You may think that when you are filming outside, that the natural sunlight will be enough to light your set. The truth of the matter is that natural sunlight is not always enough to make your set shine.
The use of artificial lighting outside is just as important as it is when filming inside. Every scene needs to be correctly illuminated from every angle to create ambiance and enhance the action.
If you are unsure of how best to get your outdoor lighting working well, try these tops tips from the experts at the award-winning Frank Gatto & Associates:
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Work with What You Have
While we agree that you do need extra lighting to enhance your film shoot or live event, you can still find ways to make the natural light work in your favor. The big blazing ball of light in the sky does have its uses when it comes to location shots, and while you cannot control its position or intensity you can move the action down on the ground to make the most of it. Where you stand will affect the way the footage looks, so move into the shadow if the light is too bright or shoot with the sun behind or to the side to create a more dramatic effect.
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Harness the Magic
Every photographer and cameraman worth their salt knows all about specific times of the day when the sun casts a magical light over everything below. The “Golden Hour” as it is known, is a short period of daytime just after sunrise or before sunset, during which the daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky. If you can position the action down below just right, you can create intense lighting effects using nothing more than the sun at its highest point. Be ready, however, with your lighting rigs or stand-alone equipment to continue your filming as the light fades or changes.
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Be Bold
If you are holding an outdoor event during the day, the sunlight will mean that your audience can see the action on stage, but will they be able to “feel” it? Festivals, concerts or sporting events often need much more than just a soft light to be a success. Add colors and strobes that dance to the beat, or pyrotechnics that explode when a goal is scored. All of these effects require the addition of state-of-the-art lighting equipment and a competent team of technicians to make it happen.
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Control the light
Whether you are using portable lighting equipment or relying on the light from the sun, it is important that you are able to control the light and the shadows it casts as much as possible. An experienced outdoor lighting crew will know exactly how and when to use light blockers, flags, reflectors, and bounce boards to control the direction of the light and add ambiance to your set or stage lighting.
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Be prepared
Any changes in the natural light can wreak havoc on your filming schedule. Cloud cover, early sunsets and even changes in atmospheric conditions can all alter the way the light appears on film. To limit time lost to poor lighting conditions have a portable lighting set up with you on the day. Tripod lights, diffusers, and reflectors, as well as a variety of camera lenses, should help to protect you against poor natural lighting conditions.
Whatever you are planning to capture on film or whatever kind of outdoor event you are holding, Frank Gatto & Associates have all the experience you need to ensure that the light is always just right. 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.
