1st Edition

Location Lighting for Television

By Alan Bermingham Copyright 2003
    300 Pages
    by Routledge

    300 Pages
    by Routledge

    The first book of its kind to introduce the problems of location lighting for single camera operators and provide an insight into the technology and techniques required to solve those problems. The approach is of a basic and introductory nature, geared toward the student and trainee cameraman. Professionals needing a refresher course on the subject will also find this an invaluable reference packed with key information, theory and practical approaches to different lighting situations.

    Introduction: Overview; The Need for Lighting on Location; Lighting Basics: Psychology of Perception; Light Units; Inverse Square Law - Natures Law; Cosine Law; Reflection of Light - Direct/Diffuse; Reflection of Light - Glare Reflection; Television Camera Basics: The Television Signal; Tonal Reproduction and Gamma; Tonal Reproduction, Dynamic Range and Knee; Camera Sensors - CCD Basics; Features of CCD Processing; Television Optics: Focal Length; Angle of View (Horizontal); Lens Aperture; Depth of Field; High Definition Cameras; Colour Television: Principles; Camera Overview; Colour Temperature: Colour Temperature - Defining White; Colour Temperature Correction; MIRED; Change of Camera White Point; Colour Temperature Measurement; Correlated Colour Temperature and Colour Compensating Filters; Neutral Density Filters; Camera Sensitivity - how much light do we need?: Defining Sensitivity; Factors Affecting Sensitivity; ASA Rating and Video Cameras; Light Source: Choice of Light Source; Tungsten and Tungsten Halogen Sources; Discharge Sources - General; Discharge Sources - Operating Practices and Safety; Discharge Sources - Xenon; Discharge Sources - CDM; Discharge Sources - Fluorescent Sources; Luminaires: Luminaires - General; The Fresnel Spotlight or Soft Edged Spotlight; Luminaire Performance; Control of Beam Shape; Control of Light Intensity on Location; Softlights - General Principles; Softlights - Bounce; Use of Diffusion; Softlights in Practice; Softlights - Specials; Open Faced Luminaires; Hard Edged Projectors; Broad Sources/Cyclorama Units and Ground Rows; PAR Lights; Scrollers and Dowsers; Special Lights - Dedolight; Fluorescent Luminaires (Coldlights); On-Camera and Battery Lighting; Specials; Moving Lights - Intelligent Lights; Dimmers on Location: Dimmers; Dimmer Law; Control of dimmers - DMX/512 (Digital Multiples/512); Lighting Grip Equipment: Lighting Grip - Basics; Lighting Grip - Stand Accessories; Lighting Grip - Clamps and Telescopic Poles; Lighting Grip - Clamps; Scaffolding, Trussing and Scissor Lifts; Electrical Essentials: Electrical Mains Supplies - basics; Electrical - Installations; Electrical Safety; Use of Generator; Safety: Basic Lighting on Location: Basic Lighting Kit; Effect of Light; Basic Portraiture; Keylight - Practicalities; Fill-light, fill or filler; Control of Light - use of Inverse Square Law; The Backlight; Background Light; Kicker; Lighting the Offset Presenter; Interview Lighting - Single Camera; Two-handed Interview - Multi-camera; Lighting in the Real World: Basic Observations; Creating the Illusion of Reality; Coping with Reality; Coping with Excessive Contrast; Lighting Continuity; Vision Control and Measurements: Vision Control - the Essence of Good Picture Quality; Use of Colour Monitor; Light Measurement - Incident Light Meters; Light Measurement - Spotmeter; Zebra/Picoscope/VICAL - Aids to Exposure and Continuity; Exterior Lighting: Observing the Day; Daylight Exteriors; Explaining the Basics: Lighting for Subject Movement - Basics; Lighting for Subject Movement - Setting a Crossover; Lighting for Subject Movement - Alternatives; Creating Mood - the Implicit Requirements; On Camera Filters; Lighting Effects; Lighting Demonstrations; Pack Shots; Conference Lighting; Silhouette Lighting; Chroma Key on Location; Lighting Musicians; Lighting in Public Places Supermarkets/Offices/Hospitals; Stadia Lighting - Night; Stadia Lighting - Special Events; Street Lighting; Lighting in Churches; Night-lighting - Principles; Night-lighting - Practice; Lighting for Cars; Cars at Night; Planning Essentials: Planning; Strategy, Lighting Kits and Timescales; Lighting & Sound Pick-up: Lighting Standards: Bibliography: Glossary

    Biography

    Alan Bermingham

    "For me, this book comes into the category of 'I'm not sure how I ever managed without it'. It is so comprehensive that a list of the contents would virtually constitute a book review in itself.

    Reading though the book, it is this attention to detail that continually strikes you, making it invaluable to any lighting cameraman. All in all, I can't sum it up any better than the quote on the back cover from lighting director John O'Donnell, who says, 'Learn how to get it right first time!.' "
    Tony Grant, Zerb Magazine (The Journal of the Guild of Television Cameramen)

    "...suitable for anyone looking at a career as a DoP or lighting cameraman, or even those who have already started...Recommended." Lighting and Sound