Need help with lighting this

T

thisone

Member
Hello,
I'm shooting a scene tomorrow which I'm not sure how to light. I am very inexperienced with lighting video so I would greatly appreciate some help. I have some work lights (200W, 500W, 300W), 2 Chinese Lanterns and I'm able to make some reflectors etc.

I would like to use the basic "T" (3-point lighting), but I'm not sure how to do it in this particular situation. I've drawn the location and camera angles below.

Could anyone try to place some lights on this drawing?

heltraatt.JPG
 
Sorry, I'm not clear-- is the large box a table, or what is it?

And WATCH OUT for that window. Pull a curtain or throw some ND gel over it. Your lights don't have the wattage to overpower it.

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
Trouble is, you can't really do 3-point lighting for 3 cameras at once. It looks like the best you can do is light it flat. (TV Style)
 
david_kuznicki: It's a table, sorry. Hmm, person B is supposed to look out of the window, so I can't use curtains. Maybe I should shoot from the other side? (between the window and the 2 persons).

j: I don't know if it helps, but there aren't really 3 cameras, just 3 different angles to shoot from (3 different takes).

Thanks for the replies.
 
need more info

need more info

What time of day are you planning this shot? That is key to any kind of light set up advice.

What are they referencing out the window?

First impression, with your limited space and three cameras, you'll need to mount those lights on the ceiling. No stands. Or you just flat light it as "j" suggested. Put up all three lights, high, one behind each camera position.

Time of day is still going to be crucial. I hope you are not planning on seeing a sunset out the window during your shoot!:cheesy:
 
You're going to have a hell of a time trying to get your exposure right if it's daylight outside. I would shoot it on a very overcast day, or at night. If you need it to be daylight then get some gels.
 
put a big 1k throught the window and blow it out. Give it a look that when the people walk infront of it will look really good. you will need to put a chamier over the 1k to get the effect. Think the DA sceen in Crash
 
Well, a 1 camera shoot is horse of different color! Here is how I would approach it: (just reverse for the other angle)

heltraatt.jpg


(The squiggle on the window is the bug screen and/or gel, and that yellow circle is one or more china balls...) You can try the lights direct or bounced, see how either looks.
You will have to work hard to fight the sun.

I would use the window as the motivation for the light, and by using a combination of bounce cards and work lights, fill in the light so it "wraps" around the subjects face, hopefully you can get this to work in the cameras exposure range and make it look natural. You might also want to use the "low" gamma instead of "cine" gamma for this shot, and color match it in post.

If is a North window, you are in luck, if it is other, then either pray for clouds or schedule the time when the sun is not direct. You can also get ND gel to darken the window and give the lights a chance to catch up, or you can use a layer of window screen. (bug screen) This can cut the light by 1 or 2 stops. Becareful doubling it up, as you will get moire effect.

The other problem is mixed colors Either the window will look blue, or the lights will look yellow (or both) If you can gel the lights blue, or gel the window orange, this will help make the image more professional.

As for the 2 shot, I would just pump in as much light on the ceiling and I could.

-J
 
Thanks to all for your great replies!

Especially J for the thorough explanation. I'll do my best and maybe, if it doesn't look too crappy, post a picture later.

Thanks :)
 
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