Category: LED Lighting

Hiring the Right Lighting Designer

Posted on by J3551CA

Lighting is an essential element for videographers at weddings to sporting events for broadcast networks. It’s an art and a highly specialized field that requires extensive knowledge of how light works in different environments to the properties of the film being used. Hiring the right lighting director requires some research.

It may seem like a minor consideration, but choosing a lighting director familiar with LED lighting systems should be a priority. LED lighting is brighter, yet offers a softer illumination that will enhance the appearance of the subjects. Another benefit is that LED lights don’t produce as much heat as old-fashioned methods so people stay more comfortable and LED lights use less power, making them environmentally friendly.

A lighting professional will have the equipment needed to reflect light into dimly lit areas for a uniform appearance that prevents unwanted shadows and dark spots. The right illumination is essential for filming and it also ensures that still photos are perfect memory-makers or appropriate for promotional purposes.

A lighting designer shouldn’t be confused with the services of other electrical professionals. A lighting designer views environments with the eye of an artist and combines that with a variety of technical skills in multiple disciplines. They can provide spotlighting, colored illumination, strobes, lasers, and can time illumination to music and other cues. Lighting designers set moods, establish ambiance, and direct the focus of audiences or attendees.

The value, experience and knowledge the right lighting designer brings to any project will make the difference between a ho-hum event and one that’s an unmitigated success. A lighting designer understands the unique interplay of illumination in different environments and is experienced in lighting and filming techniques for occasions ranging from corporate events and professional films to sporting events and red carpet galas.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Color LEDs vs. Gel Filters

Posted on by J3551CA

The award-winning firm of Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. has created innovations that have changed the way lighting is installed and used in arenas ranging from TV and movies to sports events and weddings. One of the biggest differences was the use of colored LED lights instead of traditional gel filters that were used for decades.

From the time of Shakespeare, filters have been used to set the tone or establish ambiance in a production. Those early lighting technicians used whatever was at hand, shining light through a glass of red wine or inserting silk material in front of the illumination source.

In modern times, gel filters were typically used. The thin sheets of heat-resistant material were simply placed in front of a lighting fixture to achieve a specific effect or color correct in specific environments. One of the major drawbacks to gel filters is that they have a short life and can represent a significant production cost when they need to be replaced.

Newer types of materials were developed that were less expensive to make, but still had limited life spans and had to be replaced with regularity. Another problem was that the colors varied substantially depending upon the manufacturer.

Frank Gatto is a pioneer in the use of LED lighting across multiple venues. LED lighting offers enormous savings and they use less power making them eco-friendly. The lights require far less maintenance, they provide better color consistency and facilitate better color rendering even in slow motion filming. LED illumination is more flexible and versatile than traditional forms.

LED lighting emits little heat compared to other types of lighting, which makes them much more comfortable for anyone that must work under them for long periods of time. They’re equally applicable for studio lighting, on film sets, and can be used for shooting in outdoor environments.

Less space is required when transporting the lights and they’re just as effective at establishing mood and ambiance. They can be combined efficiently with Fresnel lenses to highlight or scoops to reflect and have the same ability to diffuse light as old-fashioned lighting techniques.

The work done by Frank Gatto has revolutionized the way lighting is used. His techniques are utilized on TV and movie sets, for exclusive sporting events, corporate activities, award ceremonies, political debates and even weddings. LED lighting provides high-definition quality illumination for any event that’s cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

7 Reasons To Love LED Film Lighting

Posted on by J3551CA

LED lights are becoming increasingly popular within the film industry, and their ease of use, affordability and availability mean that this trend is set to continue for many years to come.

LED lights have many benefits over and above the usual traditional incandescent, fluorescent and halogen options, and as specialists in providing first-class lighting services in Florida, we are fully aware of just how useful LEDs can be.

Here are just 7 reasons why we love using LED’s to offer our clients awesome lighting solutions.

  1. They are super energy efficient

LED lights use about 50 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent, fluorescent and halogen bulbs do.  This, in turn, makes them far more energy efficient, and cheaper to run.  LEDs also aim light in a specific direction unlike conventional bulbs, which emit light in all directions.  This unique capability to direct light in one direction helps to also reduce the risk of wasted light and energy.  This directional lighting capability reduces wasted light and energy.

  1. They last way longer

LEDs don’t “burn out” or fail like incandescent bulbs do. Instead, they start to dim over time. Quality LEDs have an expected lifespan of 30,000–50,000 hours or even longer, depending on the quality of the lamp or fixture, whereas a typical incandescent bulb lasts only about 1,000 hours.  A longer life means less need to replace them, saving you both time and money in the long run.

  1. They keep their cool

With less than 10 percent of the power used by incandescent lamps being converted to visible light, the leftover energy makes them very hot to use and touch. Such excessive heat and ultraviolet radiation (UV) presents a burn hazard to people and materials, especially on hot, close-knit film sets and in studio.  LEDs emit virtually no IR or UV meaning that they remain cool and present virtually no risk of overheating.

  1. They offer instant light

Many traditional light sources can take up to 3 minutes to provide full brightness.  LED lights, however, come on at 100-percent brightness almost instantly, meaning you can get filming right away without having to wait.  This also makes them an excellent choice for large sets or spaces, like sports fields, that need to flood with light very quickly.

  1. They are really tough

Because there are no filaments or glass enclosure to worry about, LED lights are resistant to breakages and mostly immune to vibrations, falls and other impacts.  Because they are mounted on a circuit board and connected with soldered leads, they are not completely unbreakable, but they certainly are a whole lot tougher than regular light bulbs are.

  1. They can be easily controlled

Some lighting systems are really difficult to control.  LEDs, however, can act as semiconductor devices making them incredibly easy to control. Some LEDs can even be dimmed to 10 percent of light output while most fluorescent lights only reach about 30 percent of full brightness. LEDs also offer continuous, opposed to step-level, dimming (where the shift from the 100-to-10-percent light output is smooth and seamless, not tiered).

  1. They offer amazing color capabilities

Modern LED lights can offer beautiful variations in color and brightness that can completely change the way your audience see the subject.  Choose from extra warm white 2700K, warm white 3000K or cool white 4000K for subtle differences in standard white light, and just about a gazillion different colors if you need something different.

LED Lighting from Frank Gatto & Sons

We offer amazing film and TV lighting solutions across Florida and beyond.  Speak to us today at (561) 368-0101 to find out more.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.