Lighting For Digital

Cinematographers discuss their go-to tools

By Ian Blair

To paraphrase Duke Ellington, there is only good or bad lighting. Much more than a camera, lighting has the greatest influence on the image since light is what truly shapes it. Since the digital revolution, lighting has become a more difficult task for both cinematographers and gaffers. Digital’s unforgiving nature, especially within the highlights,... Read more

New Lighting Gear

At NAB 2012, LED lights once again dominated the show floor

By Ian Blair

In the new energy- and eco-conscious world, lighting users are always looking to save everything from power and heat to weight and size while still boosting efficiency. This explains why, although new HMI, tungsten and fluorescent fixtures are also pursuing the same goals, LED lighting is currently king of the castle. The latest generation of lights... Read more

Next-Gen Lighting

Let’s take a look at the latest offerings that expand and redefine LED lighting for 2012.

By Dan Brockett

Users have gone LED crazy, and it seems as if the development of new tungsten, fluorescent and HMI lighting has been largely overshadowed by user demand for new forms of LED lighting. LEDs are typically smaller, weigh less, consume less power, give off far less heat, and are greener and more efficient than any other form of lighting used in television... Read more

At A Glance: Litepanels Sola ENG Fresnel

A dimmable, focusable LED light source

By Neil Matsumoto

You’re probably already aware of the many advantages of LED technology, since almost every light released in the past year has been an LED. The energy-efficient lights disperse almost no heat, the higher-quality fixtures are flicker-free and, most importantly, they allow you to dim your light from 100% to 0 with no noticeable color shift. Perhaps... Read more

At A Glance: The LEDZILLA

Dedolight’s onboard LED light is designed for the cinematographer

By Neil Matsumoto

The big difference between ENG-style camerawork and cinematography is that with ENG, you’re usually recording reality, and with cinematography, you’re trying to create a mood, typically with light. For ENG shooters, one of the most popular camera accessories is an onboard camera light, which is commonly used to give a little fill light to... Read more

We’re Lit

New energy-efficient lighting gear gives cinematographers and gaffers the ability to light any location

By Michael Larsen

Today’s productions are happening at all types of locations—modern stages, remote mountains, sandy deserts, historic buildings and even your neighbor’s backyard. Being able to go with the flow means having the right lighting tools for the job. And that often means portable, expandable, multitasking and, of course, as “green”... Read more