Alan Steinheimer

Hi- I have a new book out at Amazon and Barnes&Noble.com about lighting for video: Shaping Light for Video in the Age of LEDS (2018) by Alan Steinheimer. It is fairly comprehensive, probably best used by students and working PAs interested in lighting. I have tried to style the book in the "Dummies" format to keep it more lively and easy to read. There is also a Kindle version version available at Amazon. I am a working gaffer in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I would second the advice on the Arri M90. Additionally, there is a 100A Honda generator that will power that light all day. Noisy...you may want to park it a bit away to lessen the audio intrusion. A second option: an Arri M40 and a 6500w Honda. The M-series has some Fresnel-like qualities and will be an easy rental and setup. I think in the end it always comes down to $. Bigger lights can be pulled further back and will mean that the fc inside will be more consistent...but at a certain distance it will have to be in a condor/boom lift. Unless you have a fat budget and sufficient crew that is not going to work. An Arri M40 on a American Blackbird stand puts the head up at roughly 19.5' high which would cover most first story widows. I would argue that his is a lot of bang for the buck. The next steps from here are exponentially expensive in rentals and crew costs.

I wanted to add my new book as an option alongside the classics from Blain Brown, Harry Box, and John Jackman. Shaping Light for Video in the Age of LEDs; a practical guide to art, craft, and business of lighting. By Alan Steinheimer. 2018. Available now at Amazon and B&N websites. Shaping Light ... is a practical, hands-on guide to lighting for video. Using a Dummies-style approach, the book explains lighting techniques through real-world examples, including recent updates on the groundbreaking use of LED lighting and wireless control options. This book focuses on firsthand application of technical knowledge, to appeal to cinematography students and video freelancers. Beginning with simple lighting setups and progressing to more complicated scenarios, the book holds the reader’s attention with illustrative anecdotes, and links theory to real-world applications. There is a 30 page glossary/set vocabulary at the end that would be useful to most newbies. The e-book is coming as well as peering into the first 16 pages at Amazon.

Hi- please allow me to introduce my own book just now released on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites: Shaping Light for Video in the Age of LEDs: A Practical Guide to the Art, Craft, and Business of Lighting. c2018 by Alan Steinheimer 356 pages, extensive glossary. Shaping Light ... [/size]is a practical, hands-on guide to lighting for video. Using a [/size]Dummies-style[/size]approach, the book explains lighting techniques through real-world examples, including recent updates on the groundbreaking use of LED lighting and wireless control options.[/size] This book focuses on firsthand application of technical knowledge, to appeal to cinematography students and video freelancers. Beginning with simple lighting setups and progressing to more complicated scenarios, the book holds the reader’s attention with illustrative anecdotes, and links theory to real-world applications.[/size] The book covers[/size] Basic three-point lighting[/size] Lighting moving actors[/size] Set lighting and exposure[/size] Instrument selection including the many LEDs[/size] Bringing style to your lighting[/size] Color temperature and the Kelvin scale[/size] Exterior lighting: day and night[/size] Lighting categories and genres – what to expect[/size] Green-screen techniques[/size] Money and budgeting[/size] Electricity and electrical distribution[/size] What does a grip do?[/size] Case studies, with photos and diagrams[/size] Career paths[/size] Extensive glossary[/size] I am hoping this fills in some of the missing blanks regarding LEDs and what it takes to be a freelancer working in lighting and grip.