Videomaker.com » Production» Lighting

TutorialNight Light

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

How to turn the light of day into the dark of night... The technique of shooting outdoor night scenes in broad daylight has been around since the early days of film. It is commonly called Day for Night (DFN), and you can spot it in films like It's a Wonderful Life, Planet of the Apes and Jaws; documentaries like The Creation of the Universe; and, of course, the French film, Day for Night.

Light it Right (DVD)

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

In this DVD on video lighting, the experts at Videomaker teach lighting techniques so you can set up the best lighting environment for a video camera. Lessons on studio lighting & outdoor lighting will show you how to light videos like a professional videographer.

One Light Wonder - 5 pgs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

Learn how to be creative with single-source lighting, both indoor and outdoor.

Book of Forms - Lighting Plot

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

Videomaker's Complete Book of Forms contains 91 essential forms to make shooting and producing video easier. The following is one section of the Complete Book of Forms.

Includes: Lighting Plot and Lighting Layout.

Depth of Field - 5 pgs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

Manipulate your viewer into watching one portion of your movie, while other events continue in the scene!

Producing a Documentary Part 1 - 6 pgs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

Learn how to move your story from dream to distribution!

Video Glossary of Terms - 21 pgs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

Confused by the alphabet soup of video production terminology? Videomaker�s extensive Glossary of Terms provides definitions for hundreds of commonly and not so commonly used terms in the field of videography.

Wedding Videoland - 6 pgs

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:12:45 PST

A light-hearted look at wedding video. The Goal: Create a top-notch video keepsake that will be treasured for generations to come.

LightingLighting Film Noir Style

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PDT

November. The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp and the mood is dark and forlorn. These are the perfect ingredients for film noir shooting.

Videomaker Presents - Episode 127 - TIPS & TRICKS: Video Green Screen Magic Tricks

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:15:15 PDT

Jennifer shows you how to create a magic wand effect using special effects and video green screen background software.

Lighting Lighting Gels

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

You're ready with 3-point lighting or a soft-light and mood setting. But ... hum... what's missing? How about some red and blue on that dull white scene?

Creating Shadows

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Dramatic Lighting without Fear (Or, How I Learned to Love the Dark)

Basic Training: Three-Point Lighting 101

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Lighting can be extremely complicated. Some movie and TV shoots use dozens of lights to assure proper scene lighting. Here's a primer to help dispel the mystery.

Lighting: Using Practicals

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Lighting a scene using everyday lamps realistically is a skill that earns Hollywood gaffers top dollars. Here are some tips to using practicals in your next video.

Illuminations: Casting Shadows

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PDT

When you think about lighting, you probably think about your lights and where to place them. But what about the shadows?

Illuminations: One Light Wonder

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 PDT

Sometimes you only have one available light. Other times, you chose to use one light for effect. It's not what, but how you use it that makes your video shine.

Quick Focus

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST

Jargon: Lighting Terms

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST

Lighting Terms

Basic Training: Looking for Light

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST

Shooting in a low light setting is more than just turning down the lights or opening your camcorder's aperture. You can't take low light shooting lightly.

Video Lighting: High Definition Lighting

Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 PDT

We are entering a new era of video production. Our hard work will show in all its HD glory and our sloppy mistakes will glare in HD horror. But light can help us.

How DID They do that?

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

It's April Fool's Day, and what better way to amuse your friends than getting a little giddy with the camera and going a little wacko with your video?

Illuminations: In the Mood

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST

In lighting, the most important aesthetic quality is mood: the feeling communicated by the lighting design.

Basic Training: Shooting an Interview

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST

It might not be 60 Minutes, (more like 15 minutes!) but if you want to make your interviews shine like Ed Bradley's on CBS, read on!

Basic Training: Shoot Yourself!

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST

If you visit a Hollywood film production, or sit through its credits, you know it takes busloads of people to get the production in the can. But what if you don't have access to busloads of people?

Lighting Your Video: Back to the Hardware Store?

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 PST

Lighting accessories can be as easy to make as a trip to the local hardware store.

Illuminations: One-Light to Cover them All

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST

Budget and creative lighting are just a couple reasons why you'd want to shoot with only one lighting instrument.

Lighting Terms

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PDT

Glossary of lighting terms used by videographers.

Illuminations: Moving Targets

Sun, 01 May 2005 00:00:00 PDT

In lighting a subject in motion, focus on the important points in the movement path.

Shooting Day for Night

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 PST

Making day resemble night on your screen means tinting the overall images blue, then adding white light, and adjusting contrtast and brightness to sell the trick.

Home Video Hints: Holiday Videos that Rock!

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 PST

A quick and easy recipe for capturing family memories.

Lighting Lighting Technology

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Since the introduction of the tungsten-halogen bulb in the early 60s, lighting technology has changed little except in the fixture styles that use the quartz lamp.

Save As: 15 Quick Tips to Videotaping Fireworks

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Shooting great firework footage is more than pointing the camera into the sky. The less light you have, the harder it is to focus or capture an image that isn't underexposed or overly grainy. Throw in a fireworks scene that changes from dark to light within nanoseconds, and your camera will need a lot of help from its human counterpart. Let's start with the gear, then go to the technical, setup and finally the techniques.

Lighting: Night Lighting

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

Winter is waning, the snows are beginning to melt in the northern states and the sun is sticking around a little longer. However, the night still rules!

Lighting Car Interiors

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

Did you ever notice that in the movies we never have a problem seeing a person's features while he's driving down the road? Even at night?

Illuminations: Specialty Lighting

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PDT

Lighting can make or break the mood of your video. If you wish to evoke suspense, tension or romance, then traditional three-point lighting isn't enough.

Illuminations: Tabletop Lighting

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST

Whether you're shooting a documentary, creating a scrapbook or shooting an object for a commercial - you will find a need for tabletop lighting techniques.

Camcorder lighting: On-Camera Lights

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST

Whether you're trying to improve an otherwise impossibly dark shot or add a little pop to an adequately lit scene, an on-camera light is a critical tool.

Illuminations: Applying 3-Point Lighting

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

Some folks consider it a tired cliche, but it's important to know how to set 3-point lighting, so you can work within or without this classic lighting style.

Lighting for HDV

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PDT

We are entering a new era of video production. Our hard work will show in all its HD glory and our sloppy mistakes will glare in HD horror. But light can help us.

HD Take 5: Make-up for High Definition

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PDT

Wrinkles, pores and blemishes disappear in five simple steps.

A Complete Guide to Shooting Wedding Video

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT

It's not just the newlyweds making wedding promises. Before you say

Illuminations: Reflecting on Reflectors

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT

No money for more lights? No problem! Here are sure-fire, no-power solutions to making your subject shine.

Test Bench:Litepanels DV Camera Kit Camera-Mounted Light

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT

Litepanels DV Camera Kit Camera-Mounted Light

How to Make a Video Look Like Film

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT

How to use movement, lighting, and filters, to make a video look like film.

Illuminations: Lights in Motion

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST

Natural lights sparkle, shimmer, flutter, flare, glimmer, gleam, revolve, reflect and radiate. Here's some tips to dazzle your viewers with lively photoplays.

Take 5: Five Steps to Smoother Skin

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST

Make your on-camera talent look their best by following these five simple steps.

Green Screen Lighting

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PDT

Virtual green screen sets are no longer just for the privileged Hollywood bigwigs.

Illuminations: Pulling the Plug

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PDT

In order to light that night scene in the field a mile from your house, you'll need a couple hundred 50-foot extension cords, or some other AC power alternatives.

Illuminations: On-Camera Lighting

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PDT

Lights mounted on camcorders are fairly crude and often frustrating; but there are times when you just gotta have 'em.

Illuminations: Lights for Different Jobs

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PDT

You can't tell the players without a scorecard, so here's the roster for video lights and what they do.

Illuminations: Mopping up Spills

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST

Excluding light where you don't want it is as important as painting it where you do.

Illuminations: Get Creative with Cookies!

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST

It's time to get interactive with Videomaker and make your own cookies. No baking necessary, and the only "ingredient" is your imagination.

Illuminations: Diffusion for Contrast Control

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST

Instead of filling outdoor shadows with reflectors, try controlling highlights by diffusing them.

Illuminations: Why Three-Point Lighting?

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 PST

Conventional three-instrument lighting makes more sense when you understand the reasons behind this classic method.

A Production Value Primer: Big Looks for Small Bucks

Thu, 01 Feb 1996 00:00:00 PST

Gaining production value on a project doesn't instantly mean spending money. Here's how to improve the quality of your videos with such simple tools as scripting decisions, camera angles and lighting scenarios.

Getting Started: Using Light

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 PDT

Light is the most essential element in videomaking. Here's how to make the best use of it.

Getting Started: Do You Copy?

Sat, 01 Jun 1996 00:00:00 PDT

Transferring photos to video is easy with the right tools and a little know-how.

Camera Work: On with the Show!

Fri, 01 Dec 1995 00:00:00 PST

On with the Show!

Video Help from Videographers

Fri, 01 Mar 1996 00:00:00 PST

Our subscribers give advice, and share lessons learned in their videography experience

Lighten Up!: What the Pros Know

Mon, 01 Sep 1997 00:00:00 PDT

Lighten up. With lessons from the pros , that is. Whether you're shooting indoors or out, proper lighting techniques can turn your videos from "so-so" to spectacular. This article shows you how the pros do it.

Video Help from Videographers

Thu, 01 Jan 1998 00:00:00 PST

Our subscribers give advice, and share lessons learned in their videography experience.

Take It Light-ly

Wed, 01 Apr 1998 00:00:00 PST

From inexpensive on-camera lights to costly lighting systems with all of the amenities, we've got it covered. In this article, we show you the lighting equipment for four levels of video producers: the casual user, serious amateur, entry-level professional and serious pro.

Let the Sun Shine In: How To Control the Great Outdoor Light Source

Wed, 01 Apr 1998 00:00:00 PST

Though massive and incredibly bright, the sun is not the greatest light source for shooting video. Here we cover the most effective ways to modify, control and supplement the sun's light for good outdoor video.

Lite Lighting

Wed, 01 Jul 1998 00:00:00 PDT

Video Help from Videographers

Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:00:00 PDT

Our subscribers give advice, and share lessons learned in their videography experience.

A Shot in the Dark: Simple Solutions for Nighttime Shooting

Thu, 01 Oct 1998 00:00:00 PDT

Shooting video in the dark is always challenging. Here are some simple solutions that may help with that challenge.

Light Source: The Power of the Sun

Tue, 01 Dec 1998 00:00:00 PST

Tap into free and available solar energy to cast a new and dramatic light on your productions.

Your Tips

Mon, 01 Mar 1999 00:00:00 PST

Your Tips

Tech Talk

Thu, 01 Apr 1999 00:00:00 PST

Tech Talk

Video Lighting: Guerilla Lighting

Wed, 01 Dec 1999 00:00:00 PST

A quick visit to the hardware store will provide most of your guerrilla lighting needs.

Getting Started: Shooting on Sunny Days

Sat, 01 Apr 2000 00:00:00 PST

When shooting outdoors, you should maintain control of the most important video component: light.

Light Source: Three-point Lighting for Multiple Talent

Sat, 01 Apr 2000 00:00:00 PST

Make your light kit do double duty for your next interview.

Light Source: A Dose of Reality

Thu, 01 Jun 2000 00:00:00 PDT

Lighting, like sound, can be used to create a false reality for your audience.

Light Source: Advanced Techniques for Lighting Faces

Tue, 01 Aug 2000 00:00:00 PDT

Light placement can have a dramatic impact on the faces you light.

Light Source: News-style Lighting

Sun, 01 Oct 2000 00:00:00 PDT

Tips to help you create great lighting for your news set. Strategies for anchors, sports and the weather.

Light Source: In the Mood? Creating Mood with Light

Fri, 01 Dec 2000 00:00:00 PST

One scene, many moods. Let the lighting do the work.

Video Magic on the Rostrum and Tabletop

Sun, 01 Jul 2001 00:00:00 PDT

Learn how to capture small, stationary objects on tabletop sets.

Light Source: Lighting Faces

Wed, 01 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PDT

Basic three-point lighting techniques provide practical solutions to common lighting challenges.

Forecast: Strong Drama

Sat, 01 Jun 2002 00:00:00 PDT

Weather can be a key ingredient in your video. Good planning, ingenuity and a few household items can help.

Light Source: Reflecting Light

Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 PST

Don't let imposing lighting conditions get you down, reflect that light to your advantage.

Light Source: Using a Camera-Mounted Light

Fri, 01 Mar 2002 00:00:00 PST

The on-camera light can be a great tool, if you know how to use it.

Light Source: Lighting for Chromakey

Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 PST

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of bringing realism to your chromakey scene.

Light Source: Controlling Light

Wed, 01 May 2002 00:00:00 PDT

Seize control over your lighting with accessories such as flags, barndoors and snoots.

Light Source: One Location, Five Different Looks

Sun, 01 Sep 2002 00:00:00 PDT

Even in a small office studio, you can attain a variety of looks and moods for your video.

Light Source: Lighting with Hardware Store Tools

Tue, 01 Oct 2002 00:00:00 PDT

Your local hardware store is a valuable source for video lighting tools and accessories.

Light Source: Lighting Your Backgrounds

Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 PST

Always keep your backgrounds in mind when you set up your video shots.

Viewfinder: Reflections

Sun, 01 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST

Reflections

Video Lighting

Sun, 01 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST

Working with moving subjects and multiple cams.

Light Source: Lighting Portraits

Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 PST

As with still photography, the goal of a video portrait is to make your subject look as good as possible.

Shooting for Compression

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PDT

If your work will be viewed on the Internet, you need to shoot with compression in mind.

Light Source: Mop Up That Spill!

Fri, 01 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PDT

There's no need to cry over spilled light, just follow this simple advice.

Light Source: Hard Light, Soft Light

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Through spots or soft lights can be used to create theatrical or natural lighting styles, they're often most effective when employed together.

Shooting from the Hip: A Case Study

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PDT

In the jungles of Indonesia, you don't have the same level of control that you have in the studio, but the shot is still the same.

Light Source: Lighting Moving Targets

Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 PST

A few lights can cover a lot of action -- if you know how to use them.

Light Source: Three-Point Lighting Designs

Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 PST

For individual subjects, nothing beats the tried-and-true combo of key, fill and back lights. Classic three-point lighting (key, fill and back light) is sometimes dismissed as "yearbook lighting." True, it can look hokey in story videos, but whenever you have a narrator, a spokesperson, an interviewee or anyone who stays in one place and talks, three-point lighting is bullet proof.

Light Source: On Location with Gaffer Tom

Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 PST

FROM: gaffertom@barndoor.com
TO: goldilocks@beanbagstate.edu
SUBJECT: Is

Light Source: Lighting Multiple Subjects

Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST

It's easy to light two people at once, whether with one light or eight.

Lights, Reflectors, Diffusers: The Tools of the Trade

Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 PDT

If you need to light up your life, you need to learn to control the light.

Light Source: Lighting for the Internet

Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Simple lighting makes cleaner, more natural images, while reducing production hassles.

Light Source: Lighting for Mood

Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Lighting to achieve a certain mood is easy if you work with three basic elements: key, contrast and color.

Light Source: Lighting Women/Lighting Men

Sun, 01 Aug 2004 00:00:00 PDT

The rugged and the glam.

Your Tips

Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Your Tips

Home Video Hints: How to Use Available Light

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Available light can be all you need if you patiently think through your options and wisely exploit the location.

Light Source: The Wedding in the Woods - Part 1

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PDT

The best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.

Light Source: Using Diffusion

Mon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 PST

Diffusion is invaluable for softening harsh light and creating natural-looking lighting designs.

Light Source: The Wedding (Not) in the Woods: Part 2

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PDT

FROM: gaffertom@barndoor.com
TO: goldilocks@beanbagstate.edu
SUBJECT: Flower children wedding plan B

Test Bench: Frezzi Micro-Fill Dimmer Starter Kit On-Camera Light

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Frezzi Micro-Fill Dimmer Starter Kit On-Camera Light

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 PST

Your Tips

Wed, 01 Jul 1998 00:00:00 PDT

Your Tips

Light Source: Crafting the Key Light

Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 PST

Good lighting begins with a single lamp.

Videocrafts: The Shadow Meets the Green (or Blue) Lantern

Thu, 01 Apr 1999 00:00:00 PST

Spice up backgrounds with this easy-to-make shadow-shaping template.

Light Source: Lighting Faces

Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 PDT

Faces present a special kind of lighting challenge to the videographer.

Light Source: Reflecting Light

Sun, 01 Aug 1999 00:00:00 PDT

Dramatic lighting can make the difference between an ordinary production and a great production.

Light Source: Lighting Backgrounds

Fri, 01 Oct 1999 00:00:00 PDT

Well-lit backgrounds don't just support your talent; they send subtle yet powerful messages to your audience.

What You See Is What You Get

Mon, 01 Nov 1999 00:00:00 PST

Controlling light to improve your image

Video Adventurer

Fri, 01 Dec 2000 00:00:00 PST

Tips for shooting video on the trail.

Hollywood's Dark Secret: Shooting Day for Night

Sun, 01 Jul 2001 00:00:00 PDT

Go behind the scenes of a fictional, low-budget horror flick and discover how to produce nighttime shots during the day.

Light Source: Is it Real or Just Good Lighting?

Fri, 01 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PDT

With these techniques you can light scenes so they look as natural as the real world.

Light Source: The Key to Changing Moods

Mon, 01 Oct 2001 00:00:00 PDT

As important as set design and costumes, light positioning and intensity are integral scene setters.

Shooting an Interview TV-Style

Mon, 01 Jul 2002 00:00:00 PDT

You can shoot a television-style interview with a single camcorder and a little creativity.

Light Source: Three-Point Lighting in the Real World

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 PST

It's not just a theory: check out these pragmatic three-point lighting tips in action.

Light Source: Creating Mood with a Single Light

Sat, 01 Feb 2003 00:00:00 PST

You don't need a whole light kit to give a single character their mood.

Light Source: Sound and Light Shows

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 00:00:00 PST

With lighting, you can create spectacular elements with little or no budget.

A Shot in the Dark

Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Six Tips (and a Few Cautions) for Shooting Video at Night

Light Source: Using Reflectors Like a Pro

Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Reflectors are cheap and easy -- just how we like 'em.

Camcorder lighting: On-Camera Lights

Sun, 01 Jun 2003 00:00:00 PDT

How to make the most of an on-board lamp.

Light Source: Lighting for Compositing

Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Good lighting is the key to chromakey.

Light Source: Working with Mixed Lighting

Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Mixed lighting isn't necessarily a disaster. Here are some pragmatic solutions for your next location shoot.

What is Lux: Shedding Some Light on Low Light Cameras

Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:00:00 PDT

Manufacturers love low lux ratings, but consumers may be left in the dark.

Home Video Hints: Using a Built-in Camera Light

Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Small, portable and battery powered, a video light can save your shots in more ways than you may know.

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 PST

Light Source: The Power of Three-point Lighting

Mon, 01 Feb 1999 00:00:00 PST

Use three-point lighting to set the mood, time of day and dramatic intensity of your productions.

Video Lighting: 3 Point Lighting: A Handyman's Guide

Sun, 01 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST

Special tips to make your lighting projects safer and more effective.