Newbie lighitng question...

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DoonaeMFD

Member
Ok, sorry if this has been covered before.

I've made a few shorts with my cam (www.zmoproductions.co.uk) but most were outside. I'm about to make a new one that is mostly indoors, in a domestic location.

I would really like it to be nice and bright, a bit like the UK BT adverts (if you've seen them - with te guy out of My Family). Any tips would be greatly appreciated......


Thanx...
 
If you can post a screen capture from the show that you would like to emulate, that would help. Being in US i have on idea what you are referring to, but would like to help.


- GageFX
 
GageFX said:
If you can post a screen capture from the show that you would like to emulate, that would help. Being in US i have on idea what you are referring to, but would like to help.


- GageFX
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I've had a good look about the net and can see nothing other than tiny little screenshots. I'm sure I've got the ad on my Sky+ box - if I video it and post a link to it would you be ok to take a look and give some advice?

Thanks
 
Can you define what specifically of this advert you like? Is it the strongly back lite character or the blown out windows?

I don't see anything in this advertisement that is all that difficult to achieve, but it is difficult to know what aspect of this style you are trying to emulate and what lighting instruments you have access to.

You might want to post a screen grab of some interior scene that you have shoot and let users here comment on the lighting.
 
khmuse said:
Can you define what specifically of this advert you like? Is it the strongly back lite character or the blown out windows?

I don't see anything in this advertisement that is all that difficult to achieve, but it is difficult to know what aspect of this style you are trying to emulate and what lighting instruments you have access to.

You might want to post a screen grab of some interior scene that you have shoot and let users here comment on the lighting.
Click to expand...

I think the way the 'white light' looks indoors. I understand the blown out windows can be done with exposure and stuff, but how do I balance it all??

Thanks
 
If your interior lighting is daylight balanced, thats exactly what you would get. Small HMIs or daylight fluorescents would be a good starting point.
 
khmuse said:
If your interior lighting is daylight balanced, thats exactly what you would get. Small HMIs or daylight fluorescents would be a good starting point.
Click to expand...

Thanks. At the risk of appearing extremely stupid, what are "HMIs or daylight fluorescents" - can they be bought from normal stores?
 
Doon-

I really want to try to help, man, but I cant do anything with an .rm file. I downloaded your file, and I dont have the software, and I apologize but I'm not installing anything to view it. .mov, .wmv, .mpg, .avi ...... these are all standards. RealMedia?

I have some grabs that I think will help because it sounds like what I think you're saying. BUt I need a visual. Just a screencap will do.

-GageFX
 
GageFX said:
Doon-

I really want to try to help, man, but I cant do anything with an .rm file. I downloaded your file, and I dont have the software, and I apologize but I'm not installing anything to view it. .mov, .wmv, .mpg, .avi ...... these are all standards. RealMedia?

I have some grabs that I think will help because it sounds like what I think you're saying. BUt I need a visual. Just a screencap will do.

-GageFX
Click to expand...

If I fire up a mov would that be cool?? Only take 5 min.....:)
 
DoonaeMFD said:
Thanks. At the risk of appearing extremely stupid, what are "HMIs or daylight fluorescents" - can they be bought from normal stores?
Click to expand...

If by "normal stores" you mean stores that sell film/tv lighting, then yes, they can be purchased there (renting is more typical due to the costs).

HMIs are a type of lamp that uses a highly specialized globe along with a "ballast" which is a type of power supply, either magnetic (transformer) or an electronic supply which has the ability to have its output frequency altered.

Daylight fluorescents have spectral flat (relatively) output balanced for 5600k.
 
khmuse said:
If by "normal stores" you mean stores that sell film/tv lighting, then yes, they can be purchased there (renting is more typical due to the costs).

HMIs are a type of lamp that uses a highly specialized globe along with a "ballast" which is a type of power supply, either magnetic (transformer) or an electronic supply which has the ability to have its output frequency altered.

Daylight fluorescents have spectral flat (relatively) output balanced for 5600k.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks man. I'm pretty low budget but manage to get (I think) good footage but I've never really taken the 'step up'. Sounds like I need to scope out reantal options here in Scotland....
 
I think you can do it with a lot less hassle. I'd love to see that .mov (or even just a sinple screencapture) to give my 2 cents.

-GageFX
 
Ok, I found a computer with RealPlayer.

This lighting is so easy if you have the right location. I'll post some similar samples of my own, but keep in mind I did not produce these as an example of the lighting you are going for, they are for my project and are what I was going for.

Now, your BT commercial. As you watch, what you will notice is the actors moving in and out of the light. Sometimes they are very dark, other times they are in the light and well lit all the while the windows keep the same exposure.

If you notice how many windows there are and that they are all open with light pouring through with no apparant lights on the actors, I would bet that this was entirely naturally lit. There is nothing in that commercial that you cant do yourself, without a lighting kit, given you have ample windows/windowlight.

The exterior is blown out, that implies no interior light kit (as well as the actors never being evenly lit) and no ND on the windows to balance exterior exposure with a lit interior exposure.

Here are some grabs from my project. Try to focus on the subject at hand, though.

I will get people telling me (even though I'm writing this now) that my whites are blown. I know this. Not only are the whites blown, but the blacks will be crushed in post. So you know the motivation, my movie is very dark and taking place at night, and this is a flashback scene that takes place in the morning with bright sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. My film varies between underexposed night shots, slightly under day shots and a couple overexposed flashbacks. The flashbacks are never unnaturally overexposed, they fit the time of day and feel.

BTW, I used a light kit in this because I needed the hallway to be as dark as possible and I didnt have enough windowlight to blow out the kitchen yet keep the hallway pitch dark.

Here is the scene, no lighting, just window light.
65852374.jpg


WB is not set to daylight, but to Tungsten which is why the WB is off here. Correct for actual shots.

Here is the same shot with the light.
65852383.jpg


"You've blown your whites! You cant get that back. waaaaa!" Yeah, I know. Got it.

Here is the kitchen looking at the window. Light off. It's a 750w Lowel Tota right in front of the window.
65852361.jpg


And another.
65852365.jpg


But for that shot we removed the Tota, exposed to blow out the natural window lighting and put a 250w Lowel Pro w/ 16" softbox on the left side of the kitchen.
65854644.jpg


Nother from same position/setup.
65852356.jpg



As I was going for something specific - the high contrast in the opening shot, I required a little more than just the natural light. I also wanted some good modeling on my actress throught the whole scene, be it a blown rim, or strong sidelighting, I wanted the feel that this room was bombarded with sunlight.

With your commercial, it doesnt have those same requirements. Actors in and out of the light, reletively flat lighting on them except when they are right in it. (From what I remember, but I cant watch it again right now.)

Anyway, hope any of that helps, and the light kit I used was a reasonable priced kit. Maybe $500, probably less for what I used for the scene. BTW, though, that's the only use for that Tota that I have found yet, Not my favorite light.

Let me know if that helps.

-GageFX
 
Let me know if that helps.

-GageFX
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Gage - thanks, very much appreciated. I think I know what I need to do now.

Really appreciate you taking the time to help out a noob like me.

Cheers

Doonae

PS - Film looks good, is it complete yet?
 
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