Making location shots look sunny?

B

binary_finary

Member
I'm heading to Ibiza on Sunday with my new rig to film a documentary on the clubbing scene on the island.

Unfortunately, it may rain the first few days (typical) and will otherwise be overcast at times.

When filming "talking head" shots on beaches and outdoors in general, I don't want it to look grey and miserable.

Obviously I know you can't disguise rain, and can't make the sky look a deep blue if it's overcast, but I'm just looking for tips on how to make it look a bit more "summery" than it might be.

Cheers
 
Keep it warm. Shoot tight on the interviews and it should look like you are in shade on a warm, sunny day. If you have power available you might kick in a strong, warm "sun" back light; and don't shoot the sky as a background. Use foliage, etc. A bit higher than normal camera angle should help with the background, too.
 
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Im afraid theres probably just not enough you could do to get it looking terribly sunny based on your limitations. Clubbing scene? Documentary?

Shoot at night.
 
Kennedy- Thanks for the advice. Pretty much what I was thinking. Similar conditions in the UK at the moment and I've been trying it out--simply blocking out the sky seems to help.

Got a very low DOF going on too, which makes the sky blurry enough that provided it's white cloud, it could easily be bright sun. Just have to be careful how I frame it.

Noel - I get where you're coming from, and most of it is at night, but I've a few interviews with DJs on beaches and a few in villas during the day. That's not to mention the fact the scene on Ibiza is just as much about the daytime!
 
Why not just deal with the fact that the weather is what it is? You said it's a documentary.... don't make the scene something it's not. Like every other place in the world, Ibiza is not all sun and fun.... that's part of what characterises it.
 
Something with a bit of punch even outdoors (i.e. a 1.2k or 2.5k HMI) will work for a nice sharp, bright backlight if you get up close to you talent for interviews. That's how I'd play it.
 
binary_finary said:
Obviously I know you can't disguise rain

Cheers
Click to expand...

Actually, not necessarily true. I produce for ad agencies in Southern California and my advice to clients is to never take weather insurance because, unless it is a downpour, we can hide the rain (and I mean literally hide it, not just wait it out) and sometimes, with enough pars and the tricks noted above, make it look like a sunny day.
 
Surprised nobody has mentioned neg fill. A 4x floppy right next to your talent will certainly give them more contrast and the light from the sky will appear slightly more "sourcy" like the sun.
 
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