Has anyone filmed... « Videomaker Community Forums

mward77095
Member

I have a wedding that I am filming soon where the Bride and Groom will be making their exit in the dark. Their guests will be all lined up holding Sparklers (you know, the things your kids play with on the 4th of July).

Has anyone seen this, or better yet filmed this? I am curious to how it turned out on film. What settings did you use? Did the sparklers provide enough light?

Thanks,
Mark

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

8-O I have never seen this before (let alone do it) but I would think that the main problem here will be how much light will these sparklers give off? Because you donÂ’t know, it will be hard to set your camera up correctly ahead of time.

Shoot... while this goes against all practical sense, IÂ’m thinking you might have to just set your camera on auto mode for the exposure since it will vary but make sure you use manual focus because the camera will probably not have enough light to lock onto anything. Because this is not optimal light for videoing, you will just have to do the best you can. If the bride and groom complain, youÂ’ll just have to point out that this wasnÂ’t your idea and that you just filmed what happened. If you have a Sony VX, youÂ’ll have a better chance than probably using any other camera.

This is a good one though. IÂ’ll be interested in seeing what everyone else will have to say.

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Yes, I've done this. I use a 50watt Bescor mounted on one camera. The other videographer stayed close-by to take advantage of the same light. Used auto settings because there wasn't time to make adjustments and since it was dark, the autofocus wouldn't be confused easily.

The sparklers will tend to through off white balance, so do preset that one.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

compusolver:

Yes, I've done this. I use a 50watt Bescor mounted on one camera.

Hank,

That thought crossed my mind too but I guess I would have been a little reluctant in pulling out the lights only because I would be afraid of ruining the effect they were after. Call me chicken!

Did anyone say anything?

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
mward77095
Member

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to use lights. Obviously the lighting is my main concern and have expressed that to my Bride. But, if there a lot of sparklers, it might turn out pretty cool.... assuming that I have time to white balance.

I'll let you know how it goes

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

I think the biggest concern will be the sparklers burning out the shot thus making everything else impossible to see.

You have basically three choices:

You can leave the camera wide open of which you will probably be able to make out bodies but the sparklers will come in WAY hot.

or

Leave the cam on auto which will cool the sparklers down but you run the risk of not maybe not seeing everyone or anyone for that matter. However if there are a lot of sparklers, that might generate enough light so that you can make out bodies.

or

Use a light like Hank did.

For sure let us all know how this turns out!

Good luck,

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

I'd at least HAVE a light mounted at the ready. It may work out fine when the couple passes the final sparkler, that they're in the dark for the close, but there's also the possibility that opportunities will present themselves before and after the exit. If you're in the dark without a light source, you won't be in a possition to take advantage of those possibilities.

Another, even more important issue - you simply can't afford to leave this shot to chance. If you're not going to use a light source, then at least get some sparklers and practice in your backyard before the shoot, so you'll know exactly how you want to handle things at the wedding.

Good luck!

Posted 5 years ago #
KBVP
Member

I would use a small "fill" light. Set the manual controls for a couple f-stops down from ambient. Do a test with the fill light and set from that, even a dry run the day before might give you a good confidence factor. Let the sparklers go over exposed- better than losing the total shot.
***My main "fear factor" on this is clothing catching on fire. A lot of sparklers can generate too many opportunities for burns when that close to each other. If they are held high to create an archway over the bride and groom, suggest a fire extingrisher be handy- this is not a joke.
Hope it turns out great!

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

compusolver:
I'd at least HAVE a light mounted at the ready.

That's a GREAT idea Hank!

As usual of course... ;-)

Always good to have plan B on stand by.

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
jaelah
Member

I agree that this is not the safest idea for exiting a wedding service. A lot of times people have good ideas but don't realize the implications should something go wrong. Unless they practice in advance this is just an incident waiting to happen. I love sparklers but only under direct supervision. Who will light them all at the same time? Will children be involved? etc...

I would talk with the the wedding planner or the bride and see if there is another avenue they might consider. Prehaps soap bubbles. They film great! Soap will come out of clothes and eyes, burns won't. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

Still it would be cool to see it done...so I don't know. :?

Jaelah

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

Believe me, it virtually takes an act of God to get some of these brides not to hold their boquets too high or to turn towards the camera during the ceremony. I think the videographer, the lowliest of vendors (in the eyes of some, it would seem) trying to convince a bride to change a major effect in her wedding is going to be about like trying to stop a semi on the Interstate by stepping in front of it and holding out your hands. I've lost money on better bets than that.

I think it would be wise to have a light ready, just in case. I hate to say it, but I would be tempted to have the camera set on auto mode, or maybe set everything on auto, and once the camera gets to where it wants to be, set the iris to manual, and adjust it for better picture.

Good luck! Tell us how it goes.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

An earlier post suggested letting the sparklers go overexposed, but I think your client will be very disappointed if you blow out all those colors!

Going with automatic exposure is also likely to blow them out. Do a pre-ceremony test and figure where to set exposure to get the bride somewhat while retaining the colors of the sparklers.

Using the barn doors on a 50watter may help to get the bride's skin exposed properly (at least as she approaches the camera) while not blowing out the sparklers.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Believe me, it virtually takes an act of God to get some of these brides not to hold their boquets too high or to turn towards the camera during the ceremony. I think the videographer, the lowliest of vendors (in the eyes of some, it would seem) trying to convince a bride to change a major effect in her wedding is going to be about like trying to stop a semi on the Interstate by stepping in front of it and holding out your hands. I've lost money on better bets than that.

I've found just the opposite to be true (thankfully!). My brides and their ministers have, by and large, taken my advice and even sought it out. I think its important how the videographer presents himself from the very begining and throughout the process. I've had ministers put several people at my disposal to rearrange pulpit, pianos and lighting on the eve of the wedding, so that I'd be satisfied.

The bride should WANT me to be satisfied, because she's paying a thousand bucks or more for this video, and all I'm trying to do is to make it as good as it possibly can be.

As an example, we did a shoot of an educational video yesterday. This was our first time working with this client who had had over a dozen similiar videos produced previously. I'd asked (two weeks before) for a sample or two so I could give him some continuity, but I didn't get them.

When we got there, I looked things over and explained that we'd have to rearrange a few things (bright-solid-red blouse, statue appearing to come out of narrator's head, light splotches on model from sun roof, wind chime, turn off air conditioning, etc.). The guy in charge objected and said this was the way they'd done all the other ones.

I then laid out what would be wrong if we did things this way - in no uncertain terms - and I said that I woudl not allow my name to be put anywhere on the video if they didn't take my advice. (Not that they were going to put my name on it).

Well, it was like a light bulb went off for this guy. He said, you know - those problems were in the other videos, we just didn't take notice of them. From that point on, I was "the guy in charge". He was beaming as we wrapped things up and he said "I'll bet this is the best one we've ever done!"

That made me feel really good. A lot of videographers probably would have just done it the way the client wanted it. But the way I positioned myself from the start, gained just enough respect that they listened to me and respected my ideas.

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

I've had lots of good ones too, which is always great. What I was really getting at though was that while moving obstacles around for a better video is usually perfectly acceptable, asking to get a large effect changed might not work out. Personally, I've seen a few bridezillas snap at their own family for suggesting changes. I'd hate, as a vendor, to ask them if they would consider dropping the whole sparkler thing.

That being said, I agree that it's a huge fire hazard, and no matter what you do, it's going to be a bear to tackle on the event day. Hank's suggestion to practice is a great one. If the scene is dark, turning up the exposure will make the couple show up better, but all the "purdy" of the sparklers will be reduces to a hot white blaze of ugliness. It's an interesting shot to take. I still think having a light on hand will be a good idea. Odds are, with all the bright sparklers all over, they're porbably not going to notice one 50w lamp on a camera.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

comupsolver:
An earlier post suggested letting the sparklers go overexposed, but I think your client will be very disappointed if you blow out all those colors!

Going with automatic exposure is also likely to blow them out. Do a pre-ceremony test and figure where to set exposure to get the bride somewhat while retaining the colors of the sparklers.

I think he's talking about me! ;-)

Hank,

You know as well as I that when filming a bright light like a sparkler in an all black arena is pretty tough if not impossible. Something is going to suffer no matter what you do. I may have been a little radical but I was more or less just basically making a point. Sure doing a trial run will help but it will be too hard to control that concentrated light ball and still try and hold other images let alone with the proper color. I do like your fill light idea. I thinking that this is the only real solution in shooting a good shot with these circumstances.

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

RAM -

Well, at first thought, your idea sounds logical. But upon further thinking, I think you should expose for the sparklers and forget the couple! (Radical, perhaps)

I'm thinking that the bride will overlook having her and her groom underexposed (so long as you can make out who they are) IF you have those sparklers looking good.

Actually, sparklers are sparklers. If you buy just about any brand and shoot them at night in your backyard - that same setting will work (at any distance) during your ceremony. (Actually, there will be plenty of time to set exposure for the sparklers as the people line up) Once the couple passes the last sparklers, if the shot is to continue, you can open your barn doors and switch to auto exposure.

Oh, and I stole the "fill" idea from KBVP - but don't tell anyone. X-D

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Ahh... You did mention something that I never thought of that may help the cause. That's what I love about this fourm. :P

The key to maybe pulling this off might be in the distance you are shooting from. As long as you are not on top of the sparklers, that bright little ball of fire won't be dominating your frame. If you can keep that sparkler glow small, it might not burn out as much thus giving you a better chance of picking up the bride and groom along with anyone else in the shot.

Yeah.... I'm thinking you should be able to do it... especially if you can practice like you said and find the right amount of distance you could get away with. Sure the bride and groom won't be filling the frame but I'm pretty sure that the overall affect will be captured. After all, it's supposed to be about them heading out into the world side by side on their own. That kind of exit might be kind of a cool way to end the video... especially with a little freeze framage!

Hank, What do you think... yeah, no , maybe?

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

I wouldn't think of freezing anything. If sparklers are the main theme, its the motion and colors that should be accented. Slow-mo might work, but not freeze-frame. These put off a lot of light and, until the couple passes the final sparkler, they should be sufficiently lit without fill light, etc. The couple's dark silhouette filling the frame might be a good "fade to black" ending, from slow-mo'd build-up.

By freezing the frame, I lose the motion and put myself on the photographer's level, but he (or she) is better armed for still shots with better resolution. Video is about the motion. It's about making it come to life. Stills are about making an icon by freezing the moment.

Not saying it never works - just saying that the motion of the sparklers is part of their magic, and I wouldn't want to give that up.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Yeah I see your point. I guess I would have to see how it would look. It's always hard to speculate how something will turn out when you have no idea of what you're dealing with in the first place.

I use freeze frames every once in a while. It's a neat affect if you do it in the right place at the right time.

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
jla930
Member

People, people, people.....

Let me start by spouting out a couple cliches:

You can't see the forest for the trees....The answer is as plain as the nose on your face.....Think outside the box...

In other words, forget trying to solve a difficult situation by thinking about exposure, focus, and so on. The easiest way to solve a problem is to ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.

So....have them hold rocket engines instead of sparklers. I guarantee you'll have enough light for adequate exposure.

(Sorry, couldn't resist. I just thought this technically challenging thread could use a little stupid humor at this point.)

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

...or instead of that, they could hold glowing Uranium and Plutonium rods perhaps? It might not give off so much light as you'd like, but at least there'd be nobody left at the end to complain about the finished product! :D

But seriously, I think this has been very well-discussed. Now it's a matter of puting it into practice. I'd like to see this video when it's done, personally.

:)

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Wise guys! X-D X-D X-D

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #