I really like the contrast in this photo.  The details in his face are really nice as well.  It looks like the light is only coming from one source on the left side and you can see some really small catch lights in his eyes.  Images with low lighting like this one are definitely my favorite.

Your work on the web

Here's a link to the short film Wade made using your lighting! Please hit the funny meter if you like it.
Thanks!
heidi

Isaac Calvage

This is one of my favorite pictures that I have taken, and oddly enough it was for another lighting class assignment.   I am really a big fan of low-key lighting and I thought this was my opportunity to use it effectively.  I like the way the light outside the window casts the venetian blind shadow on the main subject in the picture.  The way that he is holding the bat, creates a sense of danger, because it leads the viewer to believe that someone is in the house with him.  I believe an Arri 650 was used outside the window to cast those pretty shadows.  I also love the way the villain in the frame is portrayed.  While you cant see the face of the person, you can see clearly that someone else is standing menacingly in the background.  A smaller Arri (most likely a 350) was used to cast that shadow.  The point of the picture is to give the viewer an uncomfortable feeling, because we know something the character does not, and the use of shadows to paint the scene. 

Amanda's favorite photo

I love this photo for many reasons. Each time I look at it another element strikes me. The composition is strong; the natural shape of the girl is balanced by the stern lines of the window. She is silhouetted, giving her an element of mystery. However the red of her skirt is complemented by the red of the curtains. The main source of light comes from the window behind her. It's a dreary day out, providing cool blue light that barely touches her arms and hair. It's not immediately evident but she's sitting in front of a graveyard. Once you notice this, you wonder why she is there in the first place: is she mourning, is she laughing, does she just happen to be in a place where a graveyard is nearby? The somber light and heavy silhouette is parodied by those cheerful Christmas lights all around her. This photo jerks my emotions around; I'm not sure if I should feel sad or lighthearted. Yet I like being unsure of how I feel; the photo has more impact that way.

Shot by Anthony Siciliano

Close Up

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3918923723_c4c693aa2e.jpg

I found this image through google search.  The image stood out to me as a good example of close up photography because of the tightly cropped frame around the violin strings, and the detail shown in the strings and woodwork.  I also liked the simplicity of the orange and brown tones in the photo.  I think the slow shutter speed used is the most effective in the photo and gives the viewer the feeling of music being played.  The soft side lighting further enhances the warm earth tones of the photograph.

Exteriors and hands on

Last week everyone went out and shot, and lit. It's always challenging when you first try to figure out how to light something, and truly, the only way to learn is just do it over and over until it no longer feels so alien.

Scott Long

This image is a favorite for me because I took it about a year ago and it was a real learning experience with lighting.  I had never really experimented with controlling light before this.  All I had to work with was an ugly pink and purple table lamp a roommate left behind.  I took the shade off and squeezed it between my desk and guitar amp so I could wedge black matting board between the wall and the desk, stuffing my black guitar bag in as well to keep the flimsy board elevated and in place.  It was a real challenge for me to get the right glow in the bottle, the highlight on the label AND backlight the smoke.  I must have gone through 3 cigarettes before I got the right shot.  Shooting smoke was an experience in itself.  I had to crouch and wait. The bottle was on my 16-inch-tall guitar amp and i needed to be at a low angle to hit the bottle square to keep the label in focus right, catch the smoke as it passed the light I had cut down to prevent glare on the poster and  still provide back/sidelight from the limitedly manipulable cast resin table lamp, and with a bare bulb the light went everywhere.  I fiddled, cursed, crouched, smoked, and shot from every angle i could without getting my jerry-rigged gear in the frame, but i finally came out with an image that closely matched the one in my head from a few days ago, at least close enough to satisfy me; I'm sure my mental picture changed as I worked with the setup...maybe.  In any event, I learned a good deal about lighting by forcing myself to recreate an idea instead of just seeing what might pop out if I grabbed a camera and some liquor.  The magnificent selection of equipment I had helped a little to.

Thursday morning could change your life.

Thursday, you can impact your future in SC.

Meet at the Gressette Building, Room 407, at 9am (or Starbucks on Gervais at 8:15 if you want to go with a group). This is our FINAL OPPORTUNITY to address the Senate Film Incentives Study Committee. This committee will help decide if the film incentives will be used to lure film BACK to South Carolina, and keep Army Wives working in Charleston.

There are people lobbying against using the incentive money in a proven way to lure film, and that is why you have not seen many films come through lately.

I have attended one of these meetings in the past and learned more than any class ever taught me about the political process and how my voice impact what happens in my state.

Please attend with me. I will not judge your position on how the incentive money should be used (or not used), but I would like to see you participate in the conversation. Feel free to call me with any questions prior to Thursday morning.

Midterm! and blog assignment.

Next week is our midterm.

Please bring your books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The first half of the midterm is open book.
You probably want to have done your reading and be familiar with the material.

ALSO, as I mentioned last week, the second part of your midterm is collecting photos. You can take or find these photos. For this assignment, I want to see at least five great examples.

What you turn in should not require a computer to view.

I will return it to you.

The idea is to begin a collection of images and textures that inspire your creativity.

Begin a notebook or file for the photos. Each photo should include a short write up about what you like about it, or what strikes you, in terms of lighting and composition. At least three images write ups must specifically discuss lighting.

Some things you might look for:
golden hour lighting
foreground interest
long lens shots
wide lens shots
interesting close ups
shadows
silhouettes
background textures
highlight/shadow - chiaroscuro
mis en scene - action within the frame
lighting that draws the eye to something in the frame

Turn in your notebook/folder the Wednesday following Spring Break.

You will post your favorite lighting image, and it's description, on the class blog as a separate assignment. You must have rights to the posted image, or give proper credit for it.

This additional blog assignment is due March 25th.

Guest Instructors

It's been terrific to have Rick Kelly join us the past few weeks. He's shared his grip and electric truck - and this lunchbox I'm holding (remember, edison and bates), as well as his expertise on subjects such as leveling dolly track. Thanks Rick!



Photos compliments of Van Kornegay and his useful iphone.

We can't say thank you enough to George Fulton (of Fulton Photo Imagery) for allowing us use of his studio, and Wade Sellers (Coal Powered Filmworks) for giving us a chance to work on his projects.

Tools in Action

My favorite part of the class where we built our own lights was watching people's expressions when the lights actually WORKED! All of them worked, too, which must mean we have a far better than average class.


Chopping wood:

Stripping wires:

Organized chaos:

Special thanks to the guys at ACS Sound and Lighting for giving us a hand and letting us use the shop.

Isaac Calvage Assignment 1

Lauren Ellis- Assignment 1

SCOTT LONG

Cate McGraw Assignment #1