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DVworkshops
Five things to put in front of a light to
make great DV Video!
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This newsletter is all about lighting. Here are Five
things you can put in front of a light to make your DV
video look better.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any
questions. (415) 820-9622. See you soon,
Aron Ranen DVworkshops |
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Number One- Blue Color Correction Gels
Indoor light is red & Outdoor Light is Blue
Notice the Window in the shot? That is "Blue" outdoor
light coming inside the room from the window. The
professional light I am using is an "indoor" light which
has a red/orange type of light. In order to use this
light with the light coming from the window, I must
cover it up with a 1/2 Blue Gel. This professional Blue
gel will change the 'color temperature" of the light
from 3200K to 5600K, matching the "Blue" outdoor light
from the window. Without the 1/2 Blue color correction
gel, the light will cast a Red hue on the subject or
area, or the window's light will look too Blue. You can
purchase these at most professional film & photography
stores. There is a link at the bottom of this newsletter
to a store that sells and ships this stuff.
In Summary. When lighting a subject with outdoor
light in the scene, use 1/2 Blue Gels to "color correct"
your lights, and make them match the "Blue" daylight
coming in the window, skylight etc. You can even put
blue color correction gel in front of your camera's
light and convert that to match daylight.
Tip! Treat computer monitors and TV screens
like windows. These monitors are "Daylight balanced"
or "Blue". If you are lighting someone in front of a
computer, and the screen looks really Blue, just blue
gel your lights and re- whitebalance. It should look
better. |
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Number Two: Tough Spun
Soft light is the key
I never shine a direct light at anyone, I use
Tough Spun or a Chimera (see next item).
This tough spun will help dampen and soften your lights
effect on the person or thing. I buy 1/2 Spun, and
"double" it up , fold it over, if I want to make it
thicker. I use this on my back light and key light. Some
folks also use "OPAL" which is another nice soft diffuse
material. It warms and softens the shot. You can also
"soften" a light by bouncing it off a large white
surface, such as a wall or large white card.
In Summary, Use diffusion on your lights for a more
professional look. I use 1/2 Spun and Opal material. The
Tough Spun feels like cloth, and the Opal is plastic. |
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Number Three: Chimera
Best soft light trick in the world
Do you know about the Chimera soft box? It's a great
lighting tool that most professionals use, and for a
good reason...it's great! Chimera is a "Brand" name for
a soft box that attaches to a "Speed Ring" on any size
light. It really softens the light and is perfect for
interviews. Sometimes I add a piece of 1/2 spun in front
of it to lessen the impact on my subject. the Chimera
attaches to the speed ring in a really weird way. It's
kind of like putting up a tent, you bend the four rods
inside to fit into the holes of the speed ring. Check
out the photo below to see the bending action. |
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Chimera attached to Speed Ring
Notice how the Chimera "bends" into the "Speed
Ring's" hole.
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Number Four: Snoot
Get a dramatic look or gain control in a white room
This light has a "snoot" on it. you build a "Snoot"
by wrapping Flat Black Foil around the edge of a light.
It feels and looks like Black Tin foil. You can buy this
at any photo supply store or video lighting place. See
Link at bottom for a direct link. I always put difussion
at the end of every snoot. Use 1/2 spun or opal gel.
Some camera operators create mulit-layered "snoots"
alternating Black wrap with a layer of difussion gel.
These create different and interesting sources of light.
This technique of "snooting" lights can help you
light rooms that normally get "washed out" or become
"Flat". For example if you are shooting in a small white
room, or hallway, 'Snoots" pull the light off the walls
and create "pools" of light. This allows for more
dramatic lighting. |
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Number Five: Cookie
You can't eat these cookies
Cookies are wooden or cardboard cut-outs that are
placed in front of a light. These cookies help add
texture to boring backgrounds, such as an empty wall.
They can be used to simulate lighting or shadow effects.
I usually combne a cookie with a warm or cool gel to add
some color to the backround. I like 1/2 Straw as a
"warm" gel. Have fun "painting" with light in your
scenes. Don't make it look Tacky, be
conservative, but try it!!! |
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