Frank Discussion

Unfortunately, I won't be able to bring any of that stuff in and will HAVE to rely on existing practicals and 5 in 1s. That's what makes the whole thing a bit difficult.

I'm going to be having to go to a country to film scenes for a documentary where I will not be able to take ANY lights only 5 in 1s, so I will be having to rely on existing practicals. I have one really, really large light source available for outdoor shots, just the indoor shots where I will have to shoot using existing practicals in the location I'm stuck with - with only an hour or two to fake it as best I can. I'm not asking for a step by step (which would be ridiculous). What I am hoping to get is tricks that I may not have thought of, to get useable footage. I'm hoping some of you folks who are smarter than I am may have been in similar situations and figured out interesting ways to make the footage not suck. A thousand thanks in advance...

Reading American Cinematographer's article on Robert Richardson's lighting of Inglourious Basterds, they describe how the gorgeous scene where Shoshanna doing her make-up used golf balls bounced off unbleached muslin and then diffused through bleached muslin. It was strongly backlit to get a beautiful mix of soft and semi-hard shadowing. Since I don't exactly have access to truckfuls of lights, I was wondering if one could possibly bounce the sun through a window using reflectives? It occurred to me that it might be even prettier using the sun as the backlight source. Does this seem feasible or is there something I'm missing here. Thanks muchly.

Those shots that I've seen are gorgeous David. The best of luck on the movie's reception. Ebert has already said he liked it: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...VIEWS/909169996 And Rolling Stone says it's "Hot, hot hot!" Thanks so much for sharing your journal and letting us ride along for your trials and travails.

Reading American Cinematographer's article on Robert Richardson's lighting of Inglourious Basterds, they describe how the gorgeous scene where Shoshanna doing her make-up used golf balls bounced off unbleached muslin and then diffused through bleached muslin. It was strongly backlit to get a beautiful mix of soft and semi-hard shadowing. Since I don't exactly have access to truckfuls of lights, I was wondering if one could possibly bounce the sun through a window using something like grifflon to get a similar effect.

Gain is only added on the last 6 settings in exposure (19-24), then it's 3, 6, 9, 15 and 18dB respectively. The ND filters come to play in 7-13, getting progressively more ND filetring the higher you go. Below these it is all gain and ND filter free.

Yes! I was wondering if that would have an effect. With your help, my experiments are already doing much better. And I get the feeling I will be able to apply what you taught me to a number of things in the future (both to create reflections and to avoid them where I don't want them). Thanks again!

So simple, direct and elegant a solution. Thanks so much David!

Actually it really is. I missed you ate the last one, but if I see you at the next ASC Open House, I can show you my drivers license to prove it. :)

I'm going to be doing a shot of the subject reflected in a puddle and was wondering what can be done (outside compositing and other post techniques) to make the reflection clearer? Er... If anything...