Have you ever tried to create that beautiful kitchen table sunrise shot. The one where the woman is drinking a steamy hot cup of coffee and the shafts of sun seem god sent making everything look so damn hopeful? Right -you scratch your head and hope if you keep moving the lights just enough enough you’ll have it. That is one one way to learn but it’s “point & hope” it’s hard and it’s slow. Part of the problem is the camera does not process light the same way as the human eye. Humans can continue to see detail in contrast ratios that far exceed what cameras can. Cameras have somewhere around a 10 zone dynamic range, beyond that everything is pure black or pure white. The trick is to reduce your highlights and increase your fill light. There are professional as well as household items that can help you do this. Things like house hold screens,and bed sheets can take the place of professional gels,diffusion and nets. A trip to the art supply store for some foam core can help you bounce light back into the shot and some inexpensive work lights can be used to bounce off the ceiling adding additional fill and narrowing the dynamic range. You can do it faster and with measured control by using professional equipment, but in a budget pinch household items can work dandy.
Who should take this workshop?
If you’re tired of the “point and hope” approach to lighting and think “drop in a double” means put two shots in your cocktail this workshop might be for you. This workshop is designed to give you a solid understanding of what goes into creating well designed and properly exposed images. Producers’s and director’s will make better location and scheduling choices. Aspiring gaffers, grips and director’s of photography will gain confidence knowing what they can achieve with the equipment and crew they have at hand. If you are planning to shoot on a budget and want great looking footage this workshop will set you up for success pay for itself again and again.
What will be covered?
All participants will spend time learning to control dynamic range and how to understand exposure values using your camera’s f-stops. We’ll cover lighting instruments and how lenses, diffusion panels, flags, nets and other tools control and effect the quality of the light cast upon the talent and the environment. You’ll learn the qualities of soft and hard light, color temperature, techniques for tricking a white balance, what lighting instruments are needed to create high-end techniques, how to evaluate the needs of a location as well as handy budget lighting tips.
Make an investment in your craft. You’re worth it!
Meet Your Instructor: John Holser
Light Like a Pro – Friday, March 9 $165
Light Like a Pro – Saturday, March 24 $165
