Trying to replicate a lighting look. Need Help

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dtjohns1

Well-known member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkpRNIT4dyc&feature=related

Im trying to replicate this style of lighting that takes place in the performance shots where there are two white highlights on both sides of the face. My main problem is when I try to do this lighting set up which i believe are two hard lights in the background and 1 soft light up front the two hard lights blend in with the soft one and the effect is flat and everything is cancelled out. Can someone tell me what they think the wattages of the lights are and what the placement is?
 
You are right, its all about ratios. Think less about wattages and more about ratios. If you put diffusion or gels on a light, it drastically changes the ratio. Also, what a RED needs for proper exposure at 120FPS versus a Varicam at 24FPS is very different. Your ratio will stay the same, but your overall luminance level will vary.

I have done something similar with a 1k openface through a chimera as a fill, and two 650 fresnels with 1/2 tough spun on each. If at first you don't succeed, try simply moving the lights closer and further from your subject. In fact, maybe eliminate the frontal Key all together and try using ambient light as a 'moody' fill light, and open up your iris a bit.


Jason
 
Jason is definitely right. The harder side sources have to be at a higher ratio.

Probably for the video you linked, the front source, the soft one was a Kino or other heavily diffused source that barely gives luminance on the front.

The pop comes from the side lighting being at a much higher reading. It's certainly not interview lighting, the keys are actually coming from the side if you want to think of it in terms of "what's brightest"? Fresnels will certainly give this look for the sidelighting, and the front "fill" will be something heavily cut down by diffusion or bounce.
 
I appreciate all the responses. One point that you brought up sparks my curiosity. Does higher wattage=more light output or no?
 
dtjohns1 said:
Does higher wattage=more light output or no?
Click to expand...

Between the same kind of lights, usually. But not between different kinds of lights. A 650w HMI will put out considerably more light than a 650w tungsten. A 125w fluo bank may put out as much light as a 650w tungsten.
 
If the soft front light is too bright than find a way to stop it down. Put diffusion in front of it, put a scrim or net in front of the light, reduce the light output by dimming or getting a lower wattage light.
 
dtjohns1 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkpRNIT4dyc&feature=related

Im trying to replicate this style of lighting that takes place in the performance shots where there are two white highlights on both sides of the face. My main problem is when I try to do this lighting set up which i believe are two hard lights in the background and 1 soft light up front the two hard lights blend in with the soft one and the effect is flat and everything is cancelled out. Can someone tell me what they think the wattages of the lights are and what the placement is?
Click to expand...

This lighting is a bit easier to 'see' on the black man who is in the video...

But here is a classic portrait by Arnold Newman of Alfred Krupp.

Basically side lit, with 'frontal' lighting about 2-3 stops lower than the sides.
(just a guesstimate at the moment...)

I think this was an 'as found' situation, and not a complex studio setup.

But basically with a large softbox at low light in front, and pretty 'hot' lights on the side and to the back (taking
care with flags and partitions, not to have any spill into the camera), should get you in the ballpark.


krupp.jpg
 
Lighting setup

Lighting setup

Basically, what you need is two big diffused soft lights on the sides, play with them
a little to get the exact position. In your reference video it clearly shows they are using softlight. When lighting dark skin it is all in getting the reflection wright and in
order to do so, you need to enlarge the light source. I would opt for two big kinos,
as you need them pretty close to the subject. Another question is what is your shot size? You could easily do so in a MS with 2 4ft 4bank kinos and a 300 fresnel for backlight. Another thing you could do is put a kino through silk, this will give even softer look and more gradation. Depending on the background you might need to flag for fill.
Good luck.
 
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