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Post by Randy Robinson on Feb 12, 2004 10:32:07 GMT -5
As you all already know, I am working on my first feature (Thunder Hills). I was wondering what lighting techniques I could use to make a scene look like its nightime but still be able to see things clearly. I want it to have very high visual appeal. Best Regards, Randy Robinson www.geocities.com/tourniquet_films |
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Post by AJ on Feb 12, 2004 11:56:13 GMT -5
A lot depends on the mood you are aiming to create, and also the available illumination on location.
What is the apparent source of illumination in the scene? Car headlights, moonlight, streetlamps, flashlights? The source will determine the style of the scene.
Reference the Goodfellas exhumation scene, or the Blood Simple 'field' scene, both lit by 'car headlamps' or the end of Heat, where the airfield landing lights glow and fade during the cat-and-mouse chase.
On a practical note, how much equipment do you have? If you don't have some pretty big lights, then you won't be seeing much in a wide shot. Night shoots are generally more complicated and expensive due to the amount of equipment and personnel required.
But having said that, I did manage a pretty good lighting job in a large famryard location with nothing more than a single 5k Hmi, Two Blondes and a handful of Redheads. Renting a kit like that for a week or so will probably cost under £200.
If you are on a small budget, it might be worth considering a day-for-night shoot, especially as is is a fairly straight-forward job to switch out the sky and grade the shots to look suitably 'night-time' as long as you plan carefully.
This technique gets a bad rap, but it is actually possible to pull off some very convincing shots if you shoot carefully and know your post-effects software.
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Post by DAD on Feb 12, 2004 16:59:53 GMT -5
I second the idea of shooting day for night unless you have some really good lighting equipment. If you shoot day for night it is best to shoot on a clear day with good bright light. This gives you good contrast in the shadows and when you apply the blue filter and drop out the light sky line you maintain a sharper focus and get the look of shooting during a very bright full moon. You can also try shooting at golden hour, actually more like a half hour, right at sunset when the sun is just slipping below the horizon. If you plan your time well you can get some very good shots at this time of the day but you don't have a whole lot of time work in. It's also easier to pull off these kinds of shots in wooded areas since they tend to obscure the sky for you allowing for using a blue filter while shooting.
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Post by Randy Robinson on Feb 12, 2004 19:35:52 GMT -5
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