GAH LIGHTING

[Rachael]

Hi friends! I haven't been here in a while but I need some advice.

I incorporate 30 second skits in between main shots in my videos. The lighting is okay in the main shots, besides the fact the background is a bit dark. But anywhere else I try to film in my basement just doesn't have enough light. The lights in the ceiling are too harsh and cast a lot of shadows. In my room and on the main floor of my house are okay, but I can't film there because my family likes to live very very loudly. Plus when I have to talk I have to speak up for my mic and it just doesn't work except for in the basement, but the lighting is just terrible.

I was thinking about getting some lighting (besides natural) but I really need a wide area to be lit up when I film those skits, not just centered on my face. The few windows in my basement are under a deck so no matter how bright it is outside there's only one wall that is bright. The natural light can't light up the whole room like it can in a bedroom or a bathroom.

Is there anything that I can do?

 

[Shehzad]

You should invest in some standing lamps to bounce light on your area. Most professional studios will bounce light off white backgrounds to get the light on people's faces and have other lamps shining behind the background. One video I always recommend for people to watch when trying to set up lighting is this

 

[Talooka]

I use a 5-headed lamp ($40 at Bed Bath & Beyond) and I bought some white ligth bulbs form Wal-Mart for around $5.

I like the 5-headed lamp because I can adjust the way the light faces very easily for different shots. The only downside is that because there is no white sheet in front of the light, it creates harsh shadows.

 

[James Strange]

Yesterday B &H had DracastLED500 Pro Bi-Color LED Light lights on special. I ordered 2.

They are high end but search around and you can find cheap soft boxes. Check tubetape, Amazon, 11main etc.