Travelling (airplane) with a small light kit

Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson

Custom Title!
How do you guys take a small light kit (small sit down interviews, no more than 2-3 people at a time) on a plane? I'll be doing some interviews for an upcoming documentary and the only feasible way to get there will be by plane. Renting lights when there is something I would rather not do. Any suggestions for good interview lights that travel well? Also curious the best way to pack these. I was planning on going with a smallish tungsten kit with the heads in a pelican case and the stands in with my clothes but am open to any ideas. Thanks!
 
I have a Rifa 88, 3 Totas and umbrellas along with 3 stands in an old, but heavily padded Vinten tripod bag...
But I do only stuff where I can wash the scene with light with this kit, no intimate interviews with controlled pools of light...
 
Some things to consider about cases and packing for traveling with lights.

1). The limit of checkable baggage girth is 62" or 158cm. So, this means your carrying case dimensions can't add up to over this limit or you get charged for oversize baggage. For instance, a case that might hold three fresnels and three light stands but still be easily checkable might be 34" x 14" x 14". Add those up and they equal 62" exactly.

2). Things need to be packed very tightly. Its moving around that dents or destroys things. Be sure to put a bit of foam in between the yoke and the fixtures because I've seen those get compressed in and dent the fixture before.

3). Lots of foam padding.

4). Velcro'd separators to allow you to customize the case for each trip and configuration of different lights in it. No two fixtures should be exposed to each other without a separator between them. One long velcro separator to separate light stands from the fixtures and then two or three smaller separators to separate the fixtures.

5). A hard case is probably the best way to go but they are extremely heavy. This is the type constructed of plywood with aluminum corner reinforcing and thin aluminum covering the plywood--with heavy latches and hinges. The next best thing is a soft case with ballistic nylon outer covering and a hard polyethylene (or similarly strong material) lining followed by a foam padding layer and finally a velour lining. The velour lining is great for velcro separators to easily stick to.

6). Wheels and a trolley (or at least a handle on the top) are indispensible!
 
Last edited:
Arri Softbank IV kit packed to the gills and my clients just eat the overweight charge, usually $50.00 to $75.00.

Have made my own flight pack, as I call it, it's a boiled down kit for just single interviews that packs in two cases, one is a Home Depot Contico tool case and one is a fairly large tripod tube. Lights (wrapped in towels and foam), stingers, flexfill, bulbs, barndoors, audio gear go in the Contico and stands along with mic stand , Chimera and egg crate and tripod ride in the tripod tube. I can just get each under 50lbs to avoid the charges but I have to wear the backpack with the HVX and a small carry-on duffle for clothes. PITA and I am a pack mule when I do it alone but it works.

For lights, Arri 650 for a key, 300 fresnel for frontal fill, 150 for a hair light. Problem is, I get no lights to light up the background unless I sacrifice my 300 but then I pout because I really dig frontal fill.

I should probably just trade this all in for 3 litepanels and be done with it but the damn things are still too expensive and too wimpy to really light with. So far. But the day is coming when the LEDs will be cheap and have enough output. Just think, an LED with the equivalent of a 500 watt tungsten output that costs $300.00. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

Dan
 
All fantastic thoughts so far guys, keep them coming!

I'm glad you guys reminded me of the Rifa! I have a client with one of these and its just fantastic and packs so small. Definitely taking one of these.

Interesting you guys mentioned led lights. I'll definitely take my vidled for whatever follow and talk type of things I may do and had considered picking up a few more for fill use and eyelights. If my budget could handle it I'd just pick up a few of the litepanels 1x1's and be done with it.


My wife is coming with me and her luggage will be clothes and mine will be equipment so some of the carrying burden will be lifted. Good thoughts on wrapping the lights and getting everything to stay still and isolated guys. I'm a former luggage handler and just the thought of checking all of this equipment turns my stomach a bit. A couple of the locations are several days by car though and I just dont think I can handle that as far as time and sanity goes.

Coollights - you mentioned the ply/metal cases which you're right would be ideal (winnercomm used to come out of TUL all the time and used these, but daaammn they're heavy), but I hadn't thought of the soft cases. When do you plan to start selling yours? You think they would hold up to being checked? Would you choose the soft style case over a pelican? I'll have to look at the plywood metal cases, that may just be the really heavy answer.

Hmmm starting to rethink flying and headed towards driving. Might be a nice getaway :) Thanks for the input, appreciated as always, keep it coming if you got more!
 
mcgeedigital said:
I also use a Rifa, with some pro lights for accents, ansd sometimes a few VIDLEDs.
Click to expand...
hehe, i also use Vidleds as kickers or accents (make that VidLed, no "s", my second one was stolen...)
Anyway, Marius is preparing a new product, but I was thinking about two Zylight 90 and a smaller Rifa as a travelling interview kit, but I´m not sure the LEDs can compete with the Rifa in terms of output (And those Zylights are some pricey babys...)

And of course I´m still holding out for a "European CoolLights Solution" for my normal lighting needs...:thumbsup:
 
jdajda said:
Coollights - you mentioned the ply/metal cases which you're right would be ideal (winnercomm used to come out of TUL all the time and used these, but daaammn they're heavy), but I hadn't thought of the soft cases. When do you plan to start selling yours? You think they would hold up to being checked? Would you choose the soft style case over a pelican? I'll have to look at the plywood metal cases, that may just be the really heavy answer.
Click to expand...

Yes they are heavy and thus most people don't prefer them. That's why we've gone the soft case route for our cases. Ours should be available by the end of January. I will have a limited number of suitable soft cases though when our products come in next week that I bought elsewhere to tide us over till the others come in. We have one that will hold 2 or 3 fresnels up to 650w size and up to three stands. So about what you're looking for.
 
Hey Now,

1650 Pelican case holds 2*1K Redheads, with Chimera Small Plus Softboxes + 1 Bambino, 3 Manfrotto NANO Stands. Lots of GELS , Reflector, AC, 2 dimmers, Superclamps etc.

Usually room for other things like a sungun or such to be stuffed in a corner.

Thing is this combo weighs 70 pounds and is about $150 in excess baggage charges when flying abroad.

The 1650 is great because it has wheels and a sturdy handle.
 
Hey guys thanks for all of the info. Here's what I'm currently thinking -

Either a chimera 1k (24"x32" kit at B&H) or Coollights portable 4x55 fixture for a key

Reflector for fill

Trying a few vidleds as backlights - if they arent strong enough I'll go for something else (I've got time to do some testing)

Maybe something like Richard's 150W CDM (650W tungsten equiv) as a background light throwing up a slash of light

For flags and grip I kind of want to wait and get the lights and do some testing and see what I really need. I'm imagining some flagging for the key and some cinefoil for the vidleds to shape the light.

Any thoughts on my thoughts? :) My initial concern is travelling with flourescent tubes, everything else should be able to pack relatively well.

Thanks!

Jeff
 
Don't forget spare bulbs! Ground lifters if you will be in old buildings.

Also, a flexfill...

Especially if you are going minimal/light weight...Don't forget your brain! I've done lots of shoots(as I'm sure many of us have) where because of time or limited equipment we have to make do with what is around us...if you are careful where you place your subject you can still get great looking shots with few if any lights...that can look better than some people's lit interviews.

Gels of course...but throw in some plus and minus green(1/8) for assistance with white balance if there are ambient/practical (icky) flourescents.

I use jive a lot with some well placed holes, this can make one light on the background do many jobs.

Small dimmers for practicals.

I remove the bulbs from the lamps for travel (er...when I remember).

I love working on little projects like this where you can hone your skills at using what is around you. Think McGuyver...

Have fun

RJS
 
All fantastic ideas RJS - they are all going on my list of things to have with me! But whats "jive"? I'm imagining you are talking about something you are using as a cookie to make it look like several different lights are aimed at the background but only using one light? Sounds like a fantastic idea to me!

Yeah I'm really looking forward to working on this - I've got lots of time, its a subject I'm interested in and while I'm doing this for my grandparents, as far as the "look and feel" I have total control and am aiming to please me. None of this masterpiece theater looking crap my clients seem to like...

thanks!

jeff
 
jdajda said:
All fantastic ideas RJS - they are all going on my list of things to have with me! But whats "jive"? I'm imagining you are talking about something you are using as a cookie to make it look like several different lights are aimed at the background but only using one light? Sounds like a fantastic idea to me!

Yeah I'm really looking forward to working on this - I've got lots of time, its a subject I'm interested in and while I'm doing this for my grandparents, as far as the "look and feel" I have total control and am aiming to please me. None of this masterpiece theater looking crap my clients seem to like...

thanks!

jeff
Click to expand...

There's a lot of slang for gear, maybe its just a local thing but its just cinefoil... Yes, exactly I use pieces as a cookie, think of it as a custom cookie...usually grab a big piece and kind of guess where i want the light to fall and start making holes in it and basically just shape the holes...careful though it gets pretty hot fast when right in front of the light...ends up looking kind of like swiss cheese but its nice for highlighting different areas with one light...pretty much a fresnel.

RJS
 
If you choose our fixtures, you'll find a surprise in the box with the CL-455P that will help in transporting the bulbs and keep them very safe ;-). This surprise comes standard as a free accessory with all the CL-455P units.
 
No one has mentioned Lowel Tota. Very small fixture and you can put a Chimera on it for a great key light. They can be lamped at 500 or 750. The are often cheaper then Riffas and are very available second hand.

I use a softbox and a speed ring from Photoflex. Good quality and much cheaper than Chimera brand.
 
Hmmm a surprise eh?? I'm really leaning towards doing this with as little tungsten light as possible to keep things cool and keep from having any circuit breaker issues. Richard, size-wise do you think the 455 would be a good key for what I am doing. Sounds like the 655 would be way too much light, and the 255 just looks too small :) How about the 150cdm for a background accent light? Seems like it would be enough light to me for a smallish room as an accent.

jason, I've got a client with some totas and the quality and design just really turns me off. Granted they are dirt cheap for lights and do pack up pretty small. Never can get them to point up at the ceiling without trying to sag... always having to rig something with a bunch of tape.

thanks for the suggestions guys!
 
655 is definitely a lot of light and bigger too of course. If you want to keep it all to one carrying case, it would be best to choose the CL-CCL2 carrying case, a CL-255P and a CL-MF0150 which can all fit in one case. Its hard to find one case that can fit a 455P and a fresnel and still not be considered as oversize baggage. The CL-CCL2 case comes in just at the limit of normal baggage that can be checked and ont be considered oversize. That's the main issue I see with trying to travel with one case and using a CL-455P.

You could always go with two or three CL-MF0150 fresnels which is a total cool light solution and then just add the appropriate diffusion to them. You should be able to fit three of the fresnels in the CL-CCL2 case and three stands.
 
Per the Southwest Baggage guidelines on their website:

  • Camera, film, video, lighting, and sound equipment will be accepted when presented by a representative of a network or local television broadcasting company or a commercial filmmaking company. A fee of Thirty Dollars ($30) will be charged for each item in excess of the free baggage allowance. Media equipment will not be assessed oversize or overweight charges.
So does this mean I won't get hit for overweight and size with southwest?? Sure does look like it. And only $30 for additional pieces? Their limit is already 3! Looks like I'm flying southwest! Yay for me! Anyone used this to thier advantage at Southwest?
 
jdajda said:
Per the Southwest Baggage guidelines on their website:
  • Camera, film, video, lighting, and sound equipment will be accepted when presented by a representative of a network or local television broadcasting company or a commercial filmmaking company. A fee of Thirty Dollars ($30) will be charged for each item in excess of the free baggage allowance. Media equipment will not be assessed oversize or overweight charges.
So does this mean I won't get hit for overweight and size with southwest?? Sure does look like it. And only $30 for additional pieces? Their limit is already 3! Looks like I'm flying southwest! Yay for me! Anyone used this to thier advantage at Southwest?
Click to expand...

The regulations I referenced about oversize were from IATA (International Air Transport Association). We've been designing to their regulations. You have to remember that SW Airlines marches to their own drummer and has a lot of their own rules. You can't even book Southwest tickets in the major airline's res systems in which all the other airlines are always there. So, its not too surprising and actually kind of cool to find that out. I designed the bags for the common regulations though (that most airlines follow--but don't have to) and which will be a limiting factor sometimes. I guess if one were only traveling on SWA then it wouldn't matter but the other airlines are more stringent so we have to pay attention to that when designing cases.

On the issue of 255 vs 455, I think its possible that it could work fine but its hard to tell and can also depend upon how far apart the two are sitting. 255 puts out a decent amount of light.

If you didn't mind taking two bags, that might be easier to outfit you for with a 455 and a fresnel. The other oversize bag I have (CL-CCL4), is big enough but is more of an "around town" bag and I personally wouldn't feel comfortable shipping things in it because it doesn't have the hard inner lining that the other cases have. Its a throw in the back of the car / truck type bag for going to a job. Could easily fit a fresnel, 455 and 255 and 3 stands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top