Category: Studio Lights Education

Several types of studio lighting

Main light source

The main light is the main light that illuminates the model in studio portrait photography and shapes the image of the character. The main light determines the distribution of the overall light and dark areas of the character. Whether it is soft light or hard light, the main light has relatively strong directivity. , Its light position determines the light effect of the photo. Therefore, the position of the main light or even a small change in the distance from the model may affect the sunlight of the photo and even the overall effect. In the lighting link, the main light is the priority factor, and the auxiliary light It must be consistent with the tone of the main light. In most portrait portraits, the main light is served by a soft box. The addition of soft light and hard light is more even and easy to control.

Auxiliary light

As the name implies, the auxiliary light is a light source that fills the dark or shadow parts of the picture. Its existence maintains the balance of light in the picture and avoids excessive contrast. The brightness ratio of the main light and the auxiliary light is called the light ratio. The brighter the auxiliary light, the smaller the light ratio of the picture.

The auxiliary light is mostly irradiated near the axis of the digital SLR camera, so as not to have a large deviation from the main light’s irradiating angle, which may cause a messy projection on the screen. The auxiliary light is mostly soft light to fill the light evenly.

Effect light

The main function of the effect light is to emphasize the theme, modify the human body or conceal the flaws. The contour light can better highlight the figure of the figure, generally from 150 degrees to 170 degrees of the side reverse direction projection, so that the hair, face, The shoulders and square stems form a bright contour line than the use of corridor light and other effect lights can highlight the characters more effectively and increase the artistic expression of the photo.

Background light

The light source that the background light is used to illuminate the background alone is called the background light. The function of the background light is to separate the touch from the background, so as to better express and highlight the characters. It increases the three-dimensional effect of the picture. The background light only illuminates the background. One or more flashes alone complete the task of creating a night scene light. The background light can control the brightness of the background. According to the shooting needs, the background light can be soft light or hard light. Soft light is mostly used to create a more pure brightness The background, and the hard light is mostly used to create a fashionable and avant-garde spot background. In order to set the background light, the model should keep a certain distance from the background when lighting. The background light should be beneficial to laugh out the image of the subject, and to purify the background to increase the picture infectious.

Light ratio

In studio portrait photography, two flashes or one flash and several reflectors are often used. Therefore, there is often a significant difference between the light intensity on the bright side and the dark side of the person. The bright side and dark side of the person The ratio of the light intensity becomes the light ratio. The control of the light ratio can create a variety of effects when shooting. Common light ratios are 1:1, 1:2, 1:4. Use the light meter after lighting is completed It can easily measure the different light-receiving surfaces of the model. When the light is smaller than the light, the light angle is flat, which is helpful for shooting feminine soft subjects; when the light is larger, the three-dimensional sense of the characters is stronger and it is helpful to express the specific theme and style of male characters Of female portraits.

What are the layout methods of photography lighting

Front light

The front light is the light irradiated from the back of the camera. Because the light is evenly irradiated on the surface of the subject from the front, the light receiving area is large and the shadow is small. It is relatively easy to measure and control the exposure during shooting, even with automatic exposure. Mode, there is generally no exposure error. But its shortcomings are also obvious-even if the surface of the subject is uneven, because the received light intensity is exactly the same, the shadows are not easy to appear, which will cause the object to lack texture and three-dimensionality, and the entire photo looks flat. Frontal light is especially not suitable for larger scenes, such as scenery, or portrait group photos (usually you will find that in large group photos taken with light, there are only two black holes left in each person’s nose).

Side light

Side light refers to the light irradiated from the side of the object, which can make the surface of the object show partial shadows due to unevenness, so that the light-receiving surface and the light and dark surface of the object have obvious performances, which can outline the object The contour of the light can also reflect the three-dimensional effect. This kind of light has the strongest expressive power, so the side light is the most commonly used light in photography. But when using it, pay attention to the proportion of the light-receiving surface and the dark surface in the picture modeling. Generally, the angle of oblique light is the best. When the direction of the light is about 45 degrees with the plane of the scene, the light at this angle makes the ratio of the light-receiving surface and the dark surface of the subject roughly the same, which is more in line with people’s visual habits in daily life.

Backlight

Backlight refers to the light shining from behind the subject. It is easy to make the subject into a silhouette when shooting against the light, so it is relatively difficult to grasp the exposure, and it is often not recommended for beginners. But the artistic effect of the backlight is also unique-the backlight can give the outer edge of the subject a moving contour light edge (if it is sunlight, it is a golden edge). If handled properly, you can create a unique sense of beauty and an artistic sense of light and shadow.

When taking a backlit photo, you need to pay attention to the fact that the light ratio of the foreground to the background is too large when the light is backlit, which will often cause the background to be overexposed or the foreground underexposed. In order to reduce the light ratio, you must pay attention to fill the foreground. It’s a flashlight-if you see someone who uses a flashlight when shooting against the sun, you have to respect him because he is an expert who is reducing the light ratio of the foreground to the background.

Basic lighting method

The main light is generally forward side light. Adjust the height of the main light to create a triangular shadow area on the face (extending from the eye frame to the bottom of the nose). The auxiliary light is close to the camera, symmetrical to the main light, and the height is the same as the camera. The ratio of main light and auxiliary light is 1:3 to 1:4. The background light, contour light, modification light, etc. are determined as needed.

Butterfly lighting

Suitable for high-profile female portraits. The main light is a high light, placed directly in front of the character, forming a butterfly-shaped shadow under the character’s nose, making the female portrait more charming and moving. Other lighting arrangements are consistent with the basic lighting method. When using frontal light to shoot female portraits, the position of the main light is often raised a little higher, so that small projections are generated under the brow bones and noses of the characters. The frontal light is used to cover up the skin imperfections of the face, and the projection produces effective Three-dimensional, this method called butterfly lighting is very popular in female photography. But in the actual shooting, one should be aware that the butterfly lighting method is not suitable for women with too thin faces or too high cheekbones, otherwise it will easily make their faces thinner.

Rembrandt light method

Often used to take low-key male portrait photos, mostly three-quarters frontal or profile portraits. The main light is far away from the camera, so that its shadow appears on the half of the subject’s face facing the camera. The auxiliary light and the main light are on the same side, and the light ratio is about 1:9. Use a dark background to produce a low-key effect. The front side light of 45° is widely used in portrait photography. It not only has a certain lighting area, but also gives the face a concave and convex three-dimensional effect, with richer tonal levels and line contours. If the face is three-quarters of the side, the light comes from the other side, illuminating all of the quarter of the face and parts of the three-quarters of the face, this kind of light is a typical Lumberland light method . This kind of light, coupled with a dark background, will make the characters shine. Rembrandt used the light method more for male images, showing a strong temperament.

Portrait photography lighting usage

Portrait photography, especially commercial portraits, our goal is to idealize the characters. But the most influential indoor portrait should be the lighting arrangement. Of course, there are many types of light, and usually everyone knows: flat light, side light, reflected light, direct light, split light, and commonly used butterfly light. It’s easy to make people fatter with flat light, and to make people thinner with side light (narrow light). Butterfly light means that the main light is placed directly in front of the face, casting a shadow of the nose and forming a line with the nose. The most successful use of butterfly light is to use it on a normal oval face, and it is considered to be a charming light, especially for young women, butterfly light is not suitable for men’s face, because butterfly light is for the subject’s ears Strengthen the lighting, which will produce an unsightly sense of prominence.

The following three types of light are rarely used in commercial portraits: window light, split light, and ceiling reflection light.

 

Window light: The narrow light usually used is window light. It is often the combination of daylight and supplementary flash that can shoot a natural, soft, low-key portrait, fashion wedding photography. The subject is sitting next to the window, but it is not the strong light directly from the sun. The fill light (flash) is above or beside the camera, and its intensity is half that of the window light. If you use color rolls, you need to pay attention to the color temperature of the auxiliary light.

Spectroscopy: The main light is moved to a considerable place behind the subject, so only half of the face is illuminated by strong light: this method is not commonly used, but its effect can produce a moderately dramatic low-tone effect. I often use two main lights to shoot some fashionable girls, or alternative men and women, very practical.

 

Ceiling reflection: This kind of light has the advantage of being particularly soft. It is a slow reflection light, often suitable for supplementary light, and is rarely used as a main light alone. It is just some variation of the three basic key lights. Of course, it is possible to shoot portraits with one light alone. This is also commonly used to achieve a special effect, but it is not suitable for children.

Portrait photographers usually use a lot of lights to illuminate the subject. Since no two photographers use exactly the same method to take photos, they should be illuminated in an effective and consistent way when shooting portraits. Various lighting arrangements can be used in the following order:

1. The background light is used to put it on a low shelf. When taking wedding photos in Beijing, it is placed in the middle of the main body’s back. Its function is to help the tone separation between the main body and the background.

 

2. Main light: Generally speaking, it should be placed higher than the head of the main body, approximately 45° from the axis of the camera and main body. The way to verify the proper arrangement of the lights is to pay attention to the reflective points of the eyes. Observed from the position of the camera lens, these reflective points should be located above the left and right of the eyes, depending on the direction of the subject’s face.

3. Auxiliary light: placed near the camera lens and the same height as the lens, and on the other side of the main light, if the subject’s smile line causes indecent shadows, fashion photography, it may be because the light used is related to the distance of the camera or the subject.

 

4. Hair light: This is a small light that usually shines above or behind the subject. It is almost a must when shooting portraits. It can increase the detail and level of hair, and it is also an effective way to isolate the subject from the back. There are many positions of the light, but the main thing should be to avoid shining on the face, because this will affect the whole picture, and adjust the light ratio so as not to affect the color of the hair.

 

5. Back light: This kind of light is called contour light, which can isolate the subject and the back of the same tone. It can also increase the details of the hair, and there will be dramatic portraits (single use). We often call this kind of silhouette photos. When using this kind of light, be careful not to let it shine on the subject’s nose, otherwise, the nose may appear abnormal.

Practitioners in the photography and video industry know that TLCI is used to evaluate the color reproduction ability of a light source. The color rendering index Ra is a common vocabulary in the lighting industry, so what is CRI? What is TLCI evaluation system? Ledsfilm tells you what these parameters mean.

What is CRI

CRI, or “color rendering index”, refers to a measure of the degree of color matching when an object is illuminated by this light source and when it is illuminated by a standard light source, that is, the degree of color fidelity. The color rendering index of the “standard light source” is 100, and the color rendering index is represented by Ra. The greater the value of Ra, the better the color rendering of the light source.

What is TLCI

TLCI, a standard recommended by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Used to evaluate the quality of the color performance of TV and movie lighting. A value from 0 to 100 is used to indicate the degree of color reproduction of the light source in the TV lighting environment. The higher the value, the higher the degree of reproduction and the better the color rendering effect.

TLCI standard test is somewhat similar to CRI, which is determined by a color contrast icon showing the comparison result. TLCI has 24 test color blocks, and the test results are based on the color performance of each standard contrast color block from the output screen of the TV camera under the illumination of a standard light source. This color performance refers to the color performance that can be seen on a standard Class 1 HD TV monitor.

The test results of ledsfilm fill light TLCI data show that in addition to the color patch diagram, the test results also contain the content of the spectral energy distribution diagram. The TLCI test result of ledsfilm fill light source is 99, and the correlated color temperature (CCT) is 5700K.

Through the above analysis, it can be seen that the TLCI value of ledsfilm fill light is 99, which has reached the TLCI standard index. ledsfilm is committed to providing higher-end products and services for the photographic supplementary lighting industry. In the future development process, we always adhere to the corporate mission of high-quality, cost-effective, diversified, and technologically advanced photographic equipment products. Strive to provide suitable light sources for the majority of photography enthusiasts and film and television workers.

Color temperature range

Color temperature is a unit of measurement that expresses the color components contained in light. Theoretically, a black body is heated. After heating, the black body gradually turns from black to red, turns yellow, white, and finally emits blue light. When heated to a certain temperature, the spectral component of the light emitted by the black body is called the color temperature at this temperature.

At present, the color temperature range of LED photography fill lights on the market is generally 3000K-5700K. ledsfilm has achieved a breakthrough in the “color temperature range” technology, increasing the minimum/high value of the color temperature range to 1800K-7000K, giving the photography light a broader range Usage scenarios.

How to improve the clarity of photos

One aspect usually related to photographic quality is sharpness. Clarity is what we can clearly and intuitively see in the photo. The subject of photography is usually the sharpest object among all the elements (shallow depth of field), unless we enter multiple elements when shooting with a large perspective. In these cases, we try to make most elements appear sharp (a lot of depth of field).

In order to make the photo clearer, we must consider a series of factors, such as the quality of the lens to be taken. However, in addition to having the best lens, there are other aspects to consider, which will help us achieve higher definition.

Focus on our subject

Autofocus sometimes does not work properly, even if we think we have focused the subject correctly. One sure way is to use live view. Zooming allows us to perfectly check whether there is an object in focus. If not, we can focus manually.

 

When focusing, you must also consider the depth of field used. If we use a very open aperture and recompose the shot, we may lose focus. For this, we can use a focus, which is on the object we want to focus on.

Use a tripod to increase stability

When we use a tripod, the photo should look clearer. One exception is that when the weather is unfavorable, the sharpness of the photo may be higher or lower depending on the tripod. By definition, the tripod must be very heavy to have higher stability, so any gust of wind will not move the camera. However, we tend to buy lightweight tripods, so they can incur less carrying costs for us, but this also means a higher shaking ratio.

If you do not use a tripod, you must consider the shutter speed. Very slow speeds may shake the photo. The rule of thumb is not to shoot at a speed lower than the focal length used. In other words, if we use a 40mm lens to shoot, please don’t be less than 1 / 40s. If we are shooting at a distance of 200mm, please do not at a speed less than 1/200s. If the lens has an image stabilizer, then we may slow down.

If you use a tripod, it is recommended to configure a mirror on the SLR camera to enhance the effect. Obviously, this option is not available in CSC. By lifting the mirror, we can ensure that the mechanical movement itself does not shake the photo.

It does not make sense to use a tripod and rearview mirror without using the release cable, because pressing the camera’s shutter button will invalidate all the above precautions. Another option is to set the 2-second timer that cameras usually have.

Find the best location for the target

The lens has a certain quality, but the lens itself has the so-called “best point”, which can provide the highest quality. This can be achieved by setting a specific diaphragm. Usually the most suitable aperture for the lens is f/8 or f/11, depending on the pixel requirements of the subject of each different perspective photography scene.

Hyperfocal distance keeps everything in focus

Using super focus is another way to make most elements in a photo clear. This is a very easy to use technique and very useful, especially in low light conditions. In many cases, the diaphragm is usually closed at f/22, because this way we will get the maximum depth of field possible, but this is not the case. The first thing is that once we overcome the diaphragm that provides the highest quality, we will lose clarity. The second thing is that there is no need to close the aperture too much in order to achieve the maximum depth of field. This is the purpose of hyperfocal distance.

Photographic equipment

Fill light, also called auxiliary light, as the name suggests, its role is to supplement the lighting of the subject.

For photography, the most important thing is light and shadow! If a photograph has no light and shadow, it has no soul. Therefore, in order to take a good picture, the photographer often puts on several lights. The Ledsfilm photographic fill light is recommended here, with great performance, dual color temperature, stepless dimming, and flexible lighting when shooting. The official data CRI is 95Ra, TLCI is 99, which is suitable for product shooting, character fill light, food shooting, product close-up, film/video shooting, etc.

Focus when exporting photos

Finally, the last step we can take to improve clarity is on the computer. You must know that if we change the size of each image file, we must focus on it. The file generated by the camera has a high resolution, so we usually adjust its size.

Generally speaking, the use of LED lights has three major advantages in the film and television lighting industry.

Low consumption of electricity

The most obvious advantage is low consumption of electricity. A fairly large amount of electricity is always necessary in filming shooting or film making. Even if in a professional video studio, with a continuous shooting process and lighting scenes, electricity bill is not the biggest expense. But if you’re still worried about low power consumption, it’s scientifically proven that LEDs use less power.

Moreover, in lots of cases, the generator is most likely to be used as a single power source for halogen, a light-emitting illuminator can already use a portable battery and an inverter weighing 5-6kg.

LED light source consumes even less than luminous light source, but most importantly, it uses DC low-voltage current, so it can use portable camera battery.

 

Anyone who has been involved in a large video project knows that this is usually the decisive factor in which lighting to choose.

Increased safety

Increased safety is the second advantage. As we all know, LED lights are easy to break and may break when falling, but it is more durable than other traditional lighting in general. That’s because of the way they’re built.

In all other lighting, glass lamps are widely used, and glass is a very fragile material. Halogen lamps and flash lights can’t even be touched with your fingers, because when they are heated, residual dust can cause potential problems.

LED lighting is actually a non heating design, and if it gets dusty, it can be easily and safely cleaned – in this case, just shake it and wipe it with a cloth.

In addition, considering security, less electricity consumption leads to cooler LED lights, then safer for touching and moving, etc.

In principle, of course, they will heat up, but to an acceptable temperature. For example, it’s almost impossible to get burned.

Most importantly, LEDs don’t melt the filters you use on your lights. So if your job involves using a variety of color filters, you’ll have lots of fun working with LED lights.

Adjustable Power

The third major advantage is power adjustment. Yes, LEDs can shine with different power! That’s true with flash-lamps and Metal Halide, too. But we found that the more modern LED lighting is easier to adjust and operate the Settings.

When adjusting something like a halogen device, reducing the power supplied to the lamp can create problems. Since the glow in the halogen is a process of incandescence, then, by reducing the power, we reduce the color temperature. As a result, there can be a distortion of colors.

Obviously, that’s another advantage for LED lights though this isn’t ideal in video work.

Long life-span

LED lights have a relatively long life as compared to fluorescent lights. They don’t get instant failures like some lights, usually they just get dimmer over time.

They have 30,000 to 50,000 hours of useful life, which is far more than conventional bulbs or traditional MH. This is a huge plus!

Environmentally friendly

LED lights are considered environmentally friendly because they emit less heat and are made of mercury-free materials.

Many studies show that the degradation process of LED lamp after its service life is very environmental friendly, especially compared with more traditional lighting forms.

Reciprocity law and its failure

In photographic exposure, we often encounter the problem of the reciprocal law and the failure of the reciprocal law, and we must understand and master it from both the theoretical and practical aspects.

Reciprocity law

The definition of exposure tells us that all films with equal exposure will have the same negative image density after development. In the exposure formula, the illuminance and time can be replaced with each other. For example, if the illuminance is 100 lux, the daily exposure is 1/100 second, and the illuminance is 1 lux, the exposure is 1 second, and the amount of exposure between them is equivalent. This kind of relationship between illuminance and time value can replace each other, it is called reciprocity law in photographic exposure, also called reciprocity law or reciprocity law.

In photography practice, the sensitivity of the emulsion layer of the photosensitive film to light is generally limited to a certain range to produce a normal exposure effect. If it exceeds the limited range, it is impossible for the photosensitive emulsion layer to strictly abide by the exposure law without compromise. When the illuminance of the emulsion layer of the photosensitive sheet is too large or too small, or the exposure time is too fast or too slow, the same exposure value may not produce the same exposure effect.

For example, when the light is reduced to a very low level, even if the exposure time is relatively increased, a satisfactory exposure effect may not be obtained. On the contrary, when the light is very bright, the exposure time is shortened to a very high shutter speed. A very short moment may not be able to obtain a satisfactory exposure effect. On the contrary, when the light is very bright, the exposure time is shortened to a very short moment with a very high shutter speed, and a good exposure effect may not be obtained. . The above two phenomena are called light failure. For example, when shooting a starry sky with weak brightness in astrophotography, or shooting in a very short instant with an electronic flash, the phenomenon of light exposure can occur.

Different photosensitive materials have different degrees of light exhaustion, and color films are more prone to light exhaustion than black and white films. This phenomenon is caused by the inertness of the photosensitive film to the light. The light is extremely dark or the exposure time is extremely short, and the light cannot penetrate the inner layer of the photosensitive emulsion, so the photochemical effect of the film is reduced. Assuming that the same kind of film is used with an illuminance of 1000 lux and an exposure of 1 second, the density of silver shadow produced by an illuminance of 1 lux and an exposure of 1000 seconds is greater. This phenomenon is the failure of the reciprocal law.

Reciprocity law failure

The concept of reciprocal law failure in photographic exposure is: the same exposure is applied to the same photosensitive film to produce different densities.

The phenomenon of reciprocal law effect can often be encountered in the process of photography, in the shooting stage, in the zooming stage in the dark room, and in both black and white and color films. At dusk and dawn, and indoor light conditions are very dark, the exposure time is very long, and often underexposure, or color drift phenomenon occurs.

The invalidity of the reciprocal law should be mastered in photographic exposure. When using various films, you should fully understand its performance, especially pay attention to the exposure incremental data of reciprocal law characteristics provided by the film manufacturer. For example, Kodak 35mm film in the United States, shooting in dim light, when the exposure time measured by the light meter is 1 second, 10 seconds and 100 seconds, the actual exposure time should be 2 seconds, 50 seconds and 1200 seconds. Conversely, when shooting with a high-speed electronic flash, if the exposure time measured by the light meter is 1/10000 second, you need to increase the aperture by half the aperture than the normal exposure.

In order to meet the different needs of photography and to solve the problem of reciprocity law failure, some foreign photosensitive material manufacturers have specially produced films suitable for long exposure and short exposure. Long-exposure type films are marked with L and are suitable for exposures from 1/10 second to 120 seconds or longer, and short-exposure films are marked with S and are suitable for 1/10 seconds to 1/2000 seconds or less. exposure.

Exposure and film density

The purpose of photographic exposure is to obtain a film of normal density. Therefore, we should understand what density is, and also grasp the influence of density on image effects.

The concept of density

Density refers to the amount of silver particles deposited on the unit area of ​​the film after the photosensitive material is exposed, developed, and fixed, and is used to indicate the degree of blackening. This blackness is usually called density.

During the process of exposure and development, the silver halide in the emulsion layer of the photosensitive film is reduced to unequal amounts of metallic silver according to the different brightness of the subject. Metallic silver is an opaque particulate matter that can absorb and block light. From the perspective of the brightness of the scene, when the subject is illuminated by bright light, the intensity of the reverse light is stronger. After the photographic exposure and development, the brighter the part, the denser the restored silver particles, the more silver particles are deposited, and the transparency The lower the value, the more light is blocked and the less transmitted light is observed. On the contrary, the darker the part, the more the reduced silver particles are scattered, the less the silver particles are deposited, and the higher the transparency. There is less light and more light passes through.

The difference in the amount of silver particles deposited on the negative constitutes an image with different blackness. Because the density has different degrees of shadowing ability, the size of the density can be measured according to the amount of light transmitted.

Density and image effects

From the perspective of the amount of sunlight in photography, the greater the exposure, the more the film is exposed to light, the more silver particles are deposited, the darker the image, the greater the density of the negative film; on the contrary, the smaller the exposure, the less the film’s sensitivity to light. , The less the deposited silver particles, the lighter the blackness of the image, and the lower the density of the negative film. It can be seen that the amount of exposure directly affects the density formed by the film. Neither overexposure nor underexposure can achieve the “ideal density”, and can only lose the gradation of bright or dark parts.

The perfect image effect depends on the density of the negative film produced by the correct exposure. Any overexposed or underexposed negative film is difficult to print out the ideal image effect. Overexposed negatives have deep blackness and high density in the bright parts of the scene. The printed photos and images can only show some shadow patterns and gradations in the shadow parts of the scene to a limited extent, while the shadow patterns in the bright parts are white. There is no layered texture. Underexposed negatives, the brightness of the scene is greatly lost. The negatives are generally low in blackness and low in density, showing a transparent or semi-transparent state. The printed photos and images can only slightly show certain shadow patterns in the bright parts of the scene. , The shadow pattern level of the shadow part disappears in a gray and black tone. It goes without saying that if you want to obtain a rich, normal, and crisp image effect, you can only rely on negatives with correct exposure and normal density.

Exposure and tolerance

When photographing exposure, to make the light and dark levels of the subject scene more accurately reflected in the density changes of the film, the first step is to control the exposure. In addition, there is another factor that affects the conversion of the scene level to the tonal level, namely tolerance.

The concept of tolerance

Tolerance refers to the ability of photosensitive materials to accurately record the brightness range of a scene in proportion. The difference of the surface of the subject from the darkest part to the darkest part can be expressed by the ratio of light to dark. Suppose: the brightest part of the scene is 50 times brighter than the darkest part, then the ratio between them is 1:50, which is the difference between light and dark of the scene. The ability of the photosensitive film to correctly express the difference between light and dark of the subject is the latitude of the photosensitive material, which is usually also called the exposure latitude.

The latitude of black and white film is about 1;128, the latitude of color negative film is about 1:32～64, the latitude of color reversal film is only about 1:16～32, and the latitude of photo paper is about 1:30 about.

In photographic exposure, the use of more latitude photosensitive film to shoot scenes with smaller brightness differences, even if the exposure is slightly more or less, has little effect on the density of the film. From a practical point of view, the greater the latitude of the photosensitive film, the better the exposure control.

The relationship between tolerance and exposure

The relationship between exposure and the latitude of photosensitive film generally has the following three situations:

Tolerance is equal to the brightness range of the scene

When the latitude of the photosensitive film is equal to the ratio of brightness of the scene, the brightness range that the photosensitive film can record is exactly the same as the distance from the brightest to the darkest of the scene, and there is no other choice in exposure. If the exposure is slightly different, the gradation of the bright part or the dark part will be damaged.

‚Tolerance is greater than the brightness range of the scene

When the latitude of the photosensitive film is greater than the brightness ratio of the scene, the range that the photosensitive film can record exceeds the distance from the brightest to the darkest of the scene, leaving a lot of choice in exposure, usually in the allowable Within the range, the lowest exposure is selected as the exposure standard, so that the obtained film density reaches the minimum exposure standard, and the best image effect can be obtained by printing photos or copying positive films. In the case that the film latitude is greater than the brightness range of the scene, even if the control of the photographic exposure is slightly different, it will not affect the reproduction of the scene’s light and dark levels.　　

ƒTolerance is less than the brightness range of the scene

When the latitude of the photosensitive film is less than the brightness ratio of the scene, the brightness range that the photosensitive film can record is far less than the distance of the scene from the brightest to the darkest. It is difficult to control the exposure. If you want to record the ratio of light to dark of the scene completely Is impossible. Generally speaking, at this time, the focus of exposure should be selected according to the different conditions of the subject, and the brightness of the main part of the subject should be used as the benchmark for exposure, taking into account the levels of other parts. Obviously, the exposure in this case is bound to lose a considerable part of the level of the brightness range. The key is to properly determine the focus of the exposure. What is lost is only some levels of the secondary parts.

Basic Exposure Control Method

Combined with the metering method of digital cameras, the following three exposure control methods can be considered:

1. Average photometry. These bai kinds of metering methods are basically available in all digital cameras, and they are also the most basic metering method. This method helps to ensure that the entire picture gets an appropriate and average exposure. The advantage is that it is simple and suitable for scenes with little contrast in light ratio. If the light and dark distribution of the subject is uneven and the contrast is large, this average photometry is not applicable.
2. Exposure to dark shadows. The use of this metering method is suitable for the normal exposure of the tones of the shadow of the subject in the picture, so that the tones and gradations of these parts are appropriate. When the shadow in the picture occupies a very main part, such as a backlit indoor scene or backlit portrait, this method should be used to determine the exposure. The specific method is: use a digital camera to aim at the important shadow part of the subject to meter, but instead of exposing according to the reading directly displayed by the digital camera, manually adjust the aperture or shutter to reduce the exposure by one level before exposure. For the limited latitude of digital cameras, try to control the exposure error within 2 levels.
3. Exposure for bright shades. This method is the opposite of the above-mentioned dark shadow exposure. It does not focus on the tone of the dark part of the subject, but starts from the need to enhance or weaken the contrast of the scene, so that the bright part of the subject can be reflected normally. For example, when shooting a close-up portrait illuminated by front light or front side light, or shooting a snow scene, and intends to reproduce the bright part of the face or the snow-covered place as a brighter, brighter tone, this method will be used. .

The specific method is: use a digital camera to aim at the bright part of the subject to meter, but not according to the reading directly displayed by the digital camera, but manually adjust the aperture or shutter to increase the exposure by one level before exposure. When shooting snow scenes and other high-key scenes, you should also increase the exposure more than the measured readings. Of course, you can also use the exposure compensation function of the digital camera for further exposure adjustments. For digital cameras, there is an experience, that is, the digital camera has a strong ability to capture the dark parts, but the ability to capture the bright parts is weak.

The result is that the highlights of the photos taken with the digital camera are easily turned into gray and white. . In view of this phenomenon, be careful not to make the highlight part exceed the exposure tolerance range during exposure. Automatic metering system of digital camera. Regardless of the metering mode, such as center-weighted average metering, partial metering or spot metering, when you shoot through the viewfinder, you will see that the exposure readings automatically given by the camera are based on medium grayscale. That means, no matter how bright or dark the scene is, the camera’s automatic light metering system will record the scene on the photosensitive element in medium grayscale.

What is the relationship between light and photography

Light is the foundation of photographic art creation, and photography is dependent on light.

From a technical point of view, the reason why various subjects can be transformed from the visible image in the objective environment into the visible image on the photo is achieved by the photochemical reaction of the optical image of the lens and the photosensitive film through exposure. of. Exposure is the key to determining the quality of photography technology.

From an artistic point of view, light is an indispensable important condition for on-site photography and painting, and an important means of shaping the image of the subject. Using light is the key to determining the quality of photographic art.

The use of light in photography depends on exposure technology, that is, on the correct and clever control of exposure.

①The meaning of exposure

The natural world facing the camera in our hands is a world of colorful, rich layers and endless changes in light. The purpose of photography is to use photosensitive film to record all kinds of things that are full of changes in real life. All this depends on making the photosensitive film reach the correct exposure. Undoubtedly, it is impossible to obtain a good artistic effect with an incorrectly exposed negative.

Beginners, the first problem they encounter is probably related to photographic exposure, that is, to obtain an ideal photographic work through correct exposure. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to deeply study and master the theory and concept of exposure control.

Definition of exposure

Exposure is to allow light to pass through the lens to form imaged light, enter the dark box to reach the photosensitive film, so that the film emulsion produces a latent image in the actinic action.

In the emulsion layer of the photosensitive film, the tiny silver halide crystals that have a photosensitive effect undergo potential photochemical changes under light irradiation, forming images that cannot be observed by the naked eye, so they are called latent images. After the exposed film is processed by developing and fixing processes, the latent image becomes a visible image. At this time, the image is a negative image. After the darkroom printing and magnification process, the negative image becomes the same positive image as the original scene. , This is the final product of photography-an ideal photo. In the entire process of photography, the primary factor that affects the formation of negative image density on the negative is the determination of the exposure combination, followed by the film processing technology. These two factors are the key to determining whether the film density is correct or not.

The meaning of correct exposure should be simply: let the photosensitive film be irradiated with the appropriate amount of light in the appropriate time.

The definition of exposure, if given a scientific explanation, is: the intensity of light multiplied by the time the light acts on. The “intensity of light” in the definition refers to the intensity of light irradiated by the photosensitive film, that is, illuminance (I represents illuminance, and the unit is lux). In the definition, the “time acted on by light” refers to the time that the photosensitive film is irradiated by the love ray, that is, the exposure time (T represents the exposure time, in seconds). The unit of exposure is lux·second. Taking E as the exposure, the exposure formula can be obtained as follows:

E (exposure) = I (illuminance) × T (exposure time)

According to this formula, if a certain amount of exposure is to be obtained, the greater the light intensity, the shorter the exposure time; the lower the light intensity, the longer the exposure time. If the light intensity is doubled, the exposure time needs to be reduced by half. If the light intensity is 2, the time is 4, and the exposure is 8. If the light intensity is 4, the time is 2, and the exposure is still 8.

The concept of “correct exposure”

In order to achieve the correct exposure, the photographer must rely on two important devices of the camera to control the exposure, namely the shutter and the aperture. For photographic exposure, they act like two “shutters” that restrict the passage of light: the shutter is to control the time the light is on the photosensitive film; the aperture is to control the amount of light reaching the photosensitive film. The former is to control the length of the exposure time; the latter is to control the amount of light passing through the lens. If the shutter and the aperture are properly matched, the required exposure can be obtained to achieve the correct exposure.

The so-called “correct exposure” is only relative. There is no absolutely correct exposure. There are three reasons:

First, the latitude of photosensitive materials cannot accommodate this degree of difference in scenery in nature. The brightness contrast of natural scenes can reach up to 1:10000, and the brightness contrast of scenes usually touched by photography is about 1:200. The film latitude of about 1:128 is bound to be unable to accommodate, and the film latitude of about 1:30 is even more powerless, and it has to be left to lose a considerable part of the level. To make up for this, it needs to be solved from the aspects of lighting and exposure control.

Second, from the perspective of artistic expression techniques such as photography light, shooting techniques, and designed picture effects, the concept of “correct exposure” will vary from scene to scene and from person to person. In order to pursue different artistic effects, facing the same scene with the same equipment, if you choose different exposure combinations, you can shoot two works with completely different effects.

Third, the factors of post-processing processing have a non-negligible impact on exposure.

Therefore, when mastering “correct exposure”, both technical and technical factors must be considered, as well as artistic factors. In a word: Do not forget the application value and artistic factors of “correct exposure” in photography practice.　　②Equal exposure and selective exposure

The purpose of photographic exposure is to obtain a satisfactory picture, but this has a great relationship with the choice of exposure combination.

 Equal exposure

We clearly understand such a simple truth: a larger aperture can allow more light to pass through the lens and reach the film than a smaller aperture. A lower shutter speed is better than a higher shutter speed. The light stays on the film for a long time. This can evolve into the following situation: the combination of aperture f/1.8 and shutter speed of 1/500 second, and the combination of aperture f/4 and shutter speed of 1/100 second, the exposure effect obtained is the same. They are consistent with the exposure effect obtained by combining the medium aperture f/8 and the medium shutter speed of 1/25 second. This is called equal exposure.

The exposure of the above three sets of exposure combinations are equal, the density reflected on the film is the same, the tone level reflected on the black and white photos is the same, and the tone reproduction and reproduction reflected on the color photos are the same. However, there are two important differences in the picture effects between the three of them: one is that the size of the aperture forms a different depth of field; the other is that the shutter speed constitutes the different clarity of the moving body image.

Choose exposure

From the principle of equal exposure, we know that equal exposure with different exposure combinations can achieve the same exposure effect with the same film density. However, in photography practice, the best set of exposure combinations should be selected among several exposure combinations that can produce the same density according to the different subject matter and subject to be photographed to express the subject. This is the concept of selective exposure.

Beginner photographers obtain “satisfactory photos” under certain conditions due to the use of a certain exposure combination (assuming f/8, 1/100 second). This “unexpected harvest” has prompted some enthusiasts to offer it It is a “universal exposure combination”, which is often used in future photographs and will continue to be used regardless of occasion, without serious consideration of choosing different exposure combinations according to different shooting conditions and different subjects to create Good picture effect.

Those experienced photographers know from photography theory and practical experience that f/8 and 1/100 second are just a group of several alternative exposure combinations, and there are many combinations that can be used. . Although each set of shutter and aperture can produce the same amount of exposure, the depth of field in the picture and the clarity of the moving body are quite different.

The specific exposure combination must be carefully considered. Is it to use a smaller aperture to obtain a deeper and far clearer range of scenes? Or use a higher shutter speed to capture the “solidified image” of the subject? Or use a very short depth of field to blur the background to highlight the subject? Or use a slower shutter speed to enhance the dynamics of the moving body? and many more. All of this requires photographers to use their brains to think and make choices. This is by no means what those “automatic cameras” can solve, because “automatic cameras” have no thinking ability. Photographers with the ability to think in images can operate the camera handily to complete their own ideas. This may be the difference between the “automatic exposure” of the camera and the active “selected exposure” of the person.

Lighting Production Process

Lighting Design

3. Configure the circuit: explore the performance site according to its circuit, control panel, lamps and instruments, dance, the number of lamp poles, the height of space, the length and width of stage depth, and the related mechanical equipment such as dimmer controller are designed.
4. Delivery to the dance Supervisor: deliver the final lighting to the dance supervisor, and the run process determines each step and communicates with the actors, determine the details of lighting effect and tell the change point in detail.
5. Arrange the equipment: prepare the necessary equipment in advance according to the lighting configuration and the equipment of the leased site, materials, such as color chips, color clip, gloves, pliers.
6. Scheduling process: before entering the theater, according to the whole work content of the lighting itself, clear calculation work time required, and work out the work flow with other stage departments, so as not to affect the progress of each other

Lighting Execution:

1. Assemble the lamp: according to the circuit configuration table, hang the lamp, configure the circuit, color the film and adjust the lamp

The angle and the position of space light.

 

2. Determine the effect: set the light brightness level with the director, determine each effect and record it in detail.
3. Rehearsal exercise: rehearsal is regarded as formal, rehearsal process will never be interrupted, the problem lies in the end of rehearsal which we’ll discuss it later. Before the performance, strive for time, follow the Q table and the actual practice of each effect recorded, and find out the possible problems in operation.

 

4. Performing: according to the direction of the dance supervisor, perform every effect accurately.

Types and Principles of Lamps

1) Floodlight

For general lighting design, the light source has only one bulb and the lampshade has a large opening, so the light irradiation range is relatively large. There is no lens in the front. You can use the knob to adjust the brightness of the light.

（2） Bar lamp:
It is made up of many light bulbs, long and narrow or slightly long square lamp slot, used for general lighting. It can be placed in a hole in front of the stage, called a footlight. It can also be placed on a light pole above the stage, or on the floor to light the screen. The former is called a side light and the latter is called a sky light. There are also small linear lights used to illuminate small setting units such as doors and windows.

3） Sky screen lamp:
The backlight designed to illuminate the sky is often used to create an overall atmosphere.

4) Spotlight.

Illuminate a specific part of the stage with a concentrated light. The lamp body includes a hard metal cover, a bulb cavity, a reflector, a lens, a groove for the color film, an attached device and a focus adjuster.

Spotlights are divided into the following categories

1.idal Reflector Spotlight(ERS)

Also known as LEKO. This is a kind of spotlight with the highest lighting rate, mainly used in lighting appliances and lighting equipment when the stage is far away and the space is high enough. The use of lenses for convex lenses, also known as spotlight lenses. One side is flat, the other side is convex, which can emit strong and bright light. The reflector is installed behind and around the bulb to reflect the scattered light forward, so its function is to improve the lighting rate of lighting appliances. Mirrors are made of metal and come in many shapes, but the most commonly used are spherical and elliptical. According to Cummings, the elliptical spotlight uses an elliptical reflector (named after it), whose mirror is semi surrounded around the bulb. The projected beam has a clear edge and a little halo, which is suitable for long-distance projection.

There are four shutters in front of the mirror to change the shape of the beam. Another effect film slot is gobo slot, special effect film can be placed to increase the pattern of light beam, color paper can be placed in the slot to change the color of light beam. The so-called 15, 20, 30 or 40 degrees refers to the field angle formed by different focal lengths of lenses. Generally, the longer the focal length of the lens, the smaller the angle.

Attachment: Use of Carved Projection Film (GOBO)

Among the many functions of lighting, GOBO is a very special technique. Because today’s technology has made great progress in the manufacturing process of lamps, the new generation of oval reflectors mostly have grooves that can be inserted into GOBO. The position is Before cutting the light film group.

What is the use of GOBO? GOBO is exactly as like as two peas, GOBO is a rectangular plate made of heat resistant metal material, with a hollowed pattern on it. When the light emitted by the bulb passes through the GOBO lens and is projected through the lens, the light has been cut through the irregular pattern of the GOBO piece, and then the pattern is exactly the same as that on the GOBO, and it is irradiated on the floor. Generally speaking, gobo is most commonly used to make shadows of trees. Only a moment’s use of gobo with small holes can produce special light and shadow that light passes through the sparse comb behind the leaves. With the recent enhancement of this technology, manufacturers have now made precise cutting with lasers to produce various detailed patterns.

2.Fresnel Spot Light

Compared with the oval spotlight, it is usually used in the field with short distance and small space height. The lens used is a Buddha lens, one side is flat, and the other side has a float half sphere.

In order to produce a soft and uniform light beam, the mirror surface is fogged and the convex surface is cut. Their function is to disperse the light so that the edge of the aperture is not too obvious. The spherical reflector is placed behind the bulb. Due to its shape and position, the illumination rate of the spherical reflector is lower than that of the elliptical reflector. According to the diameter of the lens tube, it can be divided into 6 “, 8” and 10 “specifications. The size of the aperture can be adjusted by the distance between the light source and the focus. It is also a color chip slot.

3. Down lamp (PAR lamp)

The lamp shell is cylindrical. The structure is simple. Because this lamp can be used both indoor and outdoor, it is widely used in outdoor concerts. Because of its low price, easy maintenance, many theaters like to use this kind of lamp.

4. Follow spot:

High intensity, hard edge spotlight. It can project a aperture to the stage at a long distance, following the desire movement of a person or thing illuminated on a stage. The principle is the same as the spotlight listed above.

From Sage to Prformance

（1） Hanging lamp

After entering the theater, the first thing is to install all the lamps according to the lighting position shown in the lighting diagram

Hang one by one on the lamp post. Pay attention to the stage clearance at this time!

2） Distribution circuit
Each lamp must be equipped with extension line according to the drawing and inserted into the lighting circuit.

（3） Light adjusting and coloring paper

All lamps and lanterns must be adjusted one by one by the lighting design and command staff to the required position or location, according to the size of the demand adjustment, and finally add the specified color paper.

（4） Make cue

After adjusting the lamp, under the normal operation of all lamps, cue can be started, which is to set all kinds of lighting changes of the whole performance on the stage, and record these pictures one by one with manual controller or computer controller, so as to become the basis of lighting changes in future performances.

（5） Technical rehearsal

After these pictures are recorded, they have to be matched with other departments, such as speakers, stage, clothing, and entertainment

All of these departments are added to the stage for technical rehearsal in order to find the shortcomings and correct them immediately.

6） Problem correction

In the case of problems in the technical platoon, it is necessary to take time to make further adjustments, whether it is to shift the lamps, change the color paper or re adjust the light, these are in the technical rehearsal and formal rehearsal room.

（7） Formal rehearsal

Rehearsal is regarded as a formal performance, usually all the unexpected situations that may happen in the performance are in the formal stage. Rehearsal takes place ahead of time, so all departments – stage, clothing, lighting, sound effects, makeup, actors and so on, regard rehearsal as a formal performance, and the rehearsal process will never be interrupted. Problems are raised and discussed after rehearsal.

（8） Final amendment

After the formal rehearsal, there is still a period of time for the departments to make adjustments and repairs, so as to achieve the goal.

I wish you a perfect performance.

1.The virus came

In 2020, the COVID epidemic spreaded all over the world. Most people are restricted to travel, and their lives are greatly affected. Many shops and companies have closed. And the tourism and transportation industries have been affected to varying degrees, as well as the film and television industry. The large-scale suspension of the gathering of people and restrictions on the flow of people have caused serious setbacks in the film and television industry in the process of the spread of the epidemic, especially in Hollywood and Bollywood, which produce huge amounts of film and television works.

 

 

 

2.The film and televison industry bear the brunt

The film and television industry is a huge value creator. Last year, Hollywood’s global box office revenue in 2019 totaled 42 billion U.S. dollars, which is more than ever before, and accounting for almost one-third of the global film production and distribution value of 136 billion U.S. dollars. Hollywood supports more than 2 million jobs and 400,000 American companies, and the British film and television industry is worth about 60 million pounds to the British economy every day.

Unfortunately, the COVID epidemic has stalled the progress of many film productions and movie theaters have been closed. In some countries/regions, although they are trying to restart production, the great uncertainty caused by the virus has still severely reduced consumers’ confidence in any locations. The film and television industry is trying to reduce risks as much as possible, however the pandemic is an unstoppable force. At any time, amazing filmmaking is definitely a very tedious and laborious process, requiring hundreds of people to assist each other, such as actors, directors, hairdressers, makeup artists, and catering staff. In other words, when people are crowded, there will be an excellent opportunity for the virus to spread.

 

 

2.1 Hollywood status

The film and television industry lasted for a period of hibernation, “Jurassic World: Domination” tried to resume shooting.

At Pinewood Studios in London, there is a broadcasting system that constantly reminds the actors and staff during the filming process to pay attention to the contact distance and change masks in time. Although relevant departments have taken certain measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic, and have also formulated many rules for related industries, including strict epidemic prevention and monitoring, such as electronic temperature checks, swab tests, daily safety briefings, and organization of medical staff And the staff’s color coded area, but the shooting may still be cancelled at any time. In addition to the coronavirus test, perhaps the most necessary and expensive cost is to rent space for the main actors and staff to limit their contact with the outside world. Pfizer previously announced that its coronavirus vaccine had achieved encouraging results, which aroused the hope of the entire industry that the business may eventually return to normal, but most people remain unoptimistic.

2.2 Bollywood status

In Bollywood, although the Indian government has been working hard to control the spread of the epidemic, India still has nearly 10 million recorded infections. During Bollywood’s film production and shooting, relevant department invented a sprinkler system that sprays disinfectant onto clothing and other places. At the same time, the ultraviolet disinfection machine will also disinfect the camera kit and crew. In 2008, the sequel of the hot romantic comedy “Dostana 2″, tried to create a luxurious wedding scene during the filming process. The luxurious wedding scene is one of the iconic scenes of Bollywood movies. But it is a pity that although the scene still looks luxurious, the actual number of dancers involved has been reduced by 50. Compared with the previous group dance of 300 dancers, the scene is a bit shabby, and the shooting time has also been extended due to safety contact issues. Labor costs and time costs are greatly increased. The film’s assistant director Jihan Handa said: “In Bollywood, the number of people in a song is related to its budget. If you can afford hundreds of dancers and all their costumes, it can easily become a very famous song. Too few people make it look a bit cheap.”

 

 

 

 

3. Expected resuming

Fortunately, more and more programs such as Netflix are gradually resuming production, as well as Hollywood. The industry has enhanced security protocols to reduce the possibility of Covid-19 infection. The feature film “Wonder Woman 1984” was officially released on

December 25. Although half of the movie theaters have closed, many people still do not want to go to the movies because of the fear of infectious diseases. The studio said that although riskly to release  a $200 million film will not bring a big box office, this change is the latest attempt to restore a sense of normalcy in an industry that is once again fragile. From the busy work and entertainment life, the citizens suddenly landed in an extremely idle life, and a huge emptiness would appear on the spiritual level of them. Sleeping late, insomnia, and being in a daze may occupy one-third of life (here refers to the data of most people), and some will play games and chase dramas to fill the void of spirit. Therefore, it is foreseeable that retaliatory entertainment consumption may appear soon. This situation is definitely a positive stimulus for the film and television industry. As many countries learn about China’s prevention and control of the coronavirus, and related virus vaccines are invented, the film and television industry will surely usher in another recovery soon.

 

 

 

If you need professional LED lights for film and television shooting, Ledsfilm’s professional high-power studio lights will help you a lot.

4. Feature

2-in-1 Hard & Soft Light

This product comes with versatile accessories that turn your continuous lighting from hard light to soft box light with 30 seconds. Various filters and softbox size can be selected. All you need to do is to carry one single lights and numerous accessories. No screwdriver or other tools are need during the replacement.

Extra light weight for better portability

This product is made of quality aluminum alloy that is strong yet light. To protect the equipment, we offer customized transport case.

Easy refurbishment – Reuse All the Parts in the Future

 

Modular design allows you to reuse the parts of the lights. For instance, the power supply, battery, LED chips can be removed and substitute to our other products.

 

More Feature:

Flicker free / Green spike free / CRI95 / Bi-color temperature / Dimmable

For more details, welcome to consult us — president@ledsfilm.com .