Lighting Issues

D

Decius

Active member
Hey there,

Got a question. I checked out some footage of the DVX and in low light it looked really nice. DVD quality.

Problem is when i shoot in low light I get some grain, which detracts from the scene.

In 24p(a), how is it supposed to react to low light? What about if there's a bright spot on someone and it's dark surrounding them. Is there supposed to be grain around the edges where the light ends?

Do people generally shoot with 1/8 ND and light the scene more than is needed? I'm not really too sure what the general stance on lighting is.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

yes.. night time in the movies is never really night time.. You can read magazines like AC that will show you lighting setups.

So to answer your question, yes. Bettery too much light than to little light in lighting.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

There are many factors to consider here such as proper exposure, shutter speed and ND (although using an ND in low-light conditions doesn't seem right).

But lets pretend that all of the above are in perfect order. IF you are shooting in low-light and see grain where the light ends, then the use more light in the area of darkness. Even though you want it to 'look dark' you still have to light it for the look. Check out the following article; I found it good for me.

http://www.mvwire.com/dynamic/article_view.asp?AID=10564
 
Re: Lighting Issues

That was a wicked article John. Thanks.

Would you recommend darkening the scene in post then after it is shot?

To what degree is this effective?
 
Re: Lighting Issues

I am not the most experienced when it comes to POST, but I have heard that is the best way. It's like, light it to LOOK DARK and when POST comes, if you still need it darker, then do it.

Like Jarred said, better to have too much than too little because you can always cheat it later.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

Absolutely you can do it in post. A good example of Day-For-Night shooting would be the movie Castaway. If i'm not mistaken, the entire thing was shot in broad daylight, then adjusted in post for the night scenes.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

..its important to mention that there was also alot of composite computer graphic work going into making the day for night scenes in castaway.. mainly the sky  -one obvios point to this is that you can see stars... not all night scenes for the film were shot like that though. the main ones shot using the broad daylight method would just be the night scenes on beach.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

... and that ridiculous whale scene... haha what a way to ruin a movie
 
Re: Lighting Issues

What part ruined it for you? I spent 2 years in USCG and I have had more weird experiences with sea life than I can remember! That scene was real enough in my opinion.

Once, I was all alone on the fantail (aft deck) smoking a cigarette and leaning against the rail. It was about dusk (funny, in the Aleutian Sea dusk comes at 11:00 pm) and I was startled by a loud noise (the noise that a whale makes when blowing air). I turned around and there is this white whale (Beluga) about 15' long. It was just cruising by (we were only passing at about 6 knots). I sware it was looking at me. Total eye contact. Amazing.

I found that scene in Castaway to be very cool in bringing up memories at sea.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

..i know this has nothing to do with this thread, but i just noticed my atari symbol looks rat natsy ..perhaps its time for a new avatar.
 
Re: Lighting Issues

wow I didn't know they would actually come up and make eye contact like that with you... the closest I've been to that was watching them slap the waves with their tails up in Alaska a few years ago...

I stand corrected ;)
 
Re: Lighting Issues

LOL

I didn't mean to be all "**** mutha! check me out!" LOL

They really do. I sware. It's amazing. And dolphiins, oh my lord, are the most amazing creatures and will follow the ship for hours and days.

This beluga whale I sware was scoping me. I was no more than 10 to 15 feet away and the eyes were so 'real' (know what I mean?)

Ive seen sharks, sunfish (weird lil bastards), the orca whales (killer) you name it, ive probally seen it at sea.

When that scene in the movie happended, I was like "Yeah......"


And yes, IAL, that image is nasty! :D
 
Re: Lighting Issues

[quote author=Jarred Land link=board=Events;num=1074386886;start=0#1 date=01/17/04 at 17:31:55]
So to answer your question, yes. Bettery too much light than to little light in lighting.[/quote]

Otherwise, I suppose, it would be "darking." ::) :P
 
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