A band wants me to do a music video for them and the location they want to shoot at has several windows and we'll be shooting during the day. I've always shied away from shooting at locations with large windows due to lighting issues. I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to shoot this as usually when I shoot indoors and there is a window a lot of times it will be a blue color. I really don't want to see out the window as it's just a bunch of trees, I'd rather have them be blown out and all white, but I don't want the band to be in silhouette when they are in front of the windows. I'll be shooting on a DVX100A. I have included a picture of the location so you may give your suggestions.
Shooting a room with windows
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PerroneFord
Deals in Lead
What a gorgeous location!
As I see it you have a few options.
1. Measure your lighting ratios so that the band is lit about 6-7 stops less than the windows. This should give you enough light on the band to work, while blowing out the windows.
2. Shoot at night.
3. Black out the windows.
4. Embrace what you have there in the windows and go with it.
5. Blue/Green screen the windows (option I like least).
So many options, but I think you are making a mistake not embracing this space. I'd take it windows and all for a shoot.
As I see it you have a few options.
1. Measure your lighting ratios so that the band is lit about 6-7 stops less than the windows. This should give you enough light on the band to work, while blowing out the windows.
2. Shoot at night.
3. Black out the windows.
4. Embrace what you have there in the windows and go with it.
5. Blue/Green screen the windows (option I like least).
So many options, but I think you are making a mistake not embracing this space. I'd take it windows and all for a shoot.
The other option is to get a couple rolls of Roscolux ND and tape them to the outside of the building. No, not the cheapest solution (but lighting solutions aren't always cheap). And it also depends on the weather. If it's a windy day, the gel will ripple in the wind and that won't look so good. But in the right conditions, this is a great way to equalize your indoor/outdoor levels. I'd also CTB indoor lights if you're using tungsten. HMIs won't need it.
rhandomskate
Active member
grab some worklights and light up the band, while blowing out the windows.
S
steadicamsteel
Guest
Seems to me it would be a walk in the park just to black them out. Path of least resistance
Yeah... but in a room like that, the windows are so much a part of the character of the space. Why black when you can ND?
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I'd let the windows blow out completely but use enough light for the musicians not to be silhouetted.
Fliques Osman
Well-known member
I'd blow out the windows, and let the musicians be silhouetted (ipod commercial)
Then you can position the band 3/4 towards the window so they're side lit, and intercut the two footage's.
All the best,
Then you can position the band 3/4 towards the window so they're side lit, and intercut the two footage's.
All the best,
Mike Manning
Well-known member
Yeah, white balance to daylight, gel your lights - converting them to daylight as well... and blast the band hard light. That way you can stop down..not letting the windows flood completely. Throw in a hazer to get some atmosphere going and you'll have some really sick shots!
cheezweezl
Veteran
if you have access to daylight temp lights such as kinos or hmi's, use them. if you only have tungsten you can use ctb as some have suggested. be aware that ctb will cut a lot of light. if i only had access to tungsten, i would probably cto the windows rather than ctb the lights.
someone mentioned using nd on the windows. rolls of nd can be very expensive, for a cheaper alternative, try car window tint film from a store like walmart. basically the same thing as nd but way cheaper. note: don't ever try to use tint film on hot lights as it will melt and burn but good for windows.
someone mentioned using nd on the windows. rolls of nd can be very expensive, for a cheaper alternative, try car window tint film from a store like walmart. basically the same thing as nd but way cheaper. note: don't ever try to use tint film on hot lights as it will melt and burn but good for windows.
Peter Mosiman
Member
exactly what i would do
OmnislashNeo
New member
I am so sorry that that happened to you. I would've been so pissed.
singleframe
Well-known member
that space is radtasic! can't wait to see the finished video. you got so many options there!
good luck buddd....
good luck buddd....
gregorybennett
Active member
options:
HMIs or large KinoFlo units.
high-wattage tungsten units, 1/2 gelled blue. use camera's 5600º K preset. windows will be colour correct and the band slightly warmer. the units would have to fairly large though to compensate for light loss from gels/diffusion and need fair amount of power/separate circuits, etc.
instead of ND on windows, tracing paper - will knock down light level and obscure what's outside of the windows.
CTO on windows to change window balance to tungsten.
or...what about some other type of inexpensive material (muslin, etc.) over outside of windows that will knock down light level?
HMIs or large KinoFlo units.
high-wattage tungsten units, 1/2 gelled blue. use camera's 5600º K preset. windows will be colour correct and the band slightly warmer. the units would have to fairly large though to compensate for light loss from gels/diffusion and need fair amount of power/separate circuits, etc.
instead of ND on windows, tracing paper - will knock down light level and obscure what's outside of the windows.
CTO on windows to change window balance to tungsten.
or...what about some other type of inexpensive material (muslin, etc.) over outside of windows that will knock down light level?
salils
Well-known member
Organza knocks down light about 1 stop.