Lighting tests

Yesterday, I went into the woods with Joe Keeley as it got dark to test out filming methods and lighting techniques. We tested a portable light used for lighting up areas in photography studios, a torch and a phone light with the same camera, and we found the video light to be the most effective. We also tried at dusk and at night. The plan was to turn the brightness and exposure down and film at dusk but there are certain issues I have with this. Dusk only happens very briefly in winter so this would limit our filming opportunity. Also, the light doesn't look right when the exposure was brought down, it is nowhere near bright enough to convince the audience it was shot at night.

As the comparison shows, the contrast between light and dark is huge when filming at night, but not as much at dusk. Another issue is that the sky still looks bright, so it does not look completely like night time.

These tests mean I will be using these video lights on a tripod or handheld, depending on the context (whether they or stationary or moving) and I will film at night. I also have headlamps the actors will wear for additional lighting of the cast.