Help with budget lighting

FieldDoc · Feb 25, 2013

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice to a newcomer to filming.

I have a concept for a series of YouTube episodes where part of the episode will be filming myself sat on my couch playing a video game. The couch is in a small room (approx 3 x 4 m) which is uniformly midtone red in colour. There is no natural light (blackout blinds) and the lighting for the room is via 6 recessed ceiling spotlights (dimmable, 50W).

I shot some sample footage with the camera in front of me on a tripod but the lighting is pretty bad. Principally harsh shadows cast down from the shelves on the back wall behind the couch.

I really don't have a budget per se to light myself so I was just looking for general tips on how to get rid of these nasty shadows whilst providing enough light for myself, given the room is so small. I can't really afford a professional lighting rig.

Thanks in advance,

Sweetie · Feb 25, 2013

How to get rid of those nasty shadows, you can use a reflector board, but if your light is only 50w to start with, you're not really going to get much light reflected.

No money?

Go down to the hardware shop and pick up some cheap lights. While they'll make everyone cringe, they won't be exactly as safe as you'd like and you don't usually have a dimmer attached, it'll be better than taking video in the dark, which is essentially what you're currently doing.

It shouldn't cost you more than $100.

FieldDoc · Feb 25, 2013

I should probably be a little more clear. There are 6 overhead 50W halogen bulbs (total 300W) and (if not dimmed) its very bright but casts shadows downwards on a collection of shelves in the camera line behind the couch.

I'm just trying to figure out how to change the lighting to alleviate this. I'm guessing lights pointing upwards to the shelves could work but desk lamps are really bright and harsh and seem to cast their own problematic shadows...

rayw · Feb 25, 2013

A couple of these oughtta work.

http://www.nolansupply.com/bysubcat...n+Reflector+Lamps &type=False&specs=True

These might also work for your budget:
http://www.jewson.co.uk/electricals...EHN00182/defender-fluoresent-task-light-110v/
http://www.jewson.co.uk/electricals...-hand-floodlight-with-plug-26-bulb-500w-110v/

Since the room is a light absorbing midtone red colour, consider hanging a light/white sheet behind the TV then bouncing the lights off of that to fill-light your face and background.

Sweetie · Feb 25, 2013

FieldDoc said:
I'm just trying to figure out how to change the lighting to alleviate this. I'm guessing lights pointing upwards to the shelves could work but desk lamps are really bright and harsh and seem to cast their own problematic shadows...

McGyver fix: Use a piece of white cardboard. Point the lamps at the cardboard to bounce the light where the shadows are. This will soften the light somewhat.

You could simply remove the shelves or any other problem item, or light the scene properly, or green screen it, or shoot elsewhere... oh, so many more options.

Welcome to the world of Cinematography. Prepare to pull your hair out.

Chris Tempel · Feb 25, 2013

Build a 5x5 PVC frame. Costs $10. Hang a dollar store shower curtain from it. Position it in front of a rack of halogen worklights $35. Instant DIY softbox

FieldDoc · Feb 25, 2013

Thanks for all of your suggestions so far. They're really useful.

I've been looking at green screens as if I can uniformly light the couch and hang a green screen from the wall behind me I can create the illusion that I'm somewhere else. Brilliant!

I think I may mess around with a couple of those lamps and place a thin sheet over them to soften the light to see if that helps.

ShadoeFox · Feb 25, 2013

Rayw, gotta say, I love the "lighting diagram" above. That's sharp.

knightly · Feb 25, 2013

Here's an older thread here, my second setup on there is like what you're talking about, craftsman 500w light bounced into a white piece of foamcore. $30 solution. I added a couple of clamp lights (as seen above -- make sure you buy the slightly more expensive kind that have solid knuckles rather than the friction knuckles (search knuckle above to find links to these).

http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=9597