sun) . depending on the shots you want, id look into a couple 500 watt dimmable tungstens with a stack of CTB gels.
 
I have used my tungsten light in daylight with 1/2 CTB. It is warmer and you lose a lot of punch but 650s and 1Ks can still work that way. Full CTB will match better but you will lose more.
 
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