Camera + lighting setup concerns/questions (WFH, video calls)

[FaceFoiled]

Light, camera, action! But how to use the light?

 

Hiya! I work from home full time, and unfortunately spend a lot of time in calls. While the vast majority of the people I have calls with won't expect or care for a "good quality image" - I do! I take pride in simple things like that, and have tried to have a good setup going on for a while now. I just can't seem to get the lighting tuned in right. It looks 'ok' these days, but the recent LTT video of youtuber pc setups made me question my lighting positions/usage (specifically when someone was called out for having a Key light aimed at the wall).

 

I'm hoping that someone might have some good tips for me, as my google-fu has failed me so far.

 

So this is what I'm working with in my office.

- Small room / positioned myself in the corner.

- Window just to the left of me and just above me.

- Elgato lighting strip around desk (mostly for show :D)

- Elgato keylight aimed at wall

- Logitech C920 camera

 

If I aim the elgato keylight at me I generally find it too bright to comfortably look at my screen/camera, even if the brightness is dropped down, perhaps it's just in the wrong place and should not be in front of me?

I know the camera is pretty basic, but it is what I have. I certainly could upgrade if there is something out that that would be sure to fix it all. I'm not a streamer, just like nice things and do my job efficiently (hence the setup/tools).

I keep the blinds closed when I am on camera as the non-natural lighting (fixed light form keylight) generally makes a big difference to not make me look like an alien.

 

Picture for reference:
Camera at the top of my monitor. 

Elgato Keylight in the middle at the back, aimed up (as I thought that worked best)

 

Windows to the side and above me. 

 

Not relevant but in case people are wondering

- I just got into VR with a Quest2 - so have that cable dangling there for the Link cable. I could have unhooked them to tidy them away - but did not. /shrug

- Bed in my office? Madness! - Yes it is. Spare bed in case we have visitors, flipped it sideways (used ratchet straps on the mattress to prevent it from falling down) to a bit more space. Am going to build a fold-away bed on the wall there.

- Waifu's!?. Yes. WFH perk, they keep my anger at bay and sanity at a reasonable level in my line of work.  

- 4 monitors? Yeah, I love it. have all 4 connected to work pc, can't imagine having less real estate space for everything. Only the 2 main (curved) monitors are connected to my home pc. 1 set of peripherals, go through a USB hub and USB switch.

- That monitor arm there looks a bit tilted... Yes it does! Not a weight thing, a "DOH!!" thing. They are drilled into a frame I made, I derped and did not check if it was level before drilling it. Will fix that at some point, it just looks wrong (but is fine)

- Nice chair! Thanks, getting a bit old unfortunately, it's wearing.

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Photography and Videography

 

As in people who understand lights.

[FaceFoiled]

6 minutes ago, LogicalDrm said:

-> Moved to Photography and Videography

 

As in people who understand lights.

Appreciate that! Does make more sense there

[Vilacom]

7 hours ago, FaceFoiled said:

Light, camera, action! But how to use the light?

 

Hiya! I work from home full time, and unfortunately spend a lot of time in calls. While the vast majority of the people I have calls with won't expect or care for a "good quality image" - I do! I take pride in simple things like that, and have tried to have a good setup going on for a while now. I just can't seem to get the lighting tuned in right. It looks 'ok' these days, but the recent LTT video of youtuber pc setups made me question my lighting positions/usage (specifically when someone was called out for having a Key light aimed at the wall).

 

I'm hoping that someone might have some good tips for me, as my google-fu has failed me so far.

 

So this is what I'm working with in my office.

- Small room / positioned myself in the corner.

- Window just to the left of me and just above me.

- Elgato lighting strip around desk (mostly for show :D)

- Elgato keylight aimed at wall

- Logitech C920 camera

 

If I aim the elgato keylight at me I generally find it too bright to comfortably look at my screen/camera, even if the brightness is dropped down, perhaps it's just in the wrong place and should not be in front of me?

I know the camera is pretty basic, but it is what I have. I certainly could upgrade if there is something out that that would be sure to fix it all. I'm not a streamer, just like nice things and do my job efficiently (hence the setup/tools).

I keep the blinds closed when I am on camera as the non-natural lighting (fixed light form keylight) generally makes a big difference to not make me look like an alien.

 

Picture for reference:
Camera at the top of my monitor. 

Elgato Keylight in the middle at the back, aimed up (as I thought that worked best)

 

Windows to the side and above me. 

 

Not relevant but in case people are wondering

- I just got into VR with a Quest2 - so have that cable dangling there for the Link cable. I could have unhooked them to tidy them away - but did not. /shrug

- Bed in my office? Madness! - Yes it is. Spare bed in case we have visitors, flipped it sideways (used ratchet straps on the mattress to prevent it from falling down) to a bit more space. Am going to build a fold-away bed on the wall there.

- Waifu's!?. Yes. WFH perk, they keep my anger at bay and sanity at a reasonable level in my line of work.  

- 4 monitors? Yeah, I love it. have all 4 connected to work pc, can't imagine having less real estate space for everything. Only the 2 main (curved) monitors are connected to my home pc. 1 set of peripherals, go through a USB hub and USB switch.

- That monitor arm there looks a bit tilted... Yes it does! Not a weight thing, a "DOH!!" thing. They are drilled into a frame I made, I derped and did not check if it was level before drilling it. Will fix that at some point, it just looks wrong (but is fine)

- Nice chair! Thanks, getting a bit old unfortunately, it's wearing.

The pictures aren’t loading for some reason, maybe just from the topic being moved, but the key light being pointed at the wall is only unusual because the keylights are made to be diffused and aimed directly at the streamer/scene you’re trying to light.  So if you’re having issues with lighting it might be worth trying pointing the light directly at you and messing with the settings in that configuration, especially if thats the only light you’re using.

You might also be running into issues with the top performance of the camera itself, it’s a great webcam but the more you put into making the image better the more its upper limits become the limiting factor.  

[FaceFoiled]

8 minutes ago, Vilacom said:

The pictures aren’t loading for some reason, maybe just from the topic being moved, but the key light being pointed at the wall is only unusual because the keylights are made to be diffused and aimed directly at the streamer/scene you’re trying to light.  So if you’re having issues with lighting it might be worth trying pointing the light directly at you and messing with the settings in that configuration, especially if thats the only light you’re using.

You might also be running into issues with the top performance of the camera itself, it’s a great webcam but the more you put into making the image better the more its upper limits become the limiting factor.  

I'll try and turn the light to me again and play around with that. Also reading the pictures. 

 

[Vilacom]

Yeah definitely try just pointing the light right at you to start with, that should help some.

Beyond that you can definitely upgrade your camera, maybe move the light to the right so its on the middle/right side of your right monitor to get a more across the face light that will give you some shadow and depth in your face for the camera

[FaceFoiled]

Working on moving the light to the right to give that a go. I tried it facing me again directly, but can't get used to the brightness right in front of me. I like the idea of the more side-light though, to get more depth.

 

Is there a suggested "height" for the light?