Need help for beginner light-setup

Z

zsero

New member
Hi,


I'm about to make my first, super-budget light system. I'm following this video/guide:
http://www.diyphotography.net/three-point-interview-light-on-the-cheap


I found almost all elements, but one thing I don't know is what light bulb to use for hair-light. And if it's needed at all or not? Since I'm in Europe, incandescent light bulbs are not available. Which one would you recommend? IKEA has a 20W one, which looks quite nice: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00131416/ or a 11W one, http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90131407/


The problem with these lights is that I don't know whether their color is nice or not on a video-camera. What should I be looking at when choosing these lights? I'll be using the 500W halogen soft-box for the main light, so I think it should have a warm color as well.

What is your advice? Would you recommend something which I should do differently to the video?
 
legrevedotcom said:
You can get tungsten bulbs still in EU... via the internet shops. I secured a small collection for when using practicals.
Click to expand...

Indeed, I've just checked and on Amazon UK there is a whole category for them. So would you recommend either a 60W or a 100W bulb for a hair light?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WATT-PEARL-..._1_5?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1361208953&sr=1-5
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GLOBE-INCAN..._63?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1361208991&sr=1-63

Or I should just go with the bigger one and use one of these cheap dimmers?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-Dimmer-Switch/dp/B000LAU04K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361209167&sr=8-1
 
Follow the DIY tutorial and don't start making changes or increasing globe wattage . . . a dimmer will shift color output and you will have other problems that you aren't capable of dealing with, yet. You should find a class in photography and gain hands-on experience and knowledge before tampering with an acceptable set-up. Learn with someone else's equipment before making an unwise investment. It's also better to learn from other people's experience (mistakes). You don't have time to make them all yourself. Good Luck
 
kennedymax said:
Follow the DIY tutorial and don't start making changes or increasing globe wattage . . . a dimmer will shift color output and you will have other problems that you aren't capable of dealing with, yet. You should find a class in photography and gain hands-on experience and knowledge before tampering with an acceptable set-up. Learn with someone else's equipment before making an unwise investment. It's also better to learn from other people's experience (mistakes). You don't have time to make them all yourself. Good Luck
Click to expand...

I am following the tutorial, hence the question of what light bulb should I buy in Europe. It's not an unwise investment, since we are talking about $26 for a 3-point light setup. I believe tinkering/tampering/hacking is the best way to learn.

I think we are following different paths in life. That's not bad thing, luckily people are colorful :-)
 
I did a couple of shorts recently. Now it all depends what kind of environment your shot is in. I was shooting in a relatively low lit room. The motivating practicals were two old fashioned wall lamps. I used 15w lamps in those to keep them from going completely over board. Then I had a 100w pin spot with diffuser in front aimed directly at the actress from approximately where one of the wall lights was.
It looked pretty good imo and was a nice cheap way to handle that.

The 100w pin spot was a Pulsar MK3. They cost next to nothing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAR36-Spo...?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item4d0438c8f5

I haven't used it for anything else than hairlight, so I don't know how it would work other wise. I imagine it would be pretty spotty as a background light, but when the motivated light is a single hard source, then I guess it would suit the purpose.

American version: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/American-...Gobos_Gels_Filters_Lenses&hash=item4ac161360c

Example.... bounced 650w fresnel from behind camera, wall practicals all with 15w lamps. Table lamp was 15w, pin spot up at the same height as the wall practical to camera left aimed at her with 250 diffuser in front. There was no background light....... only practicals. (ok... one T1 with full CTB aimed through the window).
Camera settings were 1600iso, f 3.2, 1/50s, 3400K

shot2.png
 
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legrevedotcom said:
I did a couple of shorts recently. Now it all depends what kind of environment your shot is in. I was shooting in a relatively low lit room. The motivating practicals were two old fashioned wall lamps. I used 15w lamps in those to keep them from going completely over board. Then I had a 100w pin spot with diffuser in front aimed directly at the actress from approximately where one of the wall lights was.
It looked pretty good imo and was a nice cheap way to handle that.

The 100w pin spot was a Pulsar MK3. They cost next to nothing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAR36-Spo...?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item4d0438c8f5

I haven't used it for anything else than hairlight, so I don't know how it would work other wise. I imagine it would be pretty spotty as a background light, but when the motivated light is a single hard source, then I guess it would suit the purpose.

American version: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/American-...Gobos_Gels_Filters_Lenses&hash=item4ac161360c

Example.... bounced 650w fresnel from behind camera, wall practicals all with 15w lamps. Table lamp was 15w, pin spot up at the same height as the wall practical to camera left aimed at her with 250 diffuser in front. There was no background light....... only practicals. (ok... one T1 with full CTB aimed through the window).
Camera settings were 1600iso, f 3.2, 1/50s, 3400K
Click to expand...

Thanks for this! I still have a lot to learn, but I'm trying to read/experiment as much as I can! I wish my GH2 would have an ISO 1600 like this...
 
IMO that DIY softbox is a POS & potentially dangerous. Even if not it wouldn't last long in your inventory & ultimately not worth the bother or money.

Instead look for inexpensive 2nd hand lights & stands. You should be able to score open face units on the cheap. Look for Par Cans, Redheads, Lowel lights, etc.

Don't worry about three point lighting. First learn what can be done with a single lamp.

And invest in some good books.

Ross Lowell's "Matters Of Light & Depth" is an easy read & will familarize you with the theory.

And when you have the budget pickup a copy of Harry Box's "Set Lighting Technician's Handbook".
 
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