Lighting 101 -- Part 4: The Background Light
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Here is a quick low-end production tip. Most patterns are not placed directly on the light, and are usually some distance away to create a soft pattern. Instead of purchasing an expensive pattern from a light company, create your own. In the previous image, I took a piece of foam core and cut random patterns in it. A cheap ($2.25 from my local art supply store) and simple solution to fix a boring backdrop.
This is only a suggestion, remember that intense lights can cause paper products to burn, and the last thing you want to have happen is your pattern to catch fire in the middle of an interview. Think safety first. In this case, the foam core is a perfect addition to my lighting arsenal. [an error occurred while processing this directive] The patterned backdrop is much better than before, but to further enhance the backdrop and create a pretty environment for the subject, attach some colored gels to the cookie. You can see the results of using a Roscoe Rose and Roscoe Blue gel in the following images.
If you get to a location and realize that you forgot your pattern or you don’t have one to begin with, there are a couple other ways to break up the background.
The first is by closing the barn doors of the light as much as possible to create a shaft of light on the background. Place a colored gel in front of the light, and you have a very dramatic shot.
Another way is to find a branch or potted plant from an office area and place it between the light and the wall. Again, think safety first, but it acts as yet another way to cast a pattern.
One thing you shouldn’t do is make shadow puppets with your hands. I have seen many an interview ruined because a shadow bunny made its way across the wall behind the subject (nudge nudge, wink wink).
That wraps it up for the basics of lighting a subject and background using conventional lighting methods. Next time we’ll take a look at variations on the standard three point lighting set up.
When not working deep in the labs of the DMN Central Division testing the latest and greatest software/hardware products Stephen Schleicher can be found at the local university teaching a few courses on video and web production. He can be reached at schleicher@mindspring.com. You can also visit him on the web at www.mindspring.com/~schleicher
Source: Digital Media Online, Inc.
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