Simple 3 Point lighting set up HELP!

Absolution_Films · Oct 20, 2011

Hi guys,

So on Tuesday next week i have an interview booked with a music artist in the UK, the interview is being done backstage and i would love to get a nice lighting set up in place, hopefully 3 point....

However at this current moment i have no lights due to unforeseen circumstances, I have considered using work site lights... see link:

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/lihalworktwin.jpg

although i am conscious and aware that they heat up very quickly and can be very bright.

Do anyone have any other suggestions on any good lights i can pick up cheaply... or could i use a dimmer switch on these type of work lights?

Hope you can help!

knightly · Oct 20, 2011

They do heat up quickly, although, there are flourescent versions that won't get as hot as the halogens. You'll need some colored gels (minus Green, CTO--Color Temperature Orange, CTB--Color Temperature Blue) to get rid of the green spike, then match them to the desired available light (or hint at opposing light for effect). Make sure you get the ones with 7' stands so you can get the light above the subject.

The poor man's dimmer is moving the light back farther (double the distance is a quarter the light).
The Halogens are dimmable (or you can just get lower wattage bulbs for them) with a "Router Speed Controller" from http://www.harborfreighttools.com
If you intend to do more of these, you may want to look at getting a small Smith & Victor lighting kit (cheaper) or a Lowell lighting kit (better).

Absolution_Films · Oct 20, 2011

http://www.photosel.co.uk/studio-lights/continuous-light-kits.html

would any of the be useful?

They seem well priced

Re-Maker · Nov 12, 2011

Absolution_Films said:
Hi guys,

So on Tuesday next week i have an interview booked with a music artist in the UK, the interview is being done backstage and i would love to get a nice lighting set up in place, hopefully 3 point....

However at this current moment i have no lights due to unforeseen circumstances, I have considered using work site lights... see link:

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/lihalworktwin.jpg

although i am conscious and aware that they heat up very quickly and can be very bright.

Do anyone have any other suggestions on any good lights i can pick up cheaply... or could i use a dimmer switch on these type of work lights?

Hope you can help!

I used exactly this type of lights for this setup : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqEXNGiuPcI
Three spots for key, two for fill and one for backlight.
I used tracing paper to soften shadows of the key.

Yes, they are getting hot quickly.

knightly · Nov 12, 2011

careful with the tracing paper... fire = bad in this case. I have lighting tests with craftsman worklights and white shower curtains for diffusion up at my website. Worked pretty well, but no control over spill whatsoever.

Re-Maker · Nov 13, 2011

knightly said:
careful with the tracing paper... fire = bad in this case. I have lighting tests with craftsman worklights and white shower curtains for diffusion up at my website. Worked pretty well, but no control over spill whatsoever.

Well, my wife uses the tracing paper to cook a sponge cake in an oven at 300 degrees

Yes, I agree, it is a paper so it eventually can catch a fire.

PaulGriffith · Nov 13, 2011

Bakery's paper/wax paper holds up better for super cheap diffusion, but for like $15 you can get a few sheets of the real deal, and it'll let a lot more light through. The paper blocks more than it diffuses.

knightly · Nov 13, 2011

Re-Maker said:
Well, my wife uses the tracing paper to cook a sponge cake in an oven at 300 degrees
Yes, I agree, it is a paper so it eventually can catch a fire.

Parchment paper is probably specifically what you're referring to (tracing paper is much flimsier and has no coatings at all)... but the spongecake adds moisture to the air inside the oven and helps prevent the paper from bursting into flame... whereas, the halogens throw much more than 300 degrees and are drying out as soon as you flip the lights on... once the coating is heated enough, the paper inside only needs to hit 451 to flash... then you lose valuable production time trying to fight a fire and hoping no equipment gets damaged in the process.

I'd second the motion to get the diffusion gels, they're cheap and withstand the temperatures much better.

Re-Maker · Nov 13, 2011

knightly said:
Parchment paper is probably specifically what you're referring to (tracing paper is much flimsier and has no coatings at all)... but the spongecake adds moisture to the air inside the oven and helps prevent the paper from bursting into flame... whereas, the halogens throw much more than 300 degrees and are drying out as soon as you flip the lights on... once the coating is heated enough, the paper inside only needs to hit 451 to flash... then you lose valuable production time trying to fight a fire and hoping no equipment gets damaged in the process.

I'd second the motion to get the diffusion gels, they're cheap and withstand the temperatures much better.

Oops...
Will this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Filters-Lighting-Gel-Sheet-416-3-4-White-Diffusion-/300612379149?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item45fde4e20d#ht_1649wt_905 do me good?

knightly · Nov 13, 2011