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| Review: Lighting for Digital Video DVD |
| There comes a point in time where every video-maker needs to throw more light on the subject. Here's a tutorial DVD that sets out all the basics of lighting- and more! |
 More often than not, a badly-exposed or flat, grey image recorded to tape will be blamed on the smallness of the camcorder's CCD or even on the poor lighting conditions in which the recording was made. You may have heard fellow camcorder users remark on how the visible picture noise is due to the camcorder's inability to resolve a perfect image in very low lighting conditions, or that the backlight function has resulted in unacceptably bleached-out backgrounds. Many users often overlook the most obvious reason for poorly resolved pictures – lack of illumination on the scene being recorded. The problem is that effective lighting requires a knowledge of how to apply light selectively and creatively to the scene for best effect, and that's where many people fall flat on their faces. Lighting isn't their thing.
Don't worry, help is at hand. You don't need to lay out heaps of cash on a two-day training seminar or buy expensive books – a new DVD, presented by an experienced and widely-credited Lighting Cameraman, will walk you through the process in a relaxed, informative manner to the point where you'll be able to set up a 3-point lighting configuration or light a green-screen set like you've been doing it for years.
Everything you'll need to know about the basics of lighting
In a 37-minute DVD produced and distributed by UK company DVuser, Eric Huyton covers just about everything a beginner will need to know in order to take control of the images recorded in their camcorders. The DVD's presenter begins by explaining the importance of lighting in everything we do with our chosen medium to the point where light itself is the key pictorial force in the creation of any image. So there. What follows is a superbly-structured, written and presented course in the basics of video lighting; grasp them and you'll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with seasoned professionals.
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| Eric stands within the green-screen area to demonstrate how an even spread of light on the backdrop is vital for good chroma-key |
Picture-in-picture techniques are used to demonstrate how lighting for two talking-heads isn't that different to lighting one person |
Content and Presentation
Eric comes out with some fascinating facts. Did you know, for instance, that the human eye resolves an image at an equivalent of 11,000 by 11,000 pixels? That's 120 megapixels compared to the 720 by 576 pixel, 4:3 ratio, PAL video image delivering a mere 0.35 megapixels. And what enables us to properly interpret what our eyes see? Light, pure and simple. The early part of the DVD explains how you should set up your camcorder in such a way as to give you a reliable, consistent image. He shows us how to simply and effectively calibrate a picture using colour bars and a monitor, and then proceeds to demonstrate the manual setting of white balance and exposure –all key elements necessary in order to light effectively and dramatically. The difference between daylight and artificial light is explained, as is the role of gel filters in changing an 800-watt Redhead lamp's 3,200 degrees Kelvin lamp to daylight 5,600 degrees Kelvin. He also demonstrates, very successfully, ways in which you can mix and manipulate light by using filters, barn-doors and flags. What are these? Watch the DVD and find out! In a wonderfully relaxed, yet authoritative, style, he takes us through the uses of hard light and soft light on a (very patient) female studio model's face, and manages to explore some interesting creative lighting possibilities with only a small Dedolight, a 2Kw Blonde and a couple of Redheads.
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| For consistent results, it's important to ensure that a monitor is set up properly. Here, Eric shows how to calibrate a monitor using the camcorder's colour bars |
Dramatic lighting can be achieved with only one or two lamps and reflector material. Even low-cost polystyrene board from a builder's merchant will do the job! |
The classic three-point lighting set-up is effectively demonstrated. Using the industry-standard configuration of Key, Fill and Backlight, Eric illuminates the model to the point where it all looks so easy. The point to be made here is that it is. Not only that, but he then proceeds to demonstrate the ease with which the same number of lamps can actually light two people who might be in an interview or drama dialogue situation. It's easy when you know how. The last major piece of instruction focuses on lighting for chroma-key (in this case, a green screen backdrop to our model) where the electronic keying will be undertaken later in post-production. As Eric demonstrates, it's important to apply an even spread of light to the screen whilst keeping the foreground subject seemingly miles away from the screen. His fascinating demonstration indicates that this is a job he's undertaken many times before.
Conclusion
Whether you're planning a career as a Lighting Cameraman or you're just looking for a bit of expert advice that will help you to spice up your home video movies, Lighting for Digital Video will provide you with an excellent grounding in all the basics that professionals and serious enthusiasts alike take for granted. What Eric Huyton's concise, authoritative yet deceptively relaxed tutorial style manages to get across so well is that all the demonstrated principles are perhaps less daunting than you might have thought. The content, style and pace of this DVD tutorial are exactly right – not only for complete beginners, but also a few so-called professionals too! At the price you can't beat it, so every home should have one. Well recommended.
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| Points for: |
Contains all the basic principles of lighting for video and film. Well structured, well written and presented in a style that won't alienate beginners. Eric Huyton's style is perfect for this DVD. Tutorial lends itself to DVD interactivity. |
| Points against: |
Can't think of anything!
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| Conclusion: |
If you're keen to explore the craft of lighting, even at the basic level, this DVD is the next best thing to a personal tutorial by Mr. Huyton himself. Highly recommended. |
| Rating 1-5: |
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| More Information: |
www.dvuser.co.uk
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