| Author |
Message |
Matt
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:
light kit recomendations? |
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I'm looking for something lightweight and portable for mainly small shoots
with a PD-150 (I'll be a one man crew with fast set up times). I'll be
shooting 30 second commercials in a 50/50 store/office to warehouse
environment. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a :
Lowel DP&T-92 Tungsten 3 Light Kit - consists of: 2 DP Lights, 1 Tota-Light,
Barndoors, Gel Frames, Gels, Light Stands, Bulbs, DP3 Case - 2750 Total
Watts
But I'm a little worried about the warehouse shoots so I thought I'd seek
some advice from the professionals.
Thanks
Matt
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Bill Farnsworth
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:58 pm Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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"Matt" <mttmrrsn.nospamme@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jLN5f.38908$Lp.25232@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
| Quote: | I'm looking for something lightweight and portable for mainly small shoots
with a PD-150 (I'll be a one man crew with fast set up times). I'll be
shooting 30 second commercials in a 50/50 store/office to warehouse
environment. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a :
Lowel DP&T-92 Tungsten 3 Light Kit - consists of: 2 DP Lights, 1
Tota-Light, Barndoors, Gel Frames, Gels, Light Stands, Bulbs, DP3 Case -
2750 Total Watts
But I'm a little worried about the warehouse shoots so I thought I'd seek
some advice from the professionals.
Thanks
Matt
That's a good start Matt. |
I would invest in at least one 24" x 32" soft light box for the Tota, like
the Chimera or Photo Flex brands. (about $235.00)
Of course, you will need a "speed ring" to hold the box to the fixture. Even
though it's pricey, ($135.00 retail) the Chimera brand speed ring is the
best. Then, you will need a grip head to hold the speed ring to the light
stand. But that's only 25 bucks.
So you wanna light a warehouse?
Not easily done with three lights.
Depends on what kind of lights are used in the warehouse in the first place.
If they are fluorescent, tungsten or possibly even mercury vapor, you can
use them as the overall source and just light a key area with your three
lights. For fluorescent and mercury vapor, you can add "half" blue gel to
the DP or Tota to balance the color temp somewhat.
If the overall light source is sodium vapor (orange looking) you are pretty
much out of luck color balancing.
Sodium vapor lights are monochrome wavelength. They occupy a very narrow
band in the light spectrum. White balancing to this kind of light can be
done, but the results are not going to be very close to what you would hope
for.
However, Bill Davis brought me on one of his shoots somewhere's in the south
a few years ago and I was quite surprised we got an OK white balance in a
warehouse under sodium vapors with his DVCAM.
Bill F.
www.billfarnsworthvideo.com |
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Bill Fright
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:55 pm Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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Matt wrote:
| Quote: | I'm looking for something lightweight and portable for mainly small shoots
with a PD-150 (I'll be a one man crew with fast set up times). I'll be
shooting 30 second commercials in a 50/50 store/office to warehouse
environment. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a :
Lowel DP&T-92 Tungsten 3 Light Kit - consists of: 2 DP Lights, 1 Tota-Light,
Barndoors, Gel Frames, Gels, Light Stands, Bulbs, DP3 Case - 2750 Total
Watts
But I'm a little worried about the warehouse shoots so I thought I'd seek
some advice from the professionals.
Thanks
Matt
|
I'm not to hot on the lowel lights because they don't focus. I
absolutely despise the tota light as a light source and simply view them
as a fire hazard. The DP spots a little and that's what I use with my
chimera. Also I really don't like the Lowel stands. They are too light
and flimsy for my liking. I'd recommend LTM's Cyan Pepper kit and add a
DP with chimera. All you have to add is stringers , diffusion/gel kit
and clothes pins and you're set. The case is wheeled and mine weighs 75
lbs but it's very compact for a five head kit. The case is also aircraft
approved.
As far as the warehouse shot I'd hire a light guy with HMIs. If you're
trying to make a warehouse look huge and pretty I'd blast a bunch of
light at it. You can hire a half ton rig and a lighting guy with HMIs
for about $800 a day. |
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Matt
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:56 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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"Bill Farnsworth" <bill.farnsworth@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:Q8P5f.8514$Yk6.201@trnddc01...
| Quote: | "Matt" <mttmrrsn.nospamme@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jLN5f.38908$Lp.25232@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
That's a good start Matt.
I would invest in at least one 24" x 32" soft light box for the Tota, like
the Chimera or Photo Flex brands. (about $235.00)
Of course, you will need a "speed ring" to hold the box to the fixture.
Even though it's pricey, ($135.00 retail) the Chimera brand speed ring is
the best. Then, you will need a grip head to hold the speed ring to the
light stand. But that's only 25 bucks.
|
Thanks for the tips.. I'll check into that, sounds like it's worth the extra
investment. I'm spoiled after working at a production company and just being
able to go in the back and grab what ever I need. Our kits were already set
up and I never really gave them a second thought until I no longer had
access to them.
| Quote: | So you wanna light a warehouse?
Not easily done with three lights.
Depends on what kind of lights are used in the warehouse in the first
place.
If they are fluorescent, tungsten or possibly even mercury vapor, you can
use them as the overall source and just light a key area with your three
lights.
|
That's sort of what I was shooting for... this guy advertises heavily and
everyone knows by now that he's in a large warehouse so I think I'll have a
little leeway here.
| Quote: | For fluorescent and mercury vapor, you can add "half" blue gel to the DP or
Tota to balance the color temp somewhat.
|
That appears to be the basic setup from what I can tell, thanks!
| Quote: | However, Bill Davis brought me on one of his shoots somewhere's in the
south a few years ago and I was quite surprised we got an OK white balance
in a warehouse under sodium vapors with his DVCAM.
Well that's what I'll be doing, shooting in warehouses in the south! |
Thanks again for all the help! |
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Matt
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:02 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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"Bill Fright" <billfright@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:HZP5f.2560$Bf7.622@tornado.texas.rr.com...
| Quote: |
I'm not to hot on the lowel lights because they don't focus.
|
It's been a while since I worked with Lowel lights (I picked them mainly due
to budgetary constraints) and I had forgotten about that. I'll check out
your suggestion and see if it fits into my budget. Of course I'm willing to
float the budget on the credit card if need be, after all I know it isn't
wise to skimp out on lights.
| Quote: | absolutely despise the tota light as a light source and simply view them
as a fire hazard. The DP spots a little and that's what I use with my
chimera. Also I really don't like the Lowel stands. They are too light and
flimsy for my liking.
|
I don't remember out old stands being flimsy though, maybe that's something
they've done with the newer light kits.
| Quote: | I'd recommend LTM's Cyan Pepper kit and add a DP with chimera. All you have
to add is stringers , diffusion/gel kit and clothes pins and you're set.
The case is wheeled and mine weighs 75 lbs but it's very compact for a five
head kit. The case is also aircraft approved.
As far as the warehouse shot I'd hire a light guy with HMIs. If you're
trying to make a warehouse look huge and pretty I'd blast a bunch of light
at it. You can hire a half ton rig and a lighting guy with HMIs for about
$800 a day.
|
A bit out of my budget at the moment, but good to know. Thanks! |
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EFP
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:32 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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| Quote: | I would invest in at least one 24" x 32" soft
light box for the Tota, like the Chimera or Photo
Flex brands.
|
Or, spend more money and get yourself
a Kino Flo with an eggcrate. They are
expensive - but well worth it. If the
Kino's are too pricey there are other
clones out there.
While you've got your wallet out, throw
in a couple of Dedo's too. |
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William Davis
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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In article <Q8P5f.8514$Yk6.201@trnddc01>,
"Bill Farnsworth" <bill.farnsworth@verizon.net> wrote:
| Quote: | "Matt" <mttmrrsn.nospamme@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jLN5f.38908$Lp.25232@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
I'm looking for something lightweight and portable for mainly small shoots
with a PD-150 (I'll be a one man crew with fast set up times). I'll be
shooting 30 second commercials in a 50/50 store/office to warehouse
environment. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a :
Lowel DP&T-92 Tungsten 3 Light Kit - consists of: 2 DP Lights, 1
Tota-Light, Barndoors, Gel Frames, Gels, Light Stands, Bulbs, DP3 Case -
2750 Total Watts
But I'm a little worried about the warehouse shoots so I thought I'd seek
some advice from the professionals.
Thanks
Matt
That's a good start Matt.
I would invest in at least one 24" x 32" soft light box for the Tota, like
the Chimera or Photo Flex brands. (about $235.00)
Of course, you will need a "speed ring" to hold the box to the fixture. Even
though it's pricey, ($135.00 retail) the Chimera brand speed ring is the
best. Then, you will need a grip head to hold the speed ring to the light
stand. But that's only 25 bucks.
So you wanna light a warehouse?
Not easily done with three lights.
Depends on what kind of lights are used in the warehouse in the first place.
If they are fluorescent, tungsten or possibly even mercury vapor, you can
use them as the overall source and just light a key area with your three
lights. For fluorescent and mercury vapor, you can add "half" blue gel to
the DP or Tota to balance the color temp somewhat.
If the overall light source is sodium vapor (orange looking) you are pretty
much out of luck color balancing.
Sodium vapor lights are monochrome wavelength. They occupy a very narrow
band in the light spectrum. White balancing to this kind of light can be
done, but the results are not going to be very close to what you would hope
for.
However, Bill Davis brought me on one of his shoots somewhere's in the south
a few years ago and I was quite surprised we got an OK white balance in a
warehouse under sodium vapors with his DVCAM.
Bill F.
www.billfarnsworthvideo.com
|
Since you often tease me about my "driving" when we work together, now I
get to return the favor about your global navigation skills - the
SOUTH???
Since when is Ohio in the south?
For the record, that shoot was in a massive warehouse complex and
atypical because the company sprang for relatively decent warehouse
lighting rather than the cheapest high output fixtures they can find.
Color balance can be a challenge, tho as Bill says, newer cameras are
better at white balancing to weird or mixed sources.
I think a bigger problem is that in many areas of a typical warehouse
situation you'll be fighting pretty high level task lighting down a
human level combined with much lower level light in overhead areas. A
good example is a typical warehouse "product pick line" where workers
pull products for palletizing loads for the stores. In this kind of
situation, it's hard to get anything other than an overly bright scene
of workers with a LOT of serious darkness overhead.
Also in many warehouses the volume of space is really massive and if you
do want to light the ceiling space or the products up in the steel
nothing short of really big HMI's - high powered kliegs or some kind
of carbon arc lights are likely to do the job. (the inverse square
principal is a bitch when you've got a football field of distance
between the lights and the wall!)
I remember doing a lower budget warehouse gig here in town a few years
back and I tried buying half a dozen dual-head Quarts shop lights and
arranging them to flood the back walls - it was "okay" but the with
walls that big they tended to light up the base of the walls better than
the whole wall evenly. At $39.95 each you might just buy them locally
when you get where you're going and give them to the local guys as "wrap
presents" when you're done with the shoot - oh, and if you do something
like that don't forget to also budget for stingers you can buy and
abandon. Nothing screws up airline weight limit like flying with long
extension cords!
All that said, I was just watching a national WalMart commercial staged
in a warehouse and wasn't surprised to see that IT had a bunch of mixed
lighting sources, dark areas, and the same kind of challenges we all
face in big space shooting.
It's not an easy challenge to solve unless you've got the money for a
full truck with the extra big HMI's referenced above.
Good luck and let us know what you do and how it works. |
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Bill Farnsworth
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:35 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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"William Davis" <davisbill@mac.com> wrote
| Quote: | Since when is Ohio in the south?
|
Was that Ohio?
Well.......... it was hot and muggy and green. And you tried to kill me with
a Loadmaster equipment vehicle. :-)
Besides, as far as I'M concerned everything in the lower 48 is south of me.
Bill F.
www.billfarnsworthvideo.com |
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nobody special
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Oct 22, 2005 4:41 am Post subject:
Re: light kit recomendations? |
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Late to the party, but I would suggest for the talent key light a Lowel
Rifalight instead of the Chimera. Sets up faster (I've raced Chimera
owners), is a little cheaper, gives a great soft light key. It deploys
like an umbrealla, the shole thing is self-contained and deploys or
stows in about 5 seconds. Comes with a substantial stand, all first
rate quality.
Lightforms eggcrates are muy expensivo, I don't use eggcrate for the
expense, but may make some out of foamcore some day as an experiment.
meanwhile, I use extra stands and foamcore as cutters.
The warehouse is problematical, any way you wanna try and light it, but
I am also surprised nobody's talked about SOUND yet, this kind of space
is often an acoustical nightmare.
If the guy's not going to move around much, maybe you shot a separate
plate of the warehouse where you can tweak colors and balance all day
long in post, and chromakey the guy in using a smaller, more controlled
and quiet space? |
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