Lighting question!
- Thread starter twerp
- Start date
You'll need a pretty big light with a lot of diffusion to make it not look like a spot, since in this shot you're actually seeing the window. Exactly what you use depends on what you already have, your budget, and what your light levels look like inside. It's all relative... but brighter is generally better in this case.
And for haze there are specific requirements, there's a word that's different than a fog machine since it has particles and doesn't set so low. But I can't remember the word right now.
And for haze there are specific requirements, there's a word that's different than a fog machine since it has particles and doesn't set so low. But I can't remember the word right now.
twerp
Active member
what size HMI would you recommend? would i also need to run an HMI off of a generator or would i be okay with plugging it into a normal socket?
thanks guys!
Andrew Brinkhaus
Veteran
You can run anything up to a 2k (2,000w) off a typical home breaker (20amps) In HMI world, the biggest you'll be able to run will be a 1.2k, you could run more off separate breakers in the house and have the effect of a much bigger light through one window.
OR
You could use a east or west facing window and take advantage of a "free light" by timing the strongest point in the day for the sun to pound the window. Add haze and you'll be in light ray heaven. PS- make sure it's not overcast.
OR
You could use a east or west facing window and take advantage of a "free light" by timing the strongest point in the day for the sun to pound the window. Add haze and you'll be in light ray heaven. PS- make sure it's not overcast.
Chris Santucci
Veteran
That could very well be achieved with available light only. Notice the practical lamp in the room appears to be on. All you need is an older lens that flares easy (and maybe a little haze).
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Yah, if you can't use the sun, meaning shooting in daylight no matter where the sun is from your window, then a 1.2 KW HMI would work nicely. However, you probably don't have one at your disposal.
I find a shot like that works well when done at night. Hang a piece of white full or half grid cloth outside the window to serve as a diffuser -- notice you can't see any detail out the window.
Use a plain old 1K tungsten fresnel as a source. That's only a fifth the quantity of light a 1.2K HMI produces but it works fine. Put the fixture 5 or so feet away and adjust the beam so it's no larger than it needs to be to get the effect because the more spotted it is the brighter it appears. Let the monitor be your guide.
And yes, you need a bit of haze. You can rent a hazer or bum a smoke machine from a DJ, or try a can of the aerosol.
Your shot looks like it was taken in a motel room with those opaque drapes. If I had to guess I'd say it was lit with a tungsten source, because the two practicals, probably with a color temp of 2700K or so, don't look warm enough for the source to be 5600K.
I find a shot like that works well when done at night. Hang a piece of white full or half grid cloth outside the window to serve as a diffuser -- notice you can't see any detail out the window.
Use a plain old 1K tungsten fresnel as a source. That's only a fifth the quantity of light a 1.2K HMI produces but it works fine. Put the fixture 5 or so feet away and adjust the beam so it's no larger than it needs to be to get the effect because the more spotted it is the brighter it appears. Let the monitor be your guide.
And yes, you need a bit of haze. You can rent a hazer or bum a smoke machine from a DJ, or try a can of the aerosol.
Your shot looks like it was taken in a motel room with those opaque drapes. If I had to guess I'd say it was lit with a tungsten source, because the two practicals, probably with a color temp of 2700K or so, don't look warm enough for the source to be 5600K.