Outdoor lighting help!

W

Whipsmack

Member
We're doing a shoot where the actors are under a tree during the summer. Theres a huge problem with the very bright spots and very dark spots. The contrast ratio is huge and makes things look AWFUL and way too busy.

We know that we'd like to shoot on an overcast day but that likely won't happen since we only have 1 day a week to do this. So if anyone has some tips for high contrast ratio on a sunny day please let me know. What time of day is usually best? Will we need reflectors? If so how many? Or is this just hopeless?
 
maybe try aiming for sun set or sun rise in terms of time of day
cheapest and easiest solution would just be to bounce some light off some foam core or w.e onto your subjects. And maybe try flagging some of the hot spots if you can.

just my opinion
 
You need a butterfly overhead for the closeups. Cheap DIY is EMT or PVC frame with white nylon ripstop stretched over it. Bounces will work well for lightening under the chin and avoiding 'racoon eyes'.


Jason
 
Do it in the morning or later in the evening and use some 1k lights in front to light the actors use a butterfly (mentioned above) and flagging stuff basically means blocking out light on the hotspots.
 
All good advice so far. A polarizing filter can help a little in certain situations, but for the most part I say just go for it! Diffusing the light too much makes things look artificial to my eye at times. I usually roll with some 4x4 white bounce boards, and if time and money allows, some light diffusion provided by a 12x12 overhead. I'm talking 1/4 silk or something similar.
 
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