Category: sports lighting

TV Sports Lighting Experts

Posted on by J3551CA

The lighting and special effects that the correct illumination can create looks effortless when it’s executed properly, particularly in TV sports broadcasts. The result can be stunning and contribute to the entertainment factor. Lighting for sporting events is also immensely complicated and complex, requiring the services of professionals of the caliber available at Frank Gatto Lighting.

Lighting at sporting events must provide the right amount of illumination for athletes on the field or drivers on a race track, along with the fans in the stands. The lighting arrays must provide illumination that’s uniform in all areas of the field or track without any dark spots or shadows that will interrupt the action. Dark spots and shadows will affect the performance of the athletes.

The angle and height level of the lights are just as important as the brightness factor. Individual beams or banks of lights can distract or even blind athletes at a critical moment. It requires extensive knowledge of the type of lights being utilized, the requirements of the area to be illuminated, and a high-level of experience in the industry to provide the best range.

Sporting events don’t always occur under optimal conditions and temperatures can adversely affect the type of lights being used. Traditional arrays required significant warm up times and were extremely sensitive to temperature changes. If one light went out, an entire bank could also be affected. Lighting masters know the value of LED lighting to combat those problems and provide a more economical solution.

There are dozens of techniques and possible solutions for illuminating any sports venue and Frank Gatto Lighting is the creator of new groundbreaking LED lighting techniques that are now being used in TV sports coverage around the globe. Illuminating sporting events for TV is complex and it’s a specialty in which the company excels.

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.

      

What it Takes to Light up a Stadium

Posted on by J3551CA

Illuminating a stadium is no easy task and lighting will depend on whether the event takes place during the daylight or nighttime hours. Around the world, those attending activities ranging from concerts to premiere sporting events are seeing a change from the HID lights that have been used for decades to the new, eco-friendly LED light technology that provides an enhanced experience for fans.

Metal Halide

Metal halide lights are a form of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. For years, metal halide lamps were standard fixtures in stadiums. It’s the type that was used during the Super Bowl Sunday blackout of 2013 that suspended play for over 30 minutes.

The drawback to the light source is that they require a warm-up time that can take 30 minutes. They provide a bright, white light that’s desirable for illumination, but they have a relatively short life span.

Metal halide also has a long cool down time if bulbs have to be changed. When a bulb malfunctions, all the lights automatically go off. Color distortions are also a problem as the bulbs age. HIDs generate UV rays, contain mercury, and they’re expensive to operate.

LED Lights

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produce the bright, white light required for illuminating large venues at a fraction of the cost of HIDs. The cost savings was the motivating factor for many stadiums to convert to LEDs. They produce light by moving electrons around in a semiconducting material rather than the filament in HIDs.

They have a much longer lifespan than other types of lighting and are ready instantly when illumination is needed. If an LED malfunctions, it doesn’t affect the rest of the bulbs. The bulbs are also less likely to be damaged should they be bumped or jostled. They contain no mercury or similar materials and can be recycled.

Light shows are just one of the benefits that LED lights provide, along with enhanced visibility for those on the field. LEDs can produce multiple colors without the use of expensive filters. A bank of LEDs is much lighter in weight, easier to set up, and can be combined with control boards to produce a wide array of effects at a moment’s notice, making them extremely versatile and beneficial for stadium usage.

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.

            

Lighting Production Success from Coast to Coast

Posted on by J3551CA

One of the keys to successfully illuminating any venue is having the equipment needed ready to go and use upon arrival at the destination. To accomplish that, lighting directors need equipment that’s ready to travel. It needs to be compact, lightweight, durable and adjustable to meet the variety of requirements that may be encountered.

Every lighting director has their favorite equipment, so there’s no one-size-fits-all go-bag. Each project will have specific requirements dependent upon variables such as the locale and budget, whether it’s a documentary in the desert or a newsfeed from a mountaintop. Each illumination expert needs to experiment and assemble a kit that works best for them, but there are a few things that will be on the list of must-have items.

One of the greatest innovations for modern lighting is LED lights. They require considerably less space and emit more illumination with less equipment. They’re more economical to operate and lightweight, enabling them to be moved and positioned in less time and with fewer people.

Air travel isn’t cheap. Add to that the cost of transporting production equipment and the cost can quickly skyrocket. The gear that’s taken will need to be easily maneuverable so it won’t cost a fortune to move. Above all, ensure it’s packed safely and securely. Smart lighting specialists travel light, but take everything they think they might need for multiple contingencies.

The crew responsible for operating all the equipment is equally important. It makes the entire process go quicker and smoother if it’s people that the illumination master has worked with before. It’s even better if they’ve worked in the types of conditions in which shooting will be conducted. They’ll know what to expect and have workarounds if needed to alleviate any difficulties that arise.

Production success is dependent upon the lighting director being able to plan ahead and utilize equipment that meets the greatest variety of needs in multiple conditions. It needs to be light, portable and utilize modern methods for savings and ease of use.

If you have the need for lighting equipment and design far away from home base, Frank Gatto and Associates can help.

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.

            

Different Avenues for Lighting Design

Posted on by J3551CA

Anywhere an event is taking place, there’s an opportunity for a lighting design expert. Many individuals obtain their education in lighting design with the goal of working on blockbuster movies, only to find themselves following completely different avenues that are equally fulfilling and allows them to use their creative talents in unique ways.

One of the most obvious venues for lighting design is TV, movies and the theatre. Actors to newscasters always look bright and brilliant on the screen. That flawless appearance is partly makeup artists and the rest is due to the skills of lighting design professionals.

Illumination specialists understand the unique placement of lights to highlight subjects and the type of lighting required to eliminate harsh shadows. They also provide professional lighting design for commercials, infomercials, documentaries and music videos.

Concerts and sporting events offer a multitude of opportunities for lighting designers and they can find themselves working in locations around the world. Sports and concerts each have their own particular range of challenges. Concerts and some sports take place during nighttime hours and people that can illuminate those events properly are in high demand.

The corporate, political and religious arenas often overlap and lighting designers are needed for them all. Designers provide illumination for events that include political debates and state events, along with televised religious services, large corporate gatherings, webinars, seminars and conventions.

As brides demand more elaborate weddings, there’s an increasing demand for lighting designers that can create a cinema-like experience. Couples are even requesting that the experience of having their wedding photos taken be filmed for posterity.

Amusement parks, museums, planetariums and other entertainments are an often overlooked opportunity for lighting designers. Illumination is a key ingredient for setting mood and ambiance, whether it’s lighting for simulators, specialty rides or highlighting unique exhibits.

There’s a myriad of avenues for professionals skilled in lighting design, many of which often go overlooked when individuals first begin their careers. Those that revel in the interplay of light and shadow can paint their own story anywhere in the world.

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.

            

Spotlight on Outdoor Lighting

Posted on by J3551CA

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we are often called upon to light up outdoor filming, concerts and sporting events to make sure that they look absolutely awesome at all times. 

With over 30 years’ experience in the lighting industry, we know tons of stuff about how best to light up an outdoor scene, but in this week’s blog, we thought we would share some of the basics with you.

Sunlight is the best light

Sunlight is the most beautiful light on earth, and if you can harness its beauty to its full potential you won’t need any other light to make your production look ace.  But to ensure that you get the most from that big ball in the sun you need to be able to control where or when it will shine, and how it will affect the overall look of your production. 

Understanding the Principles of Outdoor Light

At its brightest, the sun can shed more than 10 times the light of one typical indoor instrument. The downside to this is that when it shines brightly, it also casts very dark shadows.  The difference between these light and dark areas is commonly called the contrast ratio, or contrast range.   Our eyes can compensate for the high contrast range of a bright day, but cameras often don’t cope so well and need a much lower range to be able to capture detail accurately.

The goal of outdoor lighting design is to lower the contrast range without damag­ing the natural look of the subjects and the outdoor setting. As we already mentioned, the very best outdoor light source is the sun, but the light it gives off needs to be diffused or redirected to point the light in the right direction and alter the way in which it illuminates the subject.

Reflect the Light

Learning to use reflectors is easy as light bounces in predictable angles, meaning you can move reflectors around to help redirect the light.  When you are working outside, portable, lightweight, collapsible reflectors are available in a range of sizes and colors that will reflect the sunlight back upon the subject and reduce the shadow.

Reflectors only really vary in terms of their size, how much area their reflection covers and the color of the light they reflect.  All of this will be determined by the size and style of the reflector. Mirrored surfaces reflect the most light over a small area, while white surfaces usually cover larger areas, but with less light. Some reflectors have a gold foil sur­face that is used to bounce the light with a warm, rich quality that really flatters skin tones, making these a favorite with actors on location.

Diffuse The light

Diffusers are used to filter beams of sunlight and just like reflectors they are easy to use to help harness the light from the sun. Diffusing sunlight is an effective technique that removes shadows and reducing contrast. It does an excellent job of brightening dark areas while retaining much of the outline and contour.

A diffuser can be made from a wide variety of materials, but it is the porosity of the same that determines how much light passes through.  The diffuser will need to be suspended or positioned between the subject and the sun, and its positioning will dictate how the shadows fall and where.

Outdoor and Location Lighting from Frank Gatto & Associates

If you have outdoor lighting requirements, we are on hand to offer professional, practical and awesome lighting wherever you need it.  Call us today at (561) 368-0101 to find out more about our first-class lighting solutions.

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.

            

Frank Gatto – A Reputation for Excellence

Posted on by J3551CA

When you are planning your next awesome event, stage show or studio production, you need to be sure that only the best professionals are working on your team.  When it comes to your lighting, Frank Gatto and his crew have a reputation for excellence that is virtually unsurpassed.

With over 30 year’s experience of designing television and special event lighting, Frank Gatto & Associates have worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including HBO, ABC, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Telemundo and Univision. From sports telecasts, to live shows and everything in between, the expertise and skill of Frank and his team can be seen on the set of College Gameday, NFL Countdown, World Series, Ultimate Fighting Championships and many more.

Offering the highest quality of service in the lighting industry, the team at Frank Gatto & Associates have worked nationwide and even internationally to provide lighting for large scale events.  They also regularly undertake work close to their base in Miami and are the #1 choice for lighting events in the Caribbean and into South America.

Excellence Across All Disciplines

While Frank Gatto may be a big name in the lighting world, he ensures that everyone who works for and with him is versed in the same high standards of service as he is. From Lighting Directors to stagehands, every member of the team at are seasoned professionals, who can transform any kind of event or production using seamless, professional lighting techniques.

With so many years of experience, they understand the importance of effective lighting for every kind of event, and they only use the very best lighting equipment to ensure complete success every time. As a team, they have been on hand to provide award-winning lighting in a wide variety of venues and locations including Madison Square Gardens, the Home Depot Center, Staples Center and large Sports Arenas.  They have also worked in a plethora of smaller venues including Convention Centers and Theaters, to ensure that every event is perfectly illuminated, regardless of its grandeur.

Bringing Lighting Excellence Direct to You

Being able to travel to your location or venue adds an extra dimension to the services they offer.  Their tractor trailers are able to bring their first-class lighting rigs from the east coast to the west coast of the U.S. and Canada and are all fully equipped with the most up to date lighting equipment required to make your production a success.

The crew will transport everything you need and ensure it is set-up on time and in full working order, in readiness for your event.  This hassle-free turnkey lighting service is tailor-made to suit your requirements.

Leading the way in lighting

Because lighting is their life, Frank and his team only work with the very best lighting equipment on the market.  Their ability to provide and operate cutting edge LED lighting technology makes them a leader in the televised sports lighting arena.

Choose Frank Gatto & Associates for All Your Lighting Needs

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we can offer free lighting evaluations for your production. We are also available for consultation on lighting jobs as well as lighting sets still in the planning and pre-production stages. Call 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.