Can anyone identify this video light?

[Rick Wise]

PS: A little Google Searching turns up some DIY “ice lights” for far less money. Definitely not as slick, but for around $50 you can make something pretty good (no dimmer) as explained here: https://www.digitalartscape.com/tag/ice-light-alternative/ And, I think, instead of that 2′ plastic diffuser, a strip of 1/2 grid cloth would work pretty well.

Rick Wise
Cinematographer
Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com

[Mike Thomas]

Thanks for that link Rick! I guess I’m not the only one wanting a DIY Ice Light. lol.

After further research I’ve decided to buy a Lowel ID-Light- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/185678-REG/Lowel_ID_02_ID_Light_100W_Focus_Flood.html

The Frezz Sun Guns that Todd mentioned are all high dollar HMI lights. The Lowel is dimmable, focus-able and can run off batteries. Thought I’d mention it in case anyone else reads this wondering what to get.

[Rick Wise]

As long as you are shooting at night, these 3050K lights should work OK for you. In daylight they will be very, very orange. You will need to add at least 1/2 CTB gels, which means adding the barn doors so you can clip on your gel, or else the tota frame. The ice light and DIY equivalents are daylight balanced.

You may also want to diffuse the light as raw it is probably a bit harsh.

Rick Wise
Cinematographer
Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com

[Todd Terry]

Yep, I never said the Frezzis were cheap.

For a DIY version of the Ice Light that Rick tracked down, you can find an even less expensive but similarly-built LED light at Harbor Freight Tools.

I’m wondering if that plastic face is easily removed… if so, you could put a strip of Lee 250 or something similar inside it for diffusion rather than crafting something to clamp onto the outside. That is, if you always wanted it diffused a bit.. which would be likely.

I’d also come up with some way to put a 5/8″ post on it, for times when you don’t want it handheld.

But yeah, Jerry the wunderPhotog was using a much harder light than his Ice Light invention in that example. The Ice Light would have been much softer and not have nearly the punch to do what he was doing at those distances.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Rick Wise]

Todd, do you mean this $25 one: https://www.harborfreight.com/rechargeable-led-work-light-with-magnetic-base-94668.html? It has half the number of LEDs so probably about a stop less bright.

Rick Wise
Cinematographer
Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com

[Todd Terry]

Hey Rick… the one I was thinking of was very similar to that, but a bit bigger (and more LEDs). They used to have one like that, but I imagine their inventory changes frequently.

I haven’t seen this one before, but it could have potential…
https://www.harborfreight.com/120-led-rechargeable-under-hood-work-light-60793.html

I have also picked up a whole bunch of their LED “puck lights” about about three bucks each, often on sale…

https://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-portable-worklight-flashlight-67227.html

They’re very handy to stick in all kinds of places as little specials or incidental lights where you couldn’t otherwise get a fixture.

My last cheap-o Harbor Freight lighting purchase is a few of these plain ol’ LED flashlights…

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-3-4-quarter-inch-109-led-flashlight-98506.html

I drilled holes in the sides to outfit them with ball-joint baby receivers so I can mount them on a C-stand or any 5/8″ post (parts bought off eBay), and barn doors as well (also eBay). They are good to have in your kit when you want a little bit of a more controllable background splash, etc. I’ve also used them as hairlights. I thought I had a picture of them rigged out, but looks like I don’t. I can take one Monday if anyone needs it.

I haven’t noticed any nasty green spikes in any of them, and most of them I’d put somewhere in the 5200-6000° neighborhood.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Rick Wise]

Todd, terrific additions!

Rick Wise
Cinematographer
Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com

[Todd Terry]

Happened to be at Harbor Freight over the weekend looking for something else, but took a stroll down the lighting aisle.

Our local store here did NOT have any of the aforementioned LED Ice-Lightish fixtures in stock (or seem to have a place for them), although they can still be obviously ordered from their website.

They did though have tons of the little puck lights, as well as the 109-LED flashlights…

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-3-4-quarter-inch-109-led-flashlight-98506.html

These are the ones we use sometimes, have four or five of them I guess.

I drilled and tapped 1/4″/20 holes in the heads to attach the baby receiver ball mounts that I bought online, and found cheap barndoors (some from eBay, some from Cowboy Studio) that fit perfectly and came with metal honeycombs and several colors of filters (including white diffusion) as well…

They’re not the greatest instruments, not by a long shot. But are fine if you are need a random splash or two, or a little special on some objet d’art or tchotchke in the background. As I said I’ve used them as hairlights in a pinch, as well.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Scott Miller]

After spending many years as a Local 80 Grip and now just a humble Videographer-on-a-budget, I have to give you a big thumbs up on your gripology there! Kudos!!!

This has been an interesting stream and I’m glad I’ve read through it. My first thoughts on the light in question were, like others, the dimmable Lowel iLight with a hard bulb. That light will accept automobile headlights, which would explain why we don’t see a gel melting in front of it.

Still photography is my passion and therefore I keep it to myself and don’t preform it as a profession. However, whether we shoot still or moving, there can be much learned from this guy. Primarily in his direction as well as his utilization of time, color, and space.

Good read.

[Kepano Kekuewa]

IIRC, Jerry uses (used) Lowel ID lights back then. His Ice Light works great in close for tight portraits (I have one, and plan to buy a second). I’m guessing he still uses the Lowel – hard, warm light works in the right situations. I bet he dims it way down to better match the dimmed house lights and candles.