How to ACTUALLY Shoot with Natural Light 3 Essential Tools You Need
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Date: 2022-09-13
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Comments and reviews: 20
Ed
IMO. Not being picky. Love your stuff. Great 'starter' tips for those venturing out. But these are only my thoughts - (not necc. based on my 30 years of filming. After your 'lighting tools' have been added, your model went flat and looked less interesting. She's reading a book about cookery so, OK, maybe its about flour? I'm not convinced. Change the book to Sherlock Holmes and some dramatic shadows would have intensified the shot! One of the most common errors in lighting is to take out all the highlights and raise the shadows to the point that it works as a 'technical shot' being balanced out but you lose the drama and the contrast of the scene. But to the point of detraction. Technical doesn't rule a shot. The shot does. Also, the background detracts from the model because there are too many objects around her. Also, your choice of model: Bright blue eyes and red hair? Striped shirt? There are so many conflicting items the shot looks over-crowded and distracts from the principal focus of the scene. Her. Edge of her hair needed work. (Too many back-lit hairs sticking up etc. So a lot more can be done with the choice of set, position of the model, and, in the end, by using some of the most brilliant advantages of sunlight, I am sure you could have taken some planned, pre-scene decisions and placed her in a much more interesting area after building it up. (Examples to 'mood 'the scene - Maybe use hanging strips that move in the wind or have someone wave a branch full of leaves outside to bring movement of light on the face exactly as a tree would diffuse light. Naturally. This is film lighting after all, not photography. etc. etc. Go well and peace.
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IMO. Not being picky. Love your stuff. Great 'starter' tips for those venturing out. But these are only my thoughts - (not necc. based on my 30 years of filming. After your 'lighting tools' have been added, your model went flat and looked less interesting. She's reading a book about cookery so, OK, maybe its about flour? I'm not convinced. Change the book to Sherlock Holmes and some dramatic shadows would have intensified the shot! One of the most common errors in lighting is to take out all the highlights and raise the shadows to the point that it works as a 'technical shot' being balanced out but you lose the drama and the contrast of the scene. But to the point of detraction. Technical doesn't rule a shot. The shot does. Also, the background detracts from the model because there are too many objects around her. Also, your choice of model: Bright blue eyes and red hair? Striped shirt? There are so many conflicting items the shot looks over-crowded and distracts from the principal focus of the scene. Her. Edge of her hair needed work. (Too many back-lit hairs sticking up etc. So a lot more can be done with the choice of set, position of the model, and, in the end, by using some of the most brilliant advantages of sunlight, I am sure you could have taken some planned, pre-scene decisions and placed her in a much more interesting area after building it up. (Examples to 'mood 'the scene - Maybe use hanging strips that move in the wind or have someone wave a branch full of leaves outside to bring movement of light on the face exactly as a tree would diffuse light. Naturally. This is film lighting after all, not photography. etc. etc. Go well and peace.
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Ananda
I thoroughly enjoy your videos. In this one you let us know what's required (and how much the various fixes cost. I'm dealing with an ultra-simple production (fundraising skit outdoors, shot from 1 to 6 p. m. under sunny skies with dappled shade to avoid, etc. So it will help to know when and how to use a small diffuser or reflector, and how to expose to the right and use a flat profile and what direction to have subjects face, how to keep background nicely exposed, etc. I've pretty much figured it out, but perhaps others would like a video. ? BTW, I see where Neewer sells a very reasonably priced 5' x 7' diffuser/reflector.
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I thoroughly enjoy your videos. In this one you let us know what's required (and how much the various fixes cost. I'm dealing with an ultra-simple production (fundraising skit outdoors, shot from 1 to 6 p. m. under sunny skies with dappled shade to avoid, etc. So it will help to know when and how to use a small diffuser or reflector, and how to expose to the right and use a flat profile and what direction to have subjects face, how to keep background nicely exposed, etc. I've pretty much figured it out, but perhaps others would like a video. ? BTW, I see where Neewer sells a very reasonably priced 5' x 7' diffuser/reflector.
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Stillsix
Great tips. Have a practical question from small shop (not snarking honest. I've hung ND with duct from the outside window in order to be quicker setup. How long did it take to cut to precision and hang inside? Gotta try the windex & squeegee. My luck it would take an hour and then the sunlight is totally different then need to tear ND down. So guess you want to scout location, have a plan, and give enough time to hang ND before shoot?
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Great tips. Have a practical question from small shop (not snarking honest. I've hung ND with duct from the outside window in order to be quicker setup. How long did it take to cut to precision and hang inside? Gotta try the windex & squeegee. My luck it would take an hour and then the sunlight is totally different then need to tear ND down. So guess you want to scout location, have a plan, and give enough time to hang ND before shoot?
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Shayne
Looks awesome guys! Taking it a step further, the next big problem in this scene is all the major green bounce from all the green plants negatively impacting skin tone and colour contrasts - also super common with wood floors in my experience. Would have flagged off a lot of the other windows off camera to reduce that colour spill, and if I had a light, add some ambient fill to help get the CT in the room a bit cleaner
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Looks awesome guys! Taking it a step further, the next big problem in this scene is all the major green bounce from all the green plants negatively impacting skin tone and colour contrasts - also super common with wood floors in my experience. Would have flagged off a lot of the other windows off camera to reduce that colour spill, and if I had a light, add some ambient fill to help get the CT in the room a bit cleaner
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Daniel
Awesome video guys, I learned a lot! In the backlit situation where the model is in front of the big windows, would it work if you used something like a v-flat to bounce light back onto the front of your subject? Would that just even out the dynamic range and lead to a flat scene? The shot you guys ended up with was really beautiful. Is that because the light behind your model is now less than the light in front?
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Awesome video guys, I learned a lot! In the backlit situation where the model is in front of the big windows, would it work if you used something like a v-flat to bounce light back onto the front of your subject? Would that just even out the dynamic range and lead to a flat scene? The shot you guys ended up with was really beautiful. Is that because the light behind your model is now less than the light in front?
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J. M. W.
No Reflectors, no Flashes, no Lights - because that's expensive.
Instead use foil that apparantly grows on tress and fumble it into every window in your free time. Which is free. And also grows on trees.
Seriously?
And while I know that being negative won't get me many friends here - the light on her face is still not nice. You would not use that shot for anything.
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No Reflectors, no Flashes, no Lights - because that's expensive.
Instead use foil that apparantly grows on tress and fumble it into every window in your free time. Which is free. And also grows on trees.
Seriously?
And while I know that being negative won't get me many friends here - the light on her face is still not nice. You would not use that shot for anything.
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TheSleepiOne
I like yalls videos but you literally break the rules or title every time. lol Do a video with 1 cheap camera, 1 cheap light. Not 1 great cam, 1 great light, with diffuser and stand and if you happen to have DUVETYNE laying around. Thanks for putting us all on game though.
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I like yalls videos but you literally break the rules or title every time. lol Do a video with 1 cheap camera, 1 cheap light. Not 1 great cam, 1 great light, with diffuser and stand and if you happen to have DUVETYNE laying around. Thanks for putting us all on game though.
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Aleksey
About 2th example: we can use a mirror across from the window, with soft difussion filter on him. ND filter on a camera and white light on background will out, when the face will be in normal exposition and without dirty shadows
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About 2th example: we can use a mirror across from the window, with soft difussion filter on him. ND filter on a camera and white light on background will out, when the face will be in normal exposition and without dirty shadows
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Reid
Wait, what's wrong with the 6D mark 2? If it's easy to find cheap online because everyone hates it, I might be able to afford a DSLR for once, so is it really that bad? Would it be a good investment for a beginner anyway? Thanks!
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Wait, what's wrong with the 6D mark 2? If it's easy to find cheap online because everyone hates it, I might be able to afford a DSLR for once, so is it really that bad? Would it be a good investment for a beginner anyway? Thanks!
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Jim
I noticed that removing the ND film on the window wasn't included in the video. Would be interesting to know how difficult ( or easy ) that would be. Also how expensive that film is.
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I noticed that removing the ND film on the window wasn't included in the video. Would be interesting to know how difficult ( or easy ) that would be. Also how expensive that film is.
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Yann
On the second case, i think it will be faster and cheaper just to bounce back the light to the model with a reflector or even a large white paper (in case of no budget shooting. ;p
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On the second case, i think it will be faster and cheaper just to bounce back the light to the model with a reflector or even a large white paper (in case of no budget shooting. ;p
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Daniel
Ted i wanna ask for the second set; window on the background
is it okay if we put reflector or any bounce card in front of the model and then bring down the whole brightness?
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Ted i wanna ask for the second set; window on the background
is it okay if we put reflector or any bounce card in front of the model and then bring down the whole brightness?
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Mike
Love the content as always, I have one question. What was the drop cloth for, assuming it wasn't needed for a Lethal Weapon 2 type situation? Learning so much from you guys!
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Love the content as always, I have one question. What was the drop cloth for, assuming it wasn't needed for a Lethal Weapon 2 type situation? Learning so much from you guys!
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Oliver
The sad thing is, a lot of these 'cheap' film things (V-flats, floppies, the 'real' diffusion, 4x4 frames) are sold for as much or more than modern LED lights.
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The sad thing is, a lot of these 'cheap' film things (V-flats, floppies, the 'real' diffusion, 4x4 frames) are sold for as much or more than modern LED lights.
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arsonistrats
Just getting into lighting etc, this is the third video of you guys i stumble upon - very helpful, and the two of you have great chemistry: )
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Just getting into lighting etc, this is the third video of you guys i stumble upon - very helpful, and the two of you have great chemistry: )
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Afotey
This really helps a ton!
That you do these and release them for free boggles my mind lol
Also, her mask is EVERYTHING
#BlackLivesMatter
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This really helps a ton!
That you do these and release them for free boggles my mind lol
Also, her mask is EVERYTHING
#BlackLivesMatter
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Kaido1
I often use a big sheet of moscito Screen to cut down on the light without making it soft, to match direct sunlight over the course of a day
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I often use a big sheet of moscito Screen to cut down on the light without making it soft, to match direct sunlight over the course of a day
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Kreamcroque
I kinda disliked the rimlight. I understand the need to seperate the subject from the background but is too artificial for my taste
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I kinda disliked the rimlight. I understand the need to seperate the subject from the background but is too artificial for my taste
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Greg
Great information as always! My Dude's face 1: 24 was the look you get when your blind date looks nothing like her profile picture. LMAO
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Great information as always! My Dude's face 1: 24 was the look you get when your blind date looks nothing like her profile picture. LMAO
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Yet
I have an entire roll of wrinkly nd gel -_- but i also have enough light that I don't need to use the gels. It's a bit of a pain
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I have an entire roll of wrinkly nd gel -_- but i also have enough light that I don't need to use the gels. It's a bit of a pain
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