Controlling Light |
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How Much is Enough?
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A safe generalization is that the more light that's available the clearer the picture and the more saturated the colors will be, although too much light is almost as bad at too little.
Bright sunny days are especially difficult for videographers. The bright sunlight may wash out the shadows which help us define objects, and may actually overload the camera's electronic circuitry. Conversely, bright sunlight may cause dark shadows, again creating loss of definition. Sunlight falling on the glass of the camera's lense can cause annoying flare.
Whenever possible, avoid shooting in harsh sunlight. Try to find a location which is illuminated by reflected light, or in which the sunlight is broken up, as by leaves overhead. Consider purchasing a polarizing or daylight filter for your camera if you anticipate doing lots of summertime outdoor videography.
When you are shooting indoors, boost the level of the ambient light, irrespective of your use of Key, Fill and Back lighting. If you start out with enough general illumination to produce an acceptable image, your need for specialized lighting will be minimized.
The Iris -- consult your manual to learn about your camera's iris. The iris is used to control the opening behind the lens that allows light to enter the camera. By adjusting the iris you control the amount of light that falls on the image sensing device. When lighting is low the iris may be opened to let in more light. And when the light level is high the iris can be closed down to let in less light. Always check the monitor to see what your adjustments do to your video image.
