Lighting tips, anyone?
Lighting tips, anyone?- special effects and filmmaking
Hey,
I don't have all tha cash that I'd need to get good lighting systems and perfect gobos and all that, but I was wondering if anyone can offer me some lighting tips to make my movies look, well, 'better'.
I have use of 1-2 really strong lights, and about 5 less strong lights. But I hate the look I get when I use these, because there is so much contrast. Also, the lights are yellow so it looks so artificial! I hate that! This is especially a problem when filming outside at night, because no natural light is yellow! UGH! And I heard that utilization of blue gels can be helpful, but I can't get my hands on these. Any other ways to get natural-looking light @ night?
Thanks for your potential help,
-Sam
I have to concur with Ionmonster. If you're low on cash, there is no way you can afford professional lights. Last year I spent about $100(CAN) on a set of halogen lights (the kind they use on construction sites), ranging from 150 to 500 watts, with tripods and all. I've been very happy with my purchase so far.
Don't expect to get night-lighting right the first time around (I'm still struggling with it). You need to experiment a lot. The problem is often too much light or not enough. Remember that the intensity of light on an actor goes down fourfold if you double the distance of a lamp. Try moving your lights a bit to get the correct intensity.
At night, your lamps are the only sources of light and they don't get reflected off of anything; if you're not careful, you'll be casting some ugly shadows. You need to fill-in the backgrounds properly to get rid of the shadows (but not too much!). Don't use too many direct lights either. Diffused or reflected light looks good at night.
As for the colour of the lights, if you're working on a PC, you might want to consider playing with hue settings a bit...
Well Sam I think if you really look you will be able to find gel. Try your local rental house and they will have an expendable store where you can buy gel and tape and sharpies and whatever other little expendables you might need.
One of the important things about lighting is to be able to take your lamps up high in the air. This keeps you from getting shadows all over the place.
Experimentation is a good thing, but if you really dont have any light, shoot tight. Wider shots require more lighting.
One last thing, for those of you who are trying to acheive something you cant because of lack of equipment, you have to weigh how important it is. Lighting is important and the better your lighting is the more serious people will take you when you present a film.
Look around and try to find deals on used equipment. This stuff will serve you well and make your job a lot easier. I know about budget factors, but try to put together a good lighting and sound package.
Try bouncing your yellow lights off pale blue foamcore. It might even things out so that your light winds up white. Just a thought.
And the halogen work lamps are ideal for soft sources. Just bounce them off foamcore and you're away. Not too good for key lights, unless you can improvise a set of barn doors, like, say from coat hanger wire and black foil...
Oh, and you have to cut off the "boffo" bars that ordinarily protect the front of the light. They casty nasty shadows. But it's worth the effort.
And, finally, if you're handy with tools (and anyone working low-budget should be) you can cobble up a respectable scrim or back light the same way Lowell did. Get a swivel receptacle, mount it on a chunk of plywood, and screw in a flood or spot bulb.
Sarge
Get Painting With Light. It's an advanced book, but it provides some very nice theory and lighting concepts if you are into that.
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Chris Penney
http://chrispenney.bizland.com/
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