Here's a tough one (for me, anyway): I've agreed to tape the guy who started a small museum as he walks around and talks about the displays. They're small dioramas in glass cases, and dimly lit with fiber optics connected to small halogen bulbs. The FO stuff doesn't really cast much light on the display items, and I don't have the option of taking the glass off. How would you suggest I light him and the displays so I'm not getting most of my light reflecting off the glass or casting really bad shadows in the displays? Thanks.
museum displays
- Thread starter powerdog
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: museum displays
Hmmm... perhaps Walter knows a good answer to this... what I would probably do is light for the guy and follow him around, maybe have someone with a portable fluorescent or something like that. When he gets close to a display, go in for close-ups on the display (kill all extraneous lighting and just let the fiber-optic stuff shine, and if exterior lights are off then there shouldn't be any reflections on the glass).
You could do it all live, following him around, and then when he's done talking go in for dedicated close-ups of each diorama...
Hmmm... perhaps Walter knows a good answer to this... what I would probably do is light for the guy and follow him around, maybe have someone with a portable fluorescent or something like that. When he gets close to a display, go in for close-ups on the display (kill all extraneous lighting and just let the fiber-optic stuff shine, and if exterior lights are off then there shouldn't be any reflections on the glass).
You could do it all live, following him around, and then when he's done talking go in for dedicated close-ups of each diorama...
Re: museum displays
Barry, thank you! Phew. At least now a plan is starting to form.
Yes, I was thinking that I'd let the exhibits be fairly dark when they're seen with him, and then cut to a close-up of each. I also plan to use a circ polarizer and wonder if that would allow me to light each close-up from the outside, thru the glass.
The whole place is extremely dark for a museum, as it's a converted dairy barn. Very few windows, little overhead lighting. He says, "Your eyes adjust" and I think, "Yeah, but the camera doesn't."
Barry, thank you! Phew. At least now a plan is starting to form.
Yes, I was thinking that I'd let the exhibits be fairly dark when they're seen with him, and then cut to a close-up of each. I also plan to use a circ polarizer and wonder if that would allow me to light each close-up from the outside, thru the glass.
The whole place is extremely dark for a museum, as it's a converted dairy barn. Very few windows, little overhead lighting. He says, "Your eyes adjust" and I think, "Yeah, but the camera doesn't."
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: museum displays
Real simple, you follow him around as he walks and talks lighting him with a sun gun or whatever you need to make him look good. Show the case with him but stay on him. After all is said, go back and shoot the displays alone, nicely shot by themselves making sure to remember what the said so if he talked about something in particular you see that. Then edit it together so that when he gets to the display you hear and see him looking down at it then cut to the close ups you shot later as if two cameras are shooting.
Real simple, you follow him around as he walks and talks lighting him with a sun gun or whatever you need to make him look good. Show the case with him but stay on him. After all is said, go back and shoot the displays alone, nicely shot by themselves making sure to remember what the said so if he talked about something in particular you see that. Then edit it together so that when he gets to the display you hear and see him looking down at it then cut to the close ups you shot later as if two cameras are shooting.
Re: museum displays
Thanks, both of you.
One thing about the displays themselves. They're a little bit like large fish tanks without water..sort of cramped with all the display stuff, dimly lit with those fiber optics from above, and they're made out of big glass or plastic panels. Do I aim my light through the glass and use a polarizer? If so, I think the display items are going to cast big shadows behind them.
Thanks again!
Thanks, both of you.
One thing about the displays themselves. They're a little bit like large fish tanks without water..sort of cramped with all the display stuff, dimly lit with those fiber optics from above, and they're made out of big glass or plastic panels. Do I aim my light through the glass and use a polarizer? If so, I think the display items are going to cast big shadows behind them.
Thanks again!
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: museum displays
No you aim lights from the sides placing them where they don't create reflections. And wear all black
No you aim lights from the sides placing them where they don't create reflections. And wear all black
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: museum displays
yes and maybe bring some black cloth incase there are reflections in the room appearing on the glass.
yes and maybe bring some black cloth incase there are reflections in the room appearing on the glass.
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: museum displays
I never use a polarizer. Why do i want to cut my light down two stops when its so much easier to set up black material around the side of the display you are shooting from.
I never use a polarizer. Why do i want to cut my light down two stops when its so much easier to set up black material around the side of the display you are shooting from.