Looking for advice: lighting canvas for documentary

[rob norton]

I know there was a recent thread about lighting in a small space but I think my situation is different enough.

I'm shooting an artist sketching on an A0 canvas (1189 x 841 mm/46.8 x 33.1 in) on a table that can go from horizontal to vertical.

I'd like to avoid just pumping in light to bring it up overall. I've experimented with my arri 650/softbox/egg crate raised and directly to the side of the canvas aimed at it until I found a spot where I liked the length of the hand's shadow. I was thinking of using this for the subject's face as well.

As far as lighting I have:

Arri 650w
Arri 300w
Source 4 Jr
Dedolight DLH4 150w
Reflectors
flags (scrims/black)
4x4 scrim jim/diffusions
softbox/egg crate

Do you have any suggestions that can make the lighting more interesting? I like the shape of the leko from behind as a spot on the artist/work area but this doesn't help exposing for the piece of paper.

Thank you for helping,

Rob

 

[cpc]

If the content of the sketch is important you may want to light it evenly in traditional repro style: one light to the left, one to the right, symmetrical, angled to avoid glare. And, again depending on canvas importance, having shadows falling on it might not be a good idea. If you want (or have) to avoid a symmetrical scheme, you may consider lighting from the opposite side of the artist's drawing hand: light from the left for a righty, and light from the right for a lefty. This is a classical approach and can be observed in a lot of paintings of painters, usually with the viewpoint positioned between the light and the artist.

 

[rob norton]

thanks cpc, I'll test that set up.