Comments on: Lighting Series Number 4: Extending Dawn on the Practice Field in “DrumLine” http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/ Create | Innovate | Educate Fri, 24 May 2013 17:20:03 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Lighting Series Number 4: Extending Dawn on the Practice Field in “DrumLine” | Hurlbut Visuals « joedullblog http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-47422 Lighting Series Number 4: Extending Dawn on the Practice Field in “DrumLine” | Hurlbut Visuals « joedullblog Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:26:29 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-47422 [...] in Drumline. Some good info, especially about where photography, scheduling, and audio intersect. Here’s the link. Share this:ShareFacebookEmailTwitterDiggPinterestLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...] [...] in Drumline. Some good info, especially about where photography, scheduling, and audio intersect. Here’s the link. Share this:ShareFacebookEmailTwitterDiggPinterestLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]

]]> By: Lydia http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3204 Lydia Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:19:18 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3204 Mike Cazzx, Understanding behind the scenes shots and lighting on any movie in my opinion is always fascinating. Lydia Mike Cazzx,
Understanding behind the scenes shots and lighting on any movie in my opinion is always fascinating.

Lydia

]]> By: mikecazzx http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3203 mikecazzx Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:38:26 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3203 Am I "normal" if I find this fascinating? Am I “normal” if I find this fascinating?

]]> By: rustin cerveny http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3202 rustin cerveny Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:27:59 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3202 I love your lighting series blog posts, they are such a big help for a budding cinematographer. I mentioned your blog on my recent blog post about my debut as a DP, for the psychological thriller "Absentia" http://www.rustinmichael.com/blog/2011/01/07/my-experience-filming-absentia We shot with the Canon 5D2 and have been getting great reviews so far. Reading your blog is one of the many ways I plan to become a better cinematographer in 2011. Thanks for all the insights from your years of experience. I love your lighting series blog posts, they are such a big help for a budding cinematographer. I mentioned your blog on my recent blog post about my debut as a DP, for the psychological thriller “Absentia” http://www.rustinmichael.com/blog/2011/01/07/my-experience-filming-absentia We shot with the Canon 5D2 and have been getting great reviews so far.

Reading your blog is one of the many ways I plan to become a better cinematographer in 2011. Thanks for all the insights from your years of experience.

]]> By: Tim http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3201 Tim Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:53:35 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3201 Shane - thanks for the reply. i was thinking something a bit simpler - something like those lighting diagrams (or actually just using them) displayed next to the shot, splitscreen, with a telestrater type commentary drawn realtime. do film schools do this? i asked about the zone system because i sometimes get so wrapped up in numbers and ideal exposures that i wonder if i'm losing the moment. it's good to know that people at the top like yourself just know after a while what's right by feel; hopefully i'll get there! :-) Shane – thanks for the reply. i was thinking something a bit simpler – something like those lighting diagrams (or actually just using them) displayed next to the shot, splitscreen, with a telestrater type commentary drawn realtime. do film schools do this?

i asked about the zone system because i sometimes get so wrapped up in numbers and ideal exposures that i wonder if i’m losing the moment. it’s good to know that people at the top like yourself just know after a while what’s right by feel; hopefully i’ll get there! :-)

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3200 Shane Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:45:11 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3200 Roman France, thank you so much for those kind words and continued support of the series. It has been a fun one to do going back over all the movies I have done. Great memories. I am glad that my input helps you in the field. Next is the raw looking "11:14." Roman France, thank you so much for those kind words and continued support of the series. It has been a fun one to do going back over all the movies I have done. Great memories. I am glad that my input helps you in the field. Next is the raw looking “11:14.”

]]> By: Roman France http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3199 Roman France Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:56:25 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3199 Fantastic entry. I can't get enough of this series, very insightful, and it's something a lot of other cinematographers don't bother to talk about. I always learn something when I come to your site and I'm always referencing your lessons when I'm out there in the field. You make me a better photographer Shane and I can't wait for the next entry in the series. Hope all is well! RomanM Fantastic entry. I can’t get enough of this series, very insightful, and it’s something a lot of other cinematographers don’t bother to talk about. I always learn something when I come to your site and I’m always referencing your lessons when I’m out there in the field. You make me a better photographer Shane and I can’t wait for the next entry in the series.

Hope all is well!

RomanM

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3198 Shane Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:05:20 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3198 Elvir Tabakovic, I am so excited and very happy that my time spent writing and pulling out all the details from my past films has given you guidance. Lighting and composition are so important. I absolutely love what I do and thank you so much for you gracious words. Your English is excellent. Elvir Tabakovic, I am so excited and very happy that my time spent writing and pulling out all the details from my past films has given you guidance. Lighting and composition are so important. I absolutely love what I do and thank you so much for you gracious words. Your English is excellent.

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3197 Shane Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:01:23 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3197 Mark Harmel, Thank you so much for your very kind words and support. You are very welcome. Mark Harmel, Thank you so much for your very kind words and support. You are very welcome.

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3196 Shane Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:55:47 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3196 Matthias Saunders, thank you so much, I would love to another piece on "The Rat Pack." Is there a specific scene that comes to mind? Matthias Saunders, thank you so much, I would love to another piece on “The Rat Pack.” Is there a specific scene that comes to mind?

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3195 Shane Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:52:53 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3195 Tim, thank you so much for those kind words and your support. I do put a lot of time into these posts. I love to help educate filmmakers and inspire them to create, to think about things like story, mood, subtleties and not the gear. That is very interesting idea, I never looked at it that way. We would have to take a nice overhead shot so that we could block it out like Madden. No I do not use the zone system. I just use my eye. Tim, thank you so much for those kind words and your support. I do put a lot of time into these posts. I love to help educate filmmakers and inspire them to create, to think about things like story, mood, subtleties and not the gear. That is very interesting idea, I never looked at it that way. We would have to take a nice overhead shot so that we could block it out like Madden. No I do not use the zone system. I just use my eye.

]]> By: Oli Kember http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3194 Oli Kember Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:42:58 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3194 Thanks for this, such a great read. It all looks like one smooth dawn scene, even though it was shot over a number of days. You really can't tell at all. Thanks for explaining how you got onto the job and how the logistics of the dawn shoot meant very careful storyboarding, it's always interesting to hear how these things come about. Is the shot at 1:29 on a tilt/shift lens? It seems something's going on with the planes of focus there.. You mention that you didn't get the extra two dusk shoots, but that you got a sunrise instead, giving you half an hour less- what would you have done if you had had that extra time? The coverage looks ample to me, did you have to forego certain shots? You talked about not using lighting, and just using simple reflectors, I think that's obviously a key part of why the scene looks so natural. It looks darkish because that's simply what light looks like at that time of day. You also perfectly described the essence of morning light: 'fragile' is exactly right. Treat it wrong and it'll fall apart, beautiful one minute and gone the next. You call Roger Deakins a mentor of yours, I wonder if you've ever had the opportunity to work with him/ learn from him? In your response to Alex above you mentioned what white balance settings work well for you, thanks for sharing that. There's something else I was meaning to ask, unrelated to this post but I'll ask it anyway. You've talked in the past about building your custom picture profile for the Canons, I was wondering if there was any chance you would make this available to download? I've got a few projects coming up where that extra latitude would help amazingly (although when would it not), and I feel that simply turning down the contrast in camera isn't giving me enough room in the exposure. I only ask because I'm terrified of building my own profile and screwing up the footage, and I know you've fine tuned yours. One final question, sorry for the long comment, if you were to shoot this on the Canons, although they work great in lower light, how would you expose shots like the low wide angle with the sky in the background? Perhaps the camera would hold both the sunrise and the dark skin tones in the foreground, but if it didn't what would you do? Bring in bigger reflectors for the faces? Or a very very subtle light? Thanks, Oli. Thanks for this, such a great read. It all looks like one smooth dawn scene, even though it was shot over a number of days. You really can’t tell at all.

Thanks for explaining how you got onto the job and how the logistics of the dawn shoot meant very careful storyboarding, it’s always interesting to hear how these things come about.
Is the shot at 1:29 on a tilt/shift lens? It seems something’s going on with the planes of focus there..
You mention that you didn’t get the extra two dusk shoots, but that you got a sunrise instead, giving you half an hour less- what would you have done if you had had that extra time? The coverage looks ample to me, did you have to forego certain shots?

You talked about not using lighting, and just using simple reflectors, I think that’s obviously a key part of why the scene looks so natural. It looks darkish because that’s simply what light looks like at that time of day. You also perfectly described the essence of morning light: ‘fragile’ is exactly right. Treat it wrong and it’ll fall apart, beautiful one minute and gone the next. You call Roger Deakins a mentor of yours, I wonder if you’ve ever had the opportunity to work with him/ learn from him?

In your response to Alex above you mentioned what white balance settings work well for you, thanks for sharing that. There’s something else I was meaning to ask, unrelated to this post but I’ll ask it anyway. You’ve talked in the past about building your custom picture profile for the Canons, I was wondering if there was any chance you would make this available to download? I’ve got a few projects coming up where that extra latitude would help amazingly (although when would it not), and I feel that simply turning down the contrast in camera isn’t giving me enough room in the exposure. I only ask because I’m terrified of building my own profile and screwing up the footage, and I know you’ve fine tuned yours.

One final question, sorry for the long comment, if you were to shoot this on the Canons, although they work great in lower light, how would you expose shots like the low wide angle with the sky in the background? Perhaps the camera would hold both the sunrise and the dark skin tones in the foreground, but if it didn’t what would you do? Bring in bigger reflectors for the faces? Or a very very subtle light?

Thanks,
Oli.

]]> By: Tim http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3193 Tim Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:21:21 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3193 Shane, You must put a lot of time into writing this post, love it. it ties in together everything a good cinematographer needs to know - how to work with people, how to shoot for the edit, how to shoot period given technical constraints. reading through it reminds me of Madden explaining football plays with his trusty telestrator--it'd be great if there's a similar way to explain footage on video with live diagram that shows camera angle and position in relation to the actors. sorta like dvd commentary done football style. When working with exposures, do you think in terms of the zone system that photographers use? for example, exposing skin to sit at zone 6/50%-70% brightness? Shane,

You must put a lot of time into writing this post, love it. it ties in together everything a good cinematographer needs to know – how to work with people, how to shoot for the edit, how to shoot period given technical constraints. reading through it reminds me of Madden explaining football plays with his trusty telestrator–it’d be great if there’s a similar way to explain footage on video with live diagram that shows camera angle and position in relation to the actors. sorta like dvd commentary done football style.

When working with exposures, do you think in terms of the zone system that photographers use? for example, exposing skin to sit at zone 6/50%-70% brightness?

]]> By: Matthias Saunders http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3192 Matthias Saunders Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:03:26 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3192 Great work Shane! I love the lighting on Drumline. Thank you for sharing this info. I am a big fan of your work, and have been for a long time. Hey you do another lighting series on your work on "The Ratpack" film. That film looks awesome and I feel that is a overlooked piece of your work. The lighting/camera on that was amazing! Great work Shane! I love the lighting on Drumline. Thank you for sharing this info. I am a big fan of your work, and have been for a long time. Hey you do another lighting series on your work on “The Ratpack” film. That film looks awesome and I feel that is a overlooked piece of your work. The lighting/camera on that was amazing!

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3191 Shane Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:35:16 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3191 John Hall, first I want to thank you so much for those wonderful kind words. Yea Huntington was awesome. I did not want to leave. It was so beautiful there and the people were so gracious and tender. They invited us into their homes, told stories. Working on that film was one of the greatest experiences of my life as a human being and as a cinematographer. Enjoy Japan. Happy New year John Hall, first I want to thank you so much for those wonderful kind words. Yea Huntington was awesome. I did not want to leave. It was so beautiful there and the people were so gracious and tender. They invited us into their homes, told stories. Working on that film was one of the greatest experiences of my life as a human being and as a cinematographer. Enjoy Japan. Happy New year

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3190 Shane Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:20:22 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3190 Alex, an overcast day wil work but I never bet on the weather. It wil screw you every time. Notice the headlights playing and the street lights playing in the BG. This is something that you would never get on an overcast day. Too bright. Alex, an overcast day wil work but I never bet on the weather. It wil screw you every time. Notice the headlights playing and the street lights playing in the BG. This is something that you would never get on an overcast day. Too bright.

]]> By: Shane http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3189 Shane Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:18:11 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3189 Alex, I find that 5200 is the best for day exteriors. Say 9:00am to 5:00pm. Then I work the sunrise and sunset all over the place depending if I want a more colorful warm sunrise or slightly cooler. When I shoot tungsten light I find that I drift around 3400-3600 K. I find that the camera likes that better. Alex, I find that 5200 is the best for day exteriors. Say 9:00am to 5:00pm. Then I work the sunrise and sunset all over the place depending if I want a more colorful warm sunrise or slightly cooler. When I shoot tungsten light I find that I drift around 3400-3600 K. I find that the camera likes that better.

]]> By: Alex http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3188 Alex Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:26:52 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3188 Another question: Would it be right to say that a digital camera has a color temperature that it works best at, with the least amount of noise in it, just as there are tungsten and daylight balanced film stocks? If so, what is it about 5d/7d...? Another question: Would it be right to say that a digital camera has a color temperature that it works best at, with the least amount of noise in it, just as there are tungsten and daylight balanced film stocks? If so, what is it about 5d/7d…?

]]> By: Alex http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3187 Alex Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:24:08 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3187 Great info! I wonder, if you would choose to shoot those 4 pages through a whole day, let's say it would be an overcast day. Would it look cheesy if you would try to to fake the dawn with any lighting? In other words, was there no other way but to shoot in a couple of days/dawns? Another question: 4 pages of a script equals 4 minutes? p.s. I really loved the blocking for a steadycam! Thanks a lot! Your blog is in my favorites! Great info!
I wonder, if you would choose to shoot those 4 pages through a whole day, let’s say it would be an overcast day. Would it look cheesy if you would try to to fake the dawn with any lighting? In other words, was there no other way but to shoot in a couple of days/dawns?

Another question: 4 pages of a script equals 4 minutes?

p.s. I really loved the blocking for a steadycam!
Thanks a lot! Your blog is in my favorites!

]]> By: John Hall http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2011/01/lighting-series-number-4-extending-dawn-on-the-practice-field-in-%e2%80%9cdrumline%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3186 John Hall Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:19:19 +0000 http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/?p=2722#comment-3186 Shane, Another great post. This is really the best cinematography blog on the nets. Thank you so much for sharing. I just read on your imdb page that you shot "We Are Marshall." I am from Huntington and graduated from Marshall University! I am currently working in Japan. I hope Huntington was hospitable! We really enjoyed experiencing a taste of the Hollywood experience!! Keep up the great work! I check my RSS feed everday for new posts! John Shane,

Another great post. This is really the best cinematography blog on the nets. Thank you so much for sharing.

I just read on your imdb page that you shot “We Are Marshall.” I am from Huntington and graduated from Marshall University! I am currently working in Japan. I hope Huntington was hospitable! We really enjoyed experiencing a taste of the Hollywood experience!!

Keep up the great work! I check my RSS feed everday for new posts!

John

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