Short Prep: Lighting test

[Madaspy]

This is my first time posting screen grabs from my DVX.

I have been reading about lighting lately and so far I think i am starting to understand it, but I still have many questions.

I would like to get some opinions about these frame grabs, but in the realm of light.

None of these images are color corrected

Scene file settings.
Detail Level -3
V Detail level 0
Detail coring +3
Chroma Level -2
Chroma Phase 0
Color temp 0
Master Ped 0
A. Iris Level 0


I used a 2 work light kits.
The key light is on the left: 2x 500w
fill which is on the right is 1x 500w


f2.8

f3.4

f4

f4.8

So like i said make your comments, suggestions, or whatever.

 

[TallMovieMaker]

It seems very natural but at the same time it's pretty flat. I would better define the Key light and then use a backlight to just add some interest. These are just suggestions, I to am just beginning to dive into the world of lighting.

P.S. The shadow made by the lamp is a little distracting.

 

[PaPa]

try going for the one 500 W for the key, and put the other one on the opposite site behind yourself, might look cool. But again its dependant on the look your going for.

 

[Noah]

Too much fill. Back the fill away, scrim it down, put ND gel in front, waste it away, whatever works best - just use less. What was your contrast ratio? I also agree about the shadow on the background - simply flagging it off should do the trick. Maybe you can use the 2x 500w for the key, use a bounce on the other side for fill and the 500w further back as a kicker hitting both the back of the couch and the back of his head to seperate the layers.

 

[Madaspy]

Thanks for the input guys. I think i will make some flags for my lights. The images above have the fill about 7 feet away using a single 500 watt work lamp. The key is the same distance except i was using 2x 500 watt work lamps. I simply dont have any more room in that room. I definitely agree with the previous posts about using 2x 500 or even one and using a reflector for fill.

I find it difficult to remove the annoying shadows from my lamp with out the use of flags. Also, you will be able to see the top of the lamp. I am not too worried about this because these images are for testing purposes.

I shot a second batch of images, using f3.4-f4.0, with 1x 500 watt work light for my key and 1x 500 for my fill except i bounced it off the wall of my hallway.

my first image i actually have a key at the standard 45 degree angle and another behind me to the left bounding off the wall, with no fill. But the rest use the standard procedure that i mentioned above.

In the 4th image i played with the idea of a single key and a reflector for the fill, that is why i am holding the reflector.

Finally with the contrast ratio, i am not sure, i know i cant calculate it, but i know i can improve this in post. I just wanted to shoot a plain, unadulterated image so that i can improve it in post. Normally i use a master ped of -11, but if i want that type of image i can decrease the shadows in post. I just want to have as much information to work with when going in to post.

Once again, any input would be wonderful.

This is one of my work lamps. i will create flags for this lamp.

 

[Noah]

I like the first one with no fill the best, although you get that akward shadow from the head on the shirt. As for the contrast ratio- I understand you want to shoot flatter to get as much information in the image as possible, which is smart. BUT, you still need some shadow - its easy to deepen existing shadows, not create entirely new ones in post. This is why I like the first image. If you used one light head to hit him for a key and then the other to hit the back of his head as a kicker and the other head on that stand to hit the background, I think you should be in business.

 

[dustino]

I agee with Noah; i like the 1st image best. I think placing a foam core reflector closer to the subject might provide a better fill and lose a little bit of the shirt shadow it has. Framing a close up of the face would help alot, too, but I understand that might not fit your needs. Last suggestion is to shoot through a silk to diffuse the light.