Lighting Guru shine your light on me

M

mldeff

Member
This is the look of the video I'm going to shoot. (probably a true white background, instead of grey)
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/guide...ur/medium.html

a few questions.

1)Is there a sweet spot for exposure, shutter speed I should be aiming for to get this look?

2) how will depth of field affect getting that clean white background?

3) I'm going to light the wall and the subjects with different lighting. should the wall be brighter than the subject? Is there an IRE number I should be going for?

4) If there is a minimal amount of diffused indirect sunlight seeping into the room, will that force me to color correct all my lighting for white balance? Even if the light's are pumping?

I await your knowledge and brilliance with humility and thanks.
 
1) Get at least 8'-10' separation between your actor and your background

2) Depth of focus will affect your background by blurring it if your focal plane is on your actor (and you're not shooting stopped down); since it's ideally going to be a featureless white backing anyway, all this means in practical terms is that any imperfections in the surface will go away that much more

3) The subject should be brighter than the wall, with a rim light to make him/her/it pop (not by too much; a half- or even quarter-stop difference should suffice)

4) If you have sunlight in the space, balance your lights and camera to it (well, balance your lights to it, then white-balance)


Not that I'm particularly a lighting guru.
 
How exactly do I determine that the subject is a half or quarter stop brighter than the background?
Is it okay to backlight from the ground shooting up at the subject. (as long as its not directed at camera) All diagrams seem to have the backlight from above.

You are guru enough for me!
 
I usually accomplish this look with a green screen. Same tips that sad max posted apply to a green screen shoot.

As for the stops.... If you don't have a light meter to determine stops, try to use a lower wattage light that is diffused, I sometimes put an orange gel over that to enhance skin tones and separation, but you have to try it to see how it looks.

You can put it below the subject or slightly off to the side, as long as it spills the light correctly on your subject and is not in your shot.

ALSO....."Not that I'm particularly a lighting guru."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top