Pro Lighting Question

[photogamer]

I've got a quick question. I recently got our YouTube channel past 1,000 subscribers (real estate business), I've definitely gotten better at the editing side of fairly simple video production. However, one area that I need to improve on is lighting. I'm curious about the lighting that is used in the LTT videos which always look amazing. I guess specifically I'm wondering what the types of lights are that Linus used in a semi-recent video where he updated his at-home streaming setup. He was using some pro lights that looks like florescent lighting tubes (not the Elgato flat lights). I took a screenshot which is attached. Anyone know what models of lights these are? They seem to be relying on bouncing the light off the ceiling and walls of the room to create a diffused look. Any other general lighting advice is also more than welcome. Thanks!

 

[GDRRiley]

those are likelyhttps://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1431505-REG/genaray_baton_34_34_baton_led_daylight.html

or maybe https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1555380-REG/quasar_science_q30w56t8_q30_5600k_4_t8.html

 

as for lighting we need to know what you are trying to light.

[photogamer]

Thanks for the reply! Any experience with Lume Cubes? I've heard good things about them.

 

Video example link: https://youtu.be/qZkcFwLcH4Q

 

1) Basically a guy in a smallish room. (kinda hard to get the shadow from not showing up on the wall - and can't stand too far away from the wall):

 

 

2) Tours of empty renovated apartment units:

 

 

And outdoors, a bit:

[GDRRiley]

to keep if off the wall you'll want a small light aimed up from the floor.

you could get a pair of them. my only though is as a front light it maybe a little harsh without and diffusion

[Action_Johnson]

I disagree with GDRRiley.
To get the shadows off the walls, simply have the subject step away from the wall. Give it distance so the shadow falls on the floor instead. If you put a light on the floor pointing up, it most likely will just look like just that, light coming from the floor. Light generally comes from above, not below (except in the movie Frankenstein)

 

I’m assuming you’re working alone? No grips or assistance? I ask because lumecubes are fine, they’re low output though. Unless you have help, lighting like LTT takes a team, and takes a lot of time. Nothing they do is quick-and-dirty, and everyone who works there understands that it takes a team of people time to block in shots and set lights.

—
 

In my opinion, if you’re flying solo, instead of approaching light in an additive way, you’ll likely have success by shooting in a subtractive way:

 

When inside, turn off the lights bump up your exposure, and roll with window light if you can. If you can’t, close the windows or flag them off so you have only the inside lights, that’s easier to color balance. 

When outside, use open shade, or if you have helping hands, set up a scrim to shade the subject and/or diffuse the sunlight.
 

The LTT videos look well lit and polished up because they’re lit in directions that make sense in a space with no windows (meaning complete light and color control with no outside contamination). They’re also lighting using modifiers with huge surface areas measured in feet (5’ octa’s, 10x10 diffs in square tubing frames).

 

Check this out. If you decide lighting your videos is in fact the way to proceed, based on your target audience and usage, this would be a good way to skim that cat:

 

More importantly, lighting quality doesn’t mean jack if the audio isn’t dialed in perfect. Lav up, get a mixer/recorder before you even consider lights.

[GDRRiley]

12 minutes ago, Action_Johnson said:

More importantly, lighting quality doesn’t mean jack if the audio isn’t dialed in perfect. Lav up, get a mixer/recorder before you even consider lights.

I agree audio is more important than video but most lavs don't sound great compared to a shotgun. Mixer/recorder can be needed.

 

I'm not disagreeing that knowing how to set a shot isn't important but a little kicker from on top of the camera maybe good.

[Thanatopsis]

On 7/17/2020 at 1:22 AM, GDRRiley said:

little kicker from on top of the camera maybe good

This is normally a bad thing to use if your trying to keep shadows off walls when you have to have someone close to a wall as it will make harsher shadows.

 

the reality is you will want to bounce light off the ceiling in a way that it misses the front of the subject but hits the wall behind the subject with a second bounce light hitting the subject.  

The advantage of bounce lighting is that it casts the shadows lower on the wall or floor which with normal medium to medium tight shots.