Lighting a streetparty from dusk -> night

Haavar Karlsen · March 13, 2014

Hi everyone!

Im investigating solutions on how to light a 60+ street party (people sitting by tables under a tent without walls in the middle of a suburban street) from early dusk until nighttime. My main concern is kelvin, in camera and on the lights

My strategy so far is to use 1.2 and bigger HMI lights (5600k) on background housing and gardens, to give depth to the pictures of people sitting at the table. For the actual table/people-lighting, I plan on using china balls from the roof of the tent, gelled with half CTB somehow, to end up at 4300K. Other paper/lamps and globes will be left at 3200, to give warm hotspots and bokeh around the set. In camera kelvin will then be set at 4300k

The set needs to be quite clean of stands and able to shoot 360. The china balls will be a part of the decoration as well as main light for people around the table. Will be shooting on 4x c300

My main concern is that my background will still be bluer than I want it. This party should have a very warm feel to it. Am I better off doing everything except practicals and decor at 5600k and in-cam?

Thanks for any input!

Best regards

Howard

jeff woods · March 13, 2014

Is this time-lapse? I don't understand why you need to pick a single CT?

-j

Michael LaVoie · March 13, 2014

Try a test of this whole set up with one subject in a chair outside at night. Play with gels and menu settings (if you're shooting digital) till you get exactly the color contrast you're looking for or not looking for. Then grade it in post and see what you get. That's the easiest way to know for sure.

Haavar Karlsen · March 13, 2014

Is this time-lapse? I don't understand why you need to pick a single CT?

-j

Its not, its an segment for a TV show. Shot with c300. I need one CT because we have 4 cameras rolling, and if we were to adjust constantly it would be a pain in our short post-processing slot. I just got word that I have 7 100w daylights standard globes that I will be using in the Chinaballs. This makes me want to go 5600k everywhere, except the 3200 lamps around the table. At least the light all around the set and facelight will be consistent.

Edited March 13, 2014 by Haavar Karlsen

Mark Kenfield · March 14, 2014

If you want to go warm, just stick with your lighting plan but balance for 5600k. Your 4300k sources will go warm, and your 3200k sources will go very warm. It's a nice look IMO.