Lighting Idea

CookFX Productions

CookFX Productions

Well-known member
OK, I dont know what you would call this effect, and thats my fault for never talking a lighting class. Here goes. I've been working on a skateboard video for a group of guys for a bit, and we all wanna change it up a bit. So I wanna add some sillouette skating to it. Buy that I mean taking white sheets, if they are thin enough and back lighting them so when i record in from of them. It's just a sillouette of them doing tricks. Would Regular White sheets be enough with enough lights to make sillouettes?
 
I'm no lighting guy but wouldn't it be better to kinda go transworld and light a wall up with a heap of lights (worklights would do) and film the skater's shadows on the wall?
I reckon that you'd get a cleaner silhouettes by doing that :)

I'm guessing that a backlit sheet might blow out the exposure on your camera a fair bit (and the sheet could possibly move around as well in the breeze)

You could always do a test and see though :thumbsup:
 
As long as you keep light off the foreground (skaters) and light up the background, you'll be fine. You can use lots of backgrounds for this effect. Its quite simple really. I wouldn't recommend putting light thru the sheet though, as thats going to hit the skaters. On DV, probably doesn't make a difference, but try from the front first anyway, thats how I've always done it. You could also get real artsy and put empty glass beer bottles on the ground, shoot low. The glass looks really neat when lit this way. Jack up the contrast to heighten the effec too.
 
I was thinking for background imagery instead of the skater was using ramp, making a good size canvas to cover the shot, and the lights aren't a problem. But i think the effect of the skater on the ramp, and the ramp too will look really great as a sillouette. It will add something to the movie if it turns out at least. And the wall Idea isnt bad, I might try something with that.
 
Cardmaverick, I wouldn't suggest putting glass bottles on the ground near skateboarders....
Multiple lights will also give you you multiple shadows...See if you can find the "Artist formaly known as Prince" show during the Superbowl.. One light source..
I do like the shadow idea though....I love shadows....
 
I didn't mean near the skaters, but close to the camera, to make them look big. You could do a rack focus from the giant looking beer bottle to a guy skating or something.
 
I think if i did anything to add more shadows it would be to add a few more skaterboarders. But I think the overall Idea was the shadow skating opening up into the main sequence maybe even the sheet coming down. And him and just a lot of lights, But something to play with. Be cool to burn the sheet and have him rocket through it. If he was drunk enough he would do it.
 
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