Inexpensive Lighting Soultions for Beginners
by: Bryan Beasleigh

Basic light
The Lowel Tota is an inexpensive broad light. Broad in that it gives off a wide and fairly even beam of light. They can be fired at the ceiling to illuminate an area or into an umbrella to soften and diffuse the light. I use one mounted in a Photoflex softbox. They can be lamped from 250 to 750 watts and you can buy an HIR 650 bulb that will give the equivalent of 1000 watts. The lamps are relatively inexpensive and, in an emergency, you can even use a work light bulb from the local hardware store to get you out of a bind.

www.lowel.com
www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=32267&is=REG

Before getting artistic, I figure people need an even flat light, from there you can get more into control using a softbox, open face semi focusing lights and fresnels.

It's easy and a safe way to grow. You can start with a Tota ($110)a Bogen/Manfrotto 3086 8' light stand (11lb capacity) $52 and an umbrella for around $25-$35. You can spend a lot more than $52 on a stand but few will give you the same bang for the buck. It has all cast aluminum fittings, no plastic collars on this stand.

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5342&is=REG

To diffuse and spread the light, fire it into a silver or white umbrella, to soften the light more, fire the light through a white satin umbrella.

As a fill use a 38-48" collapsible reflector or a $10 chunk of foamcore , plasticore (white foamed cored or corrugated plastic sign board) or a collapsible reflector www.lastolite.com/lighting.html. Often existing light can simply be redirected for a very pleasing effect. This is the simplest of all options and only requires some foamcore or a few reflectors

When you tire of the umbrella and want to move up you can buy a Photoflex Medium Softbox for $180 (the large doesn't fit through doors easily) Be sure and buy the kit from B&H as it includes a louver and mask kit.

You will also need a speed ring for $74

A softbox is a silver lined fabric box (med 22x34"), the silver sides reflect the light towards the subject. One or two satin baffles are installed between the light and the subject (clip and Velcro attachments) creating a very soft, flattering and easily controlled light. www.photoflex.com

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=140665&is=REG
www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=310260&is=REG

Again the compliment to this would be foamcore , plasticore or a collapsible reflector.

Accent Light
The next step would be an accent light, AKA, hair light, back light or kicker. These accentuate the background, separate the talent from the background and may be used to accent the hair. You could use a lowel prolight , a lowel omni or maybe even a small fresnel. My favorites are the Prolight and the Arri fresnell, all are focusing. The omni gives some control, the pro a lot more and the fresnell gives an absolutely beautiful and extremely well controlled accent. The Omni with barn doors is $185, lamps are around $20.

A bogen/manfrotto 8036 light stand that we dicussed earlier is the minimum size that you should bother with (at $52).

A Pro Light is only $134 with barn doors and by far the best deal for a small setup. It's a good, controllable starter. It uses a 250 watt lamp that costs approx $18.

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An Arri 300 watt fresnel is $336.50 with barn doors. Again an 8036 stand is OK. This light is my favorite, it’s beautiful, clean and crisp. Very easy to control as well. www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=72010&is=REG

There is always more money to be spent, more softboxes, another fresnell a more powerful open face, a holder for the reflector. It never ends.

Some good reading can be found at the lowel site.

Click on equipment/ choosing and using lowel equipment.

www.arri.com/infodown/light/broch/arri_lighting_handbook_english.pdf
www.cybercollege.com/tvp027.htm

This is only a start and it's only my opinion. Many want to get too artsy too fast. Just getting enough decent light will make your video so much better. You don't have to blind someone, just give the scene a reasonable amount of light. DV needs quality light and not necessarily a great amount of it either.

There are many different manufacturers. I’ve just spoken about the ones that I have used. I know their gear to be excellent bang for the buck.