DavidSloan Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Hey guys: I was wondering if anyone can tip me on how to create a rain shadow effect, on walls. I have a shoot coming up in Dec where the director wants a scene of a couple sleeping in bed, with the rain shadow over them, on the wall. I'm sure this is simple cinematography 101 stuff but I've never done it before. Thanks, a lot! D.S :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Luke Prendergast Posted November 13, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 13, 2004 In a pinch I've used a decorators' mirror about a foot square under a tap with a 650W profile/ zoomspot bounced off it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidSloan Posted November 13, 2004 Author Share Posted November 13, 2004 Thanks dude, that's exactly what I figured. I just tried it at home with a scoop light, worked like a charm. :D D.S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted November 14, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 14, 2004 Basically it's like projecting any sharp shadow pattern -- you need a very sharp point-source light from far back, and the rain running down the glass up close to the actors. An HMI PAR from far away is good, probably an ellipsoidal like a Source-4 would be good too, or a 2K or 5K Fresnel with the fresnel removed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Michael Nash Posted November 14, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 14, 2004 Source-4's are great in that they have a focusing lens on the front. The drawback is that the beam has a pretty narrow spread. Open face lights (or swinging the fresnel door open, as David suggests) put out a nice hard beam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Phil Rhodes Posted November 14, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 14, 2004 Hi, I've often thought about using the shadow of the rain trickling down the window effect, but overlooked it because of the complexity, and the necessity to have someone to pretty much just sit there pouring water. I can't think of any other solution that wouldn't make too much noise, either with a pump or trickling sounds. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidSloan Posted November 14, 2004 Author Share Posted November 14, 2004 I'm just wondering how I'm going to pull this off in a NYC apt! :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alvin Pingol Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 How about those water sculpture rain window things? (I've no idea what they're called, and can't seem to find a picture of one). It's a tabletop decoration consisting of two panes of glass, in between which many small streams of water trickle down, simulating a window on a rainy day. (Joey had one in Friends.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fstop Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 The "diffusion" thread is contagious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Morlan Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 I did a nighttime rainy window some years ago. I used flat soaker hoses that emit tiny streams of water all along their length. I cut it down into lengths for my windows, added new nipples to the cut ends and gaffed them over the window. After some adjustment, my open-face Baby 1K through the window did the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Sargenius Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 Phil Rhodes wrote: > I can't think of any other solution that wouldn't make too much noise, either with a pump or > trickling sounds. Video projector? : ) cheers, Kim Sargenius cinematographer sydney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted November 28, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 28, 2004 A trick is to spray the window lightly with WD-40 or 5-56 oil to make the trickles more intricate and separated. If not, water has a tendency to pool into big floods that aren't as interesting visually. Nice trick I learned from a set decorator. Or if it's a car window, you can use regular car wax on it - that'll bring the same effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Wells Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 "How about those water sculpture rain window things? (I've no idea what they're called, and can't seem to find a picture of one). It's a tabletop decoration consisting of two panes of glass, in between which many small streams of water trickle down, simulating a window on a rainy day. " If anyone does know what these things are called let me know (I seem to have spent half my life going to stores saying "do you have one of those 'water sculpture rain window things?'" When I was in Saigon there was a Bank that had a whole window like that maybe 5' X 4', very cool. ps thanks for heads up on WD-40. There's a windshield product they sell in Auto Supply stores too (maybe it's just WD-40 or 5-56 ?) -Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Chris Keth Posted November 30, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted November 30, 2004 ps thanks for heads up on WD-40. There's a windshield product they sell in Auto Supply stores too (maybe it's just WD-40 or 5-56 ?) -Sam <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yup, that's "Rain-Ex." It'll do the trick, makes water bead right up on glass. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Hernandez Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 I shot a short a few years ago with the technique that David mentioned and it worked great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Carver Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 To continue this topic: I'd like to create a rain effect for a night interior, but my equipment is limited. My strongest light is an Arri M18 with a 1200w bulb. Because I'm doubtful that the M18 is direct enough, I was considering placing it a few feet from the outside window and bouncing it into a mirror, which would then direct the light into the home. Maybe play around with spot/flood? I do have lenses, including a narrow I believe. Any thoughts? Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan kessler Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Perhaps it is needless to mention the classic example of this effect as employed by Conrad Hall in 'In Cold Blood.' Here's a link describing how he did it, but no doubt you can find the info elsewhere. http://www.theasc.com/magazine/may03/cover/page2.html (a few paragraphs down) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted December 15, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted December 15, 2014 The mirror trick is just used to double the distance, if you can actually just back up the light further then the mirror is less necessary though it can allow the light to come from an even greater height if that's important. I once got a sharper but much dimmer light from the edge spill coming from the side of the lens in the HMI, so I once lit a scene that way, but I think that may have been unique to the design of that light. Using a narrow lens or spotting in the light isn't going to help unless you back the light really far away and then the spottier light gets you enough exposure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted December 16, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted December 16, 2014 Small/narrow source is key. The open face Goya lights are good. You can order them with a black reflector, so that it's only the very bright and very small arc in the bulb is your source. But a normal open source light a Blondie could also work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Holt Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) Small/narrow source is key. It also helps to mix the water with Glycerine (also calledGlycerol.) Glycerine is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Mixing it with the water will cause the water to bead more readily and run more slowly so that the effect is more noticeable on camera. Glycerine can be picked up at most pharmacies under the brand names of Pedia-Lax, Minica-s, or Derm-apply. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental & Sales in Boston. Edited December 16, 2014 by Guy Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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