Substitute light source...

It depends on what time of day you are attempting to simulate. A pretty decent size HMI can do the job, but if you want an early morning or late afternoon look, then you might want to use some 1/2 CTO to warm it up a bit. Do pay attention to the height of the source so that it matches the correct angle for the time of day you are simulating.
 
bmac0130 said:
HMI? CTO? sorry, don't know what the are.
thanks though
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HMI is a type of light source that typically has a fairly high color temperature, nearer to daylight than most other types.

CTO is a type of filtration that warms up (reduces the color temperature).

What resources do you have available for this project?
 
Almost any light will do. The problem will be getting it to look bright enough to look like sunlight compared to your other lights. I had a shot like this a couple of times while filming Siren (www.sirenthemovie.com) We didn't have the budget for any big guns (20k, or and large HMI's, which are big lights that require a lot of power), so I solved the problem by shooting ay night. I put a 1k fresnel outside and shot it through the window, then we had a Lowel caselight with diffusion on it inside for the ambience. Add in a couple more lights in the rooms in the background, and we got the effect of early morning sunlight pouring in with about 5 lights, the largest being a 1k.
 
Like FIlmmaker, I've also simulated sun by shooting at night with a 1k through the window, only on the inside I just used a 250 Rifa softbox bouncing off the ceiling for ambient fill. Of course it was a prettys small room I was lighting and we were only shooting in one direction at a couple on the bed.
 
i have heard that you can simulate window light by placing a transparent shower curtain infront of your light source (never tried it myself.) but this will reduce the amount of light coming through to your subject also, so you'll have to do some experimenting and as was said by my more experienced posters, factor in what time of day you are simulating. good luck!
 
Get some 500 watt lights from home depot - stick them behind a set of blinds (not to close, or you will set something on fire).

It worked for me.
 
obeypixel said:
Get some 500 watt lights from home depot - stick them behind a set of blinds (not to close, or you will set something on fire).

It worked for me.
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I can attest to the "setting them on fire" part here, so be careful how close you place them.
 
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