Low light abroad outside
Ok so my first booking in four years in Marbella spain October, 8pm ceremony?? Outside, not seen the venue but pictures show its very low light, bride does not want video light... Can my sigma 30mm 1.4 cope??? Minimum equipment cannot carry and take lights... Ideas all you top lads.. two hfg10s, two canon 60ds... two small camcorder video led lights ready to ignore the bride???
I better be the first to respond: Since you don't know the lighting, then don't worry about something you can't control. However the biggest thing I see that's wrong is the 30mm fixed focal length on a wedding. IF you had a t3i that could do the 3-5x crop that would help, but I don't think 30mm is giving you a close enough shot.ideas all you top lads
Last edited by blondandfun; 2012 August 16th at 21:04.
I agree. 50mm would be better, and depending where you'll be located, you could need even more, but then you'd sacrifice some f-stop (obviously) unless you'd get a quite expensive glass!Originally Posted by blondandfun
Anyway, at night, in ambient lighting, it won't be super clean. Don't boost too much the ISO, the image will be darker but still, it won't be too grainy neither. Can't get both in such setup: darker & cleaner or brighter & grainier.
That being said, these DSLRs can perform quite well in low-light, so it should do an ok job.
Convince the bride to do otherwise. Low light maybe good to maintain the mood of the wedding, but taking pictures continuously after that is going to get old real fast. When you view your wedding videos years from now, you're doing to want to see what everyone looks like and that doesn't mean in the dark. Hopefully, she will realize this.
Find a location local to you that seems to have similar lighting. Take a model, or friends, somebody you can do a bit of experimenting with. And run some serious tests with what you have. See what you can get in that situation.
If it's not good enough, inform the bride (and family) that they must provide for more light or allow you to use some on camera lighting.
If you get no co-operation, just tell them you are not properly equipped and cannot take the assignment.
I've converted to m4/3rds gear (still have one 60D left but don't reach for it much). If I had to do a job like that I have 2 GH2s, an f2.5 wide angle, f1.7 "wide" normal, f1.4 normal (equiv to your 30mm but smaller), f1.8 short tele and would likely try to work mainly with the f1.4 normal and f1.8 portrait tele (one on each camera to limit lens changes) and the wide angle handy (it does fairly well in low light).
But even with the "fast" glass I have "low light" can rapidly become effectively "no light".
Bruce Foreman
I am a reforming videomaking addict
Who knows what the light will be like. Take the assignment. Shoot it as well as you can and get paid. If the video is dark and gainy remind the bride she told you no lights so what you see is what you get.
Anyway, people (Joe and Joanne Public) don't have a clue about light when it comes to video and photo - and nor should they, it's not their gig.
1) I'd prefer (myself) not taking a gig, knowing it won't be as good as I could possibly do, rather than getting paid for something I won't be satisfied with. Did that once (1st and last wedding to date) with the sound: they never wanted to get wired with a Lav for the ceremony. It ended up not so bad because I've been able to manage something for the vows (had to rely on a dubbing scene!) so we could actually hear something and I've been able to sync it with the muffled sound originally recorded. Not bad, but not something I would do again. Better to do something you'll be proud rather than something you're simply "ok" with.
2) Good point. Light is an essential thing in both photography and video. If you don't have enough, it won't look good. Period.
Check this out at ~5:00:
I've done it with the HV with ambient lighting. It's ok, but it's for a short. We don't see my face 75% of the time in that sequence. Imagine in similar conditions if you have to shoot most of the video like that. Sure it's not DSLR, so it doesn't perform as good due to sensor size, but still, you have an idea how it could look without (at least) on-camera lights.
Well to be honest that's a narrative and the lighting is set to engage the dramatic effect. Is totally acceptable in that event, and even more so if it's part of a longer feature.
In any event, that's not the type of thing you want to see from your wedding video 20+ years from now. The kids would figure that could be anybody getting married, and wonder what was the point?
Incidentally, good editing.
best option is to explain to the bride before hand that:
- You can shoot without any extra light but the footage may be too dark and/or grainy in some shots (or maybe all).
- You can add some extra lights to make the footage look a lot better.
If she chooses option one then you did your job by telling her beforehand and she accepted the compromise, if you have a contract i would put that in there just in case she decides to complain after anyway.
With a 1.4 lens it's usually only a small amount of fill light that's needed, nothing too intrusive most of the time.
1) Yeah, for the short film I've done it was exactly what's needed. But for any other work...it simply doesn't work at all. Should be the very last way to get the footage.Well to be honest that's a narrative and the lighting is set to engage the dramatic effect. Is totally acceptable in that event, and even more so if it's part of a longer feature. [..]
Incidentally, good editing.
2) Thanks! And this one is definitively not my best work!
Yeah, even with f/1.8. But this shouldn't be the solution to start with though. I know (as I've already done some scenes that were totally acceptable in available light at night) but this shouldn't be the top option on the list.
Take some lights and use them when needed. Someone will eventually ask you to switch them off, then do so. Later try again, maybe bounce them off the ceiling or wall. Be flexible, maybe ask the bride to use a light from time to time. People quite enjoy being in the spotlight. Don't upset the wedding planner.
HFS21 l HF100 l DM100 l Zoom H1
... and put into the contract what Eiker wrote.
"It is dark the other side. Very dark!" - "Oh, shut up and eat your toast!"
Aye, even if via email - make sure she has eyeballed it and replied though, and then print a hardcopy.
Thats brilliant guys thanks a bundle... I have a meet at 6pm on the Saturday before and will stay till it goes dark at the hotel then check out my 30mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.8, my 100mm f2 will be to close i think but thats an option.. The hfg10s are quite decent in low light and i can flip them into cinemode similar to hv and cut out all the grain if any... If the 30mm 1.4 fits the bill i will just have to get in close and not worry about intrusive!! The 30mm 1.4 has saved my life many times this year in low light... Will take the two leds and use them if definatly needed and like biff and others says tell her straight...They are needed...Hopefully there may be many candles and ambient lighting, just want to cover myself just in case...i will also have a word with the hotel to spice up the lighting if needed and tell them its to dark...Sometimes the pool area is well lit up on holiday and that may help if the party is fully outside... I am looking forward to my first venture abroad, and i have my story ready, it is a jewish wedding and again something new with the ceremony in a hopper i think they pronounce it that way and also on the hotel cliff edge overlooking the sea... By the way drapes good filming mate... steve
Shoot the test footage as suggested above so you know the limits of your equipment, and also send a copy of that to the bride so she knows what to expect.
If the image is not clear enough for her, tell her lighting is needed.
If she's Ok with the test footage, combined with the contract details, you should be safe from any change of heart by her later and, if its important, you can explain to others that it was what the bride wanted and , yes, she saw test footage so she knew what she was agreeing to.
If you are not familiar with Jewish customs make sure someone tells you exactly what is going on where. Men and Woman often do different things at different locations at the same time.
HFS21 l HF100 l DM100 l Zoom H1
Cheers thanks guys
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
