Shooting in room big rom with large windows

[Doug Wiggins]

Hi Joel,
This is a problem you will often run into and one you need to master. You mention the room is too big to light and still you must try to counter the strong light coming from outside. When I run into this, I light as well as possible, the subject (in your case I guess its one or more cars)and then stay tight enough to be able to use your f stop to light up the cars. If you shoot wide with a low f stop like f2, your outside background will be all blown out but if you can stay tight enough not to see too much of that, it will work. Shoot your important shots like that and then if you need a wide shot, you will have to allow for some compromise. Concentrate on getting the important parts of the scene looking right and the client will be happy. If the client wants both, show him on your monitor what happens at the different f stop settings so he understands.
Good luck
Doug Wiggins
Video Innovations
Sydney, Australia
https://www.filmu.com.au

[Fernando Mol]

I have used blown up windows as part of the composition in a satisfactory way. In a foggy day they will give you a nice soft light that you can use it in your advantage. If you use tungsten lights in your subject you can color balance for that and all the background will give you a nice contrast tint… but shooting cars I’ll shoot with daylight illumination, because of the reflexions.

If what’s outside the windows is not pretty and they’re far away, you can cover them with a semi transparent paper to give them an even look.

Mixed lights can be a creative opportunity if you don’t have a monster budget to manipulate the environment. In a car shot, however, all the windows are going to be reflected and they can be both beautiful or horrible, so take some black fabric with you and use it in the close shots to clean the reflexions.

I hope this helps.

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[Chris Pulleyn]

Hi
I was a photo assistant specialised in cars for years and though cars seem easy there are a few things to think about.
The number 1 problem is Reflections! highly polished showroom Cars are like mirrors! they will reflect the ceiling lights, windows and especially YOU. I understand that this is not a car ad but a showroom ad but there is nothing worse than seeing the cameraman reflected in the subject.

Number 1 tip is; before each shot look at where YOU are reflecting.
– take a torch (flashlight) and point it from the lens and see which body panels you see it in. If you are doing a Dolly run or walk through, do a dry run BEFORE you set up.
– take some black/or neutral coloured material and 2 light stands and create a barrier to hide you and your hangers on behind.
– stop anyone aimlessly wandering around behind you (with their cells)as they will reflect too.
– use reflections of people/models in the bonnet/hood and zoom out. can be a nice shot.

Lighting, if you try and light the ceiling you may will get the whole structure reflecting in the cars and in what sounds like a pretty difficult. would be a mammoth task and i con’t really think of a sure answer without seeming the workspace but hope some of the above will make other aspects easier.

Contrast and lens flair will be your enemy. Flag your lens as much as possible.

Ohh i could go on and on!
hope some of his helped

Chrispy

[Joel Arvidsson]

The plan now is to show the client what happens when you film against bright windows. Then I probely film the widest shots with the sun in my back. Then I go with tighter shots if I need to shoot agianst the windows. Will be interesting how much of a problem the cars reflection going to be.

joelarvidsson@gmail.com

[David Braman]

A Kino Flathead 80 on your talent will give you a fighting chance against the window. After that get a lot of 4×8 foam core to strategically bounce back into the visible cars. (Keep the visible cars to a minimum and concentrate on the cars in the foreground.)

[Joel Arvidsson]

Thanks for all advices. It went good. Only had one shot that was little bit messy but it turned out good in the end. I was able to shot that so I had the sun coming in from the side instead of right in front.

Cheers!

joelarvidsson@gmail.com

[Chris Pulleyn]

Glad to hear it.

I know it’s a bit late but saw this and thought of your project due to all the windows.
Obviously pretty much handheld and reporter style quick shots but some decent results… though you would obviously do better.

Note how on the very curvy modern car he places the camera to reflect in the whited out headlight and the gantry shot was good idea too.
Experience for us all.

A History of Innovation: Cadillac at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn-yYpcBREk&feature=player_embedded#at=51

Good luck
See ya later
Chris