Tag: professional lighting experts

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.

      

Common On-Camera Lighting Mistakes

Posted on by J3551CA

There are no do-overs in live broadcasts making proper illumination critical. It enables audiences to see the action and is used to focus attention. It also enhances the mood. Illumination quality is important for a variety of factors ranging from the type of camera being utilized to the intensity of the image being broadcast.

Appropriate on-camera illumination is an art form that requires extensive education and can require years to master. Lighting is an element that’s always present in broadcasts. The trick is to create illumination set-ups that are “invisible” to viewers.

Under Lighting

Insufficient lighting is the most common problem seen in on-camera broadcasts. Typically a mistake made by the inexperienced, it occurs when a light meter isn’t utilized. The problem is that cameras don’t “see” light the same way as the human eye. Trying to correct for insufficient light with the camera increases the noise and graininess of the images and affects the focus.

Harsh Light

Also known as hard light, many novices confuse harsh with bright. Hard light casts unwanted shadows and will make the entire broadcast appear like an amateur production. Bright lighting can be achieved with softer lighting that also works to make subjects look friendlier and approachable. It’s infinitely more flattering to subjects.

Flat Image

A flat image occurs when there’s not enough demarcation between the background and foreground. It’s a snafu that can be extremely difficult for beginners to discern and happens when the subject is too close to the background and there’s no sense of depth. Viewers don’t know where to focus their attention. It can be remedied in a variety of ways using light, color and distance.

Light Temperatures

Balancing warm and cold illumination is important and desirable, but not when it’s casting harsh shadows on one side of the subject. The balancing act is especially difficult in live shots that are taken near windows with sunlight. Viewers will be able to tell there’s something “off,” even if they’re not able to tell exactly why.

Know the Basics

Individuals can alleviate the most common on-camera lighting problems by thoroughly understanding the basics, using a good light meter and practice. Lighting difficulties can be easy to rectify by recognizing their potential before they occur. “Mistakes” can also be used to create special effects for certain types of productions. Practice makes perfect.

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.

            

Why Lighting Attracts Bugs

Posted on by J3551CA

Whether it’s a campfire or a JumboTron, light sources attract insects. Traditional incandescent bulbs emit light in the color spectrum that’s particularly attractive to bugs. Bulbs that produce a yellow or orange-colored hue are less attractive to insects and it’s the primary reason that yellow “bug lights” were created.

Navigational Aid

The question of why insects are drawn to light sources is multi-faceted. Bugs use light to navigate their surroundings whether they’re apparent during the day or only come out at night. Nocturnal insects use any available light source as a navigational beacon. The larger the illumination source, the more forcefully they’re drawn to it.

Insects that are attracted to light are known as positively phototactic, a term used to describe bugs that are drawn to light. Insects navigate by keeping the moon or sun on a constant angle in relation to themselves. When confronted with the bright lights used by humans that emit in all directions, it confuses them and interferes with their inborn navigational abilities.

Food and Mates

Additionally, many insects utilize certain types of plants, along with evening-blooming flowers, as part of mating rituals and a food source. Many of those plants reflect a small amount of UV rays and traditional lights also emit small amounts of ultraviolet light, which further leads to the attraction.

Bright Solutions

Any light source will attract bugs, but switching to LED lights is one remedy that’s been successfully utilized in-home lighting arrangements. LEDs emit light in the yellow/orange spectrum that’s less attractive to the unwanted pests. The light difference is generally invisible to the average eye, since humans aren’t equipped to see in the same wavelengths and frequencies.

The downside to traditional bug lights is that they tend to attract insects that are larger. LEDs with a yellow hue are far better at not attracting insects than any other, though if individuals haven’t switched to a more energy-efficient LED, a yellow bug light is the second-best option. The yellow color in LEDs isn’t noticeable to humans, but makes a difference to bugs.

LED lights are eco-friendly, less expensive to operate, and emit illumination in the spectrum that’s least attractive to insects. That means fewer bugs at any gathering and more enjoyment for everyone involved.

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.

            

How Lighting can Affect Colors Seen on TV

Posted on by J3551CA

We’ve all experienced watching a TV broadcast where the colors didn’t seem right. Maybe the hues were off, the images looked washed out, or shadows dominated the screen, leaving viewers questioning if it was time to replace their television. More often than not, the issue isn’t the TV itself but the lighting setup used during the broadcast. The problem can originate from various factors, such as the studio’s lighting arrangement, the camera technology, or even the lighting conditions in our homes. In some cases, curved screens can also distort the light in brightly lit environments, adding to the visual confusion.

How Lighting Affects TV Broadcast Quality

The quality of a television broadcast depends on several key factors, and lighting plays a critical role in reproducing images and colors on the screen. When lighting is not managed properly, it leads to color distortions that can make the viewing experience less enjoyable and visually off-putting. Let’s explore some of the core reasons why lighting plays such a significant role in broadcast quality.

1. Studio Lighting: The Core of the Issue

When the lighting problem originates in the studio, viewers can do little to fix it. In these cases, the issue stems from how lighting is set up to interact with the cameras used to capture the images. Broadcast studios rely on a highly controlled lighting environment to create the best possible picture quality. If the lighting is poorly positioned, unfocused, or the wrong type is used, it will directly affect how colors appear to audiences at home.

One common issue is the type of illumination being used in the studio. Different lights emit varying qualities of light, which can cause the camera to capture colors inaccurately. For instance, specific lighting setups may not highlight details or tones accurately, leading to unnatural skin tones, incorrect hues, or even dullness in the overall picture. This problem can be exacerbated if the filters applied to the studio lights are not suited for the job.

Lighting professionals need to be precise about where they place lights, what type of illumination they choose, and how they focus them to ensure the cameras capture the images as realistically as possible. Inadequate lighting or mismanagement of the lighting setup can lead to visual inconsistencies that ultimately affect the viewing experience.

2. Brightness and Color Accuracy

Another important aspect of lighting that affects TV broadcasts is brightness. The amount of light emitted in a studio setting can drastically alter the appearance of colors on screen. Too much illumination, for example, will create a washed-out effect, making images appear dull and devoid of rich contrast. This is why broadcasts shot under excessively bright lighting often look flat or lack the depth and vibrancy viewers expect.

On the other hand, too little light can result in unwanted shadows that obscure details and make it difficult for cameras to capture true-to-life colors. Insufficient lighting can also cause colors to appear darker or more muted than they should be. Striking the right balance in brightness is essential for producing a high-quality broadcast that accurately reflects the subject matter’s color and form.

3. The Role of Cameras in Color Reproduction

While lighting plays a foundational role in determining the quality of a broadcast, cameras also significantly impact how colors appear. Not all cameras detect and process color wavelengths in the same way, an important factor that professional lighting experts consider when designing the lighting scheme for a broadcast.

Cameras are designed to detect and capture color using a model based on primary colors, but they can only do so within their sensors and technology limitations. Suppose a camera needs help to detect a specific shade or hue. In that case, it may estimate the color based on primary colors or shades of gray, which can result in an inaccurate representation of what is being filmed.

Professional lighting experts work closely with camera operators to ensure the cameras can adequately capture the color spectrum within the lit space. This involves careful consideration of both the lighting equipment and the cameras’ technical capabilities.

4. Curved Screens and Ambient Lighting

In addition to studio lighting and camera technology, the environment in which viewers watch TV can also influence how colors appear on the screen. Curved screens, for instance, can distort light in brightly lit environments, leading to an uneven or skewed picture quality. This is because curved screens are designed to offer an immersive viewing experience by wrapping the image around the viewer’s field of vision. However, when placed in a room with significant ambient lighting, reflections can bounce off the screen in unusual ways, distorting the colors and contrast on display.

To mitigate this issue, viewers should be mindful of the lighting in their home environment. Dimming ambient light sources or rearranging the placement of lamps and other lighting fixtures can create a more consistent viewing experience on curved or flat screens.

Achieving Accurate Color Reproduction: The Role of Lighting Directors

Ultimately, ensuring accurate color reproduction on a TV broadcast comes down to the expertise of the lighting director. Lighting professionals are responsible for orchestrating the placement, type, and intensity of lights within a studio to achieve the desired visual outcome. A skilled lighting director must understand how different types of illumination interact with camera technology, the set, and the subject being filmed.

They must also be well-versed in the cameras’ technical capabilities. For instance, some cameras may have a broader or narrower range of color sensitivity, which requires the lighting setup to be adjusted accordingly. The lighting director’s goal is to create a balanced environment where the colors captured by the camera reflect the true-to-life appearance of the scene.

In addition to technical knowledge, lighting directors must consider the artistic elements of the broadcast. For example, lighting can set a mood or convey a particular emotion, and this must be balanced with the need to reproduce colors accurately. The director’s expertise is essential in finding this equilibrium and ensuring that both the technical and creative aspects of lighting work in harmony.

In summary, while viewers may sometimes blame their TV sets for poor color quality during broadcasts, the real issue often lies in the studio’s lighting setup, camera technology, or home lighting conditions. Lighting in television production is far more critical than most people realize, influencing how images are captured, how colors are reproduced, and, ultimately, how viewers experience the broadcast. By paying attention to proper lighting techniques and understanding the interaction between light and camera technology, professionals can ensure that the final product is visually stunning and accurate to life.

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.