Tag: best lighting

Have Your Own Lighting Equipment? We Can Provide the Crew for You

Posted on by J3551CA

If you are arranging an outdoor event, an awards ceremony or a studio production, you will have your work cut out for you.    Ensuring your lighting kit, audio recording equipment, camera operators and even performers are all working well and in harmony can be a daunting task.

When it comes to illumination, you need lighting that will enhance all of the action on the stage or screen, and no matter how much equipment you may own, getting the lighting design and operation just right is key to the most effective lighting for your production.

Here at Frank Gatto, we can provide you with a first class, highly experienced team of lighting operators and technicians who can make your lighting work for you.  That way, you can concentrate on the rest of the production, knowing that your lighting is always in safe hands.

What Does A Lighting Crew Do?

Our lighting technicians use their skills to prepare, rig, operate and maintain all of the stage and studio lighting and effects you need to make your production the very best.  They will also be able to produce a wide range of lighting effects that are usually seen in live theatre productions and in studio setups, and seamless transitions from one effect to the next.

Our technicians are on hand to assist with every aspect of your lighting requirements and they can work with everything from operating basic spotlighting through to strobes, lasers and even pyrotechnics that meet your exact specification.

Working with You to Achieve Perfection

From the outset, our lighting crew is on hand to assist with every aspect of your production.    They will work closely with the lighting designers, sound technicians, the director, and the stage manager to create a collaborative approach to complete lighting solutions.

By combing their skills with those of the other professionals working at your event, they can create a perfect live event or studio experience.

Comprehensive Lighting Solutions

Our crew will work with you to interpret the lighting designer’s plan and vision.  Once they understand your design goals, they will get to work on the creating the technical plan required to make it happen.

Rigging and lighting will be erected in the appropriate positions to highlight the action for the audience or on screen, and our lighting crew will liaise with performers and other crew to keep them in the loop.

Taking their cues from the producer or stage manager, our crew will program consoles and load automated color change systems in advance of your opening night, so that every lighting effect and transition is completely seamless.

It’s not just the way the lighting looks that is important to your production, you also need to ensure that all of your lighting equipment is safe and well maintained.

Our crews are will check that all your equipment is in safe working order and can help with front-line electrical duties when required. They are also well versed in current health and safety regulations and always work to ensure that the lighting in every production strictly adheres to them.

If you would like to hire our experienced and professional crew to take charge of the lighting at your next event, speak to our team today at (561) 368-0101 to see how we 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.

            

What Are LEDs and Why Do They Last So Long?

Posted on by J3551CA

Advances in modern technology have meant that you can now illuminate your home, venue or other area with low-energy, cost-effective, long-lasting light sources that offer the same amount of light as traditional light bulbs, without the heat and expense.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes) use very little energy and last a really long time.  Unlike energy saving light bulbs, they light up instantly and do not take time to reach the desired brightness, making them the perfect choice for venues or events looking for full illumination at a fraction of the cost.

These types of modern LEDs produce light in a totally different way to how old-fashioned incandescent bulbs do.  With incandescent light bulbs, the electricity is passed through a thin wire filament, With LED light bulbs, the light is produced with the use of a semiconductor that emits light energy when the electrical current is passed through it.

While it is true that LEDs can be more expensive to purchase initially, the low energy output and long shelf life make them an excellent investment for anyone looking to maximize their lighting abilities, either in the home or within a professional environment.

How Do LEDs Last So Long?

Because LEDs are as much as 90% more effective than incandescent light bulbs, they have a much longer lifespan. This is because they have no working parts that will burn out or break over time.

An average LED light is a very robust piece of kit.  They are solid-state devices with no glass to break, nothing to wear out and they are not made from fragile glass that is likely to break.  In turn, this means that they will last a whole lot longer than regular light bulbs.

For the technically minded, the way they produce light is a crucial element of their longevity.  Because they are made of substrate semiconductor materials and have two specific two doped regions, P – positive and N – negative. When current passes through the PN junction it causes electrons to jump to higher atomic energy states. When the electrons return to the ground state, light in the form of photons is emitted. This phenomenon is called electroluminescence and it consumes very little energy since very little heat is generated.

How Long Should an LED Light Bulb Last For?

Well, if it has no way of burning out or becoming damaged, technically it should last forever?  If you invest in LED lights for your home, it may well be the last time you have to purchase light bulbs for a very long time indeed.

LEDs are touted to have a 50,000-hour average life. This is a massive increase in lifespan when you consider that the average life of a halogen 50-watt bulb is only between 1,000 and 2,000 hours.

How the LED is fitted and how long it is used for will obviously affect the real-world efficiency of your light source.  For example, an office that is lit for 10 hours a day using an LED light source should only have to replace the LEDs every 8-9 years.  A homeowner with LED lights in the living room, where lights are only one for a few hours a day, may not need to replace them for almost 20 years!

Frank Gatto LED Stage Lighting Solutions

LED lighting has completely transformed the way in which are able to illuminate studio sets, outdoor broadcasts and large events and occasions.  Our state-of-the-art LED lighting solutions provide high output, flicker-free, single-source lighting that runs cool with low current draw, saving up to 90% in energy costs while still providing the best-looking lighting for every event.

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.

            

Show Your Best Side – Why Lighting Matters On Camera

Posted on by J3551CA

The correct lighting is essential for producing first class, highly usable footage.  Whether you are making a movie or recording a live event, the lighting that you use makes all the difference. It enhances the way the performance looks and the way it makes the audience feel.  It can create the illusion of depth by using a combination of highlights and shadows,  that help the viewer to really capture the essence of the footage, as well as giving them the best seats in the house.

Specially designed lighting will ensure that you have the right level of exposure throughout and will ensure that your audience is able to see everything that is unfolding before their eyes.  Outdoor events, as well as indoor lighting, can all be dramatically enhanced to give maximum impact when you use the services of a qualified lighting specialist on set.

Lighting is not only useful for ensuring that every aspect of the production is easy to see, a professional lighting expert can also use tricks and illusions to create mood and feeling.  Using the right combination of light placement and “hard” or “soft” light sources, a lighting director will be able to unsettle the audience for dramatic moments or lift the mood with glorious onscreen images.  “Hard” lighting creates sharp and distinctive shadows to accentuate tension and drama, while “soft” lighting adds warmth and ambiance.

Good Lighting Is The Key To Successful Video Footage

Carefully crafted lighting will increase the sharpness of the action and be the difference between a good video, and one that looks really poor quality on screen.

Badly lit footage will also need far more work in the editing suite.  Footage that is too dark will need to be re-shot, adding extra time and expense to your schedule, and in some cases, can even mean missing out on parts of the action.  Using the wrong lighting can lead to unnecessary costs and a longer production time, which could have been prevented.

The lighting design helps to set the mood for any movie scene or television pieces,  as it conveys the plot and creates the right atmosphere. The key to using the right lighting is to enhance and engage with the basic concepts of the “Three Point Lighting” system. This system consists of three different lights, which are placed in front and behind the object to ensure maximum exposure.

The Key Light is placed next to the camera and shines directly onto the object.

The Fill Light is opposite the Key Light and is used to fill in shadows and leaving the object well lit.

The Back Light is placed behind the object and gives it more depth.

This is the standard method of lighting that is used in all kinds of productions, from small-scale videos to live events that are watched all around the world. Once you have the mastered the basics, there are many more ways to enhance the look of on-screen action to capture the most perfect cinematic moments.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have over 30 years experience of designing the ultimate lighting configuration to enhance every type of TV or movie shot.  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.

            

LED Lighting Vs Conventional Lighting

Posted on by J3551CA

Advances in lighting technology mean that there are more interior and exterior lighting options available in than ever before.  While many of us still use traditional lights, the switch over to LED lighting in both residential and commercial settings is gaining momentum.

Initially LED light sources were expensive and considered a phase, but as prices have leveled and the benefits of LED lighting are becoming better appreciated, the tide is slowly turning away from traditional light sources.

As a specialist provider of lighting solutions to some of the best-known names in American television, we really know our stuff when it comes to light sources.  If you are thinking about changing any of your existing lights to LED lights, here are some things you should consider.

COST

Pro’s – LEDs may be more expensive to purchase initially, but they will last far longer than other types of light.  In fact, some LED light bulbs can offer a lifespan of as long 60,000+ hours, compared to only 1,000 hours with incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.  

Con’s – They are definitely more expensive the purchase from the outset.  If you have to replace a lot of bulbs all at once, you may not be willing or able to pay large sums purely for light bulbs.

EFFICIENCY

Pro’s – LEDs are probably the most efficient type of lighting on the market today.  Typical source efficiency ranges between 37 and 120 lumens/watt, whereas most values for LED system efficiency fall above 50 lumens/watt.

Con’s – You may need very bright illumination that would be better served using traditional bulbs, in which case LED may not produce the amount of light you require.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Pro’s – LED lights contain virtually no toxic chemicals and are free from mercury.  This makes them incredibly environmentally friendly and 100% recyclable.  Using LED lights can help to reduce your carbon footprint by up to a third.

Con’s –  Cool white LED lights emit much more blue light than conventional light sources, especially in outside lighting.  This means that they can cause far more light pollution than other sources like traditional high-pressure sodium lamps.  It is therefore important that LED lights are well shielded when used outdoors.

DURABLE QUALITY

Pro’s – Because LED lights do not contain moving parts, they are far more durable and better suited to outdoor, or hard to reach environments.  They can take a fair bit of banging about before they fail.

Con’s – If you are looking to use lighting outside, be aware that LED performance largely depends on the ambient temperature of the operating environment. Too hot or too cold and the unit may fail.

LIGHT QUALITY

Pro’s – LED lights produce a pretty good spectrum of lights and are available in a wide variety of colors, making them a good choice for many domestic and commercial applications.

Con’s – If you are looking for professional grade lighting, with a particular requirement for high-quality rendering, LED lights can render badly using cool-white LED’s.

Overall, the move towards LED lighting is gaining momentum, with many users beginning to see the value in paying more for bulbs, that will effectively last longer and save them money over time.

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.