http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: dark - Recent Posts en Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:34:37 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-74330 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:03:41 +0000 Silvis 74330@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I hardly use lights as I believe they are intrusive to the wedding and the atmosphere is changed. To compensate the lack of light I use fast lenses such as 1.8 F or a DSLR with good low light capability such Canon 5D MK2 or Sony NEX5N. </p> <p> </p> <p>Have a look of some of my <a title="Wedding Video Samples" href="http://silvis.co.uk/">wedding video</a> samples. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69246 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:10:19 +0000 BLWeddings 69246@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I prefer not to use video light during a wedding but will always choose to do so if the light is poor. The LED light on the top of my camera is adjustable and so I don't have to make everyone look like frightened rabbits!! You also get much better colours in the final <a title="Tatton Park Wedding Video" href="http://www.beautifullifeuk.com/blog/weddings/victoria-jamie-tatton-park-wedding/"><strong>wedding video</strong></a> and the <a title="Wedding Photographer Lincoln" href="http://www.beautifullifeuk.com/photographyblog/2011/06/22/lincoln-cathedral-wedding-photography/"><strong>wedding photographer</strong></a> often appreciates the extra light. So I would always advise to use when needed. </p> <p>My LED light goes on top of my camera from the beginning of the day - I am never without it just in case I end up in a situation with bad light. The thing with weddings is that you are dealing with constantly changing levels of light as you move through various rooms and locations over the day. So I would never be without it!!</p> <p>Beautiful Life Film and Photography<br /> Creative <a href="http://www.beautifullifeuk.com/blog/" title="Wedding Video blog">Wedding Video</a> and <a href="http://www.beautifullifeuk.com/photographyblog/" title="Wedding Photography blog">Wedding Photography</a><br /> Website: <a href="http://www.beautifullifeuk.com" title="Creative Cinematic Wedding Video and wedding Photography">http://www.beautifullifeuk.com</a> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69110 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:04:41 +0000 sunkleep 69110@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Good points vid-e-o-man. At my last wedding shoot, moments before the "grandparents" dance, the DJ shut down all the lights except the "mirror ball" and I didn't have my camera lights handy...   ruined the whole dance. Live-and-learn.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69095 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:59:55 +0000 vid-e-o-man 69095@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>If all else fails,I have had some success, with the brides OK, getting some of the house lights back on for a short time: during special dances, bouquet toss, garter, etc. This, I think, will help the photographer focus. At least thats what I suggest.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69091 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:09:16 +0000 sunkleep 69091@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Wow, great responses (and so quickly). I've done lots of corporate videos where lighting is a given...  and now that I've jumped on the wedding wagon, I will need to (quickly) learn the secrets of good videos in dim lighting. I can't see dragging in lots of lights to accomidate every scenerio, but having good lighting on the camera seems like a "must have". For weddings, I use 3 cameras and that would give me 3 light set-ups. I'm hoping that would be sufficient (sounds like it should work fine). Thanks guys.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69090 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:41:18 +0000 EarlC 69090@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I ALMOST ALWAYS ASL but also have them attached and ready to use in emergencies. Regardless of what people in or out of the industry say, what manufacturers claim or otherwise, VIDEO IS LIGHT, LIGHT IS VIDEO, and you will NOT get the same quality color and image results in poorly lighted venues without some kind of lighting, used appropriately. THAT BEING SAID ...</p> <p>... another thing I do is turn on the light with it and the camera facing the floor or ceiling, THEN when the people I throw it on notice it's coming I bring it into play. I use toughspun in front of the light if it needs, or use a dispersal filter if such a thing is available for the model lights I happen to be using. I DON'T use Kleigs or some other Super Nova lamp system ;-(</p> <p>I also use small, LED units with disposable batteries to place inconspicuously around the head table, etc. that are rather unobtrusive and yield just enough glow that I get good results, same thing for audio backup, using my arsenal of Zoom H2 standalone recorders for sound.</p> <p>I HAVE set up and used 1,800 watts worth of NRG studio lighting around the dance floor. Reaction is a mixed bag, but if I have hassles it's usually from the DJ who complains that My lights are having an adverse effect on HIS light show ... most of them are compliant enough that a compromise is possible, say for the main dances, but not after the party dancing starts.</p> <p>Until there's an affordable camera that tests out to produce the SAME image quality, clarity and coloration with or without available or added lighting, I will bring and use them when they are necessary to produce a quality production. I HAVE had clients tell me NO LIGHTS and I add a line to the production agreement so stating, warning of the loss of quality, emphatically stating that NO CAMERA on the market can match one that USES lighting properly, and they sign off on any resulting liability due to perceived lack of quality based on their demand to NOT use any lighting at all.</p> <p>Their call.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69087 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:42:29 +0000 doublehamm 69087@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I always ask, and I always am told to go ahead.  BUT asking is better<br /> than "pissing" them off if you don't know.  I have the SWAT set from<br /> flo-lights and a couple others that go on for at least the spotlight<br /> dances (and sometimes needed for toasts).  Then I use a single camera light once the dance starts to get the rest of that footage.  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/at-weddings-camera-lights-or-not#post-69086 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:12:36 +0000 sunkleep 69086@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>&nbsp;I've only done a few weddings so far, and after every shoot, I ask the folks if they thought camera lights (during the dark scenes) would be distractive....&nbsp;&nbsp; and they have all said they would rather have the lights to get a good video than no lights. What is the opinion of other wedding videographers -- camera lights on or off??</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/basement-shot-1-light-bulb-2-faces-how-2-light-please#post-58040 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:43:39 +0000 BC 58040@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks for the input guys.</p> <p>I like the chinese lantern idea alot. I should have plenty of time to experiment so i'm going to give that a try.</p> <p>I do own a reflector - cheap £30 one - but does the job.</p> <p>And the closet light - one location has a bunch of old metal closets so I'll definately try that aswell.</p> <p>The only other idea i had put to me was shooting with the talent lit - obviously with enough depth behind them to the black background that it maintains it's blackness. Darken the shot in the edit and green screen the swinging light bulb on top - as it swings across the shot return the light levels of that area to the desired level. </p> <p>How does that sound.</p> <p>Thanks again for the help everyone.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/basement-shot-1-light-bulb-2-faces-how-2-light-please#post-58026 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:01:14 +0000 Don 58026@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>another cheap lighting tool that may be useful to you is the simple white bifold closet door, mount your flourecent tube inside the V of the standing door and by opening or closing the v you can widen or narrow the strip of light it throws, a strip of gaffer tape will seal the seem where the door hinges if needed.</p> <p>these striplight banks can then be used to seperate your subjects from the background from behind or to fill in shadows from the front.</p> <p>they won't cause flair in camera if position properly.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/basement-shot-1-light-bulb-2-faces-how-2-light-please#post-58024 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:28:02 +0000 birdcat 58024@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Wolf's advice is spot on.  </p> <p>You could also look into reflectors - Digital Juice has a nice one (<a href="http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=1131">http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=1131</a>) and the first accessory I bought as a professional (I was getting $100 as a bonus for doing it) was an "official" Videomaker reflector (<a href="http://www.videomaker.com/shop/accessories-clothes/videomaker-reflector.html">http://www.videomaker.com/shop/accessories-clothes/videomaker-reflector.html</a>).</p> <p>A good article on how to use them is here: <a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/9348/">http://www.videomaker.com/article/9348/</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/basement-shot-1-light-bulb-2-faces-how-2-light-please#post-58013 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:46:21 +0000 composite1 58013@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>BC,</p> <p>Two words; Chinese Lantern.</p> <p>One word; Blocking.</p> <p>Three more words; Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.</p> <p>Okay, so you're now asking, 'what does any of that mean?' Simple. You have your 'single bulb' which I surmise (never assume) is in frame. Just above your bulb out of frame you hang a Chinese Lantern of the same color temperature. Your in frame bulb should be low wattage or dimmed just enough to be seen as lit. </p> <p>Inside the Chinese lantern (sounds like a movie title) should be of higher wattage to clearly illuminate your talent with some shadow present. You could even run the cord from your in frame light through the CL so when it swings, so will the lantern. You're going to have to run some tests obviously and will probably need to use an ND filter so you can get an acceptable exposure and still see your effect. Not to mention you won't want to shoot a light bulb even dimmed straight on with a video camera.</p> <p>Blocking: that's how you arrange your on-camera talent so they can be seen (I again surmise) at the same time and get your desired effect. Again you'll need to run camera and lighting tests to see if this works according to your vision.</p> <p>The reason I said CL and CFB's  is because the lantern will diffuse the light and the CFB's are soft lights anyway hence softening the look even more. Since your on camera bulb will have to be dimmed, the lantern will provide enough light so when you're shooting you won't have to be wide open on your exposure. CL's come in various sizes and in paper or nylon. Paper is very good at diffusing and cutting down the bulb's output, but nylon has a nice way of evening the light out. You can buy chinese lanterns at party supply or craft stores cheap. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs you can get at a discount store in indoor white and daylight white. Don't get colored lanterns! It's easier (and cheaper) to just get white and use a colored CFB.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/basement-shot-1-light-bulb-2-faces-how-2-light-please#post-58000 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:07:58 +0000 BC 58000@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi</p> <p>Thanks for looking...</p> <p>I need to film a scene with a blacked out background (I have black stage curtains or black colourama paper from a photo studio for the background) but with a central, sometimes swinging lightbulb, at about head height or slightly above. The lightbulb is rigged to a dimmer switch so i can vary the output and there will be one and two people in the shot.</p> <p>I want it to look as though the lightbulb is the only source of light, so that at times the light moves with the swing of the bulb.</p> <p>Shooting on an HD canon - can't remember the model right now - the one without the inter-changeable lenses and maybe a Z1 but I think I'd rather just use the canon.  Also have a set of pretty good lights (3).</p> <p>Any and all tips on how to achieve this would be massively appreciated - assume that I don't really know what i'm doing and have a budget of favors, snacks and pennies.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/toronto-after-dark-oct17-24-8-nights-of-horror-sci-fi-action-038-cult-cinema#post-40614 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:10:17 +0000 torontoafterdark 40614@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Attention Cinemaniacs! Toronto After Dark Film Festival is returning this October with 8 thrilling nights of horror, sci-fi, action and cult cinema from around the world!  Tickets and VIP passes can now be purchased online through the festival box office!  The complete festival schedule is now available on the website, and includes the theatrical premieres of REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, TOKYO GORE POLICE, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, TRAILER PARK OF TERROR, MUTANT CHRONICLES, the North American premiere of I SELL THE DEAD, the international premiere of SOUTH OF HEAVEN, and many more!  To find out more, visit the festival website at <a href="http://www.torontoafterdark.com. " rel="nofollow">http://www.torontoafterdark.com. </a> We'll see you After Dark!</p> <p>- Team After Dark</p>