shooting against a blank wall

R

randomname

Well-known member
I was gaffing for a friends short the other day, and unfortunately the DP didn't have a very firm grasp on basic shot composition and set up quite a few shots with people sitting on couches right in front of a blank wall. If you're shooting on a real location and can't be hanging lights from the ceiling, is there any good way to light someone in a somewhat interesting manner if they're right against a wall?
 
randomname said:
I was gaffing for a friends short the other day, and unfortunately the DP didn't have a very firm grasp on basic shot composition and set up quite a few shots with people sitting on couches right in front of a blank wall. If you're shooting on a real location and can't be hanging lights from the ceiling, is there any good way to light someone in a somewhat interesting manner if they're right against a wall?
Click to expand...
Almost always, the first thing I do is cheat the couch away from the wall. You can't tell or don't care in camera, but it allows you to push the shadows cast by your movie light down lower or even behind the couch. Life has shadows but you don't want great big ones right behind the artists most of the time.

And make sure the camera operator lowers the camera to level, instead of looking downward. It's more flattering and helps with the shadows.
 
Also, especially if you have an extra fresnel to work with, create visual interest on that blank wall by adding light & shadow contrast. Lightbreak.com sells a variety of gobos for that, or you can cut random patterns in a sheet of cardboard that you keep in your light kit. I also carry sheets of aluminum foil to punch holes in. If the wall is white, try adding a color gel to the light. If you don't have a fresnel but at least a light with a barndoor, the familiar diagonal slash of colored light on the wall can help if it isn't too obvious.
 
slondon said:
Almost always, the first thing I do is cheat the couch away from the wall. You can't tell or don't care in camera, but it allows you to push the shadows cast by your movie light down lower or even behind the couch. Life has shadows but you don't want great big ones right behind the artists most of the time.

And make sure the camera operator lowers the camera to level, instead of looking downward. It's more flattering and helps with the shadows.
Click to expand...

+1

You might also want to review this thread which describes some of the exact challenges you described....

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-starting-a-no-budget-feature-a-few-questions.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top