Continous light system to be used inside churches

[mario_saliba]

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I would like some advice on what to purchase regarding continuous light system that I can use in churches to illuminate more dark backgrounds. I would also like to use the continous light setup to create more light on the bride while in front of the altar to make my telephoto shots and shots without flash easier.<br>

Currently I use the flash to fill in and then lighten the background colours on computer.<br>

Thank you for your suggestions.</p>

<p>Mario</p>

[mario_saliba]

<p><br /> I was also thinking of buying a bulb like those used by videographers on their video cameras but I dont know on which brand to rely on.<br /><br>

Mario</p>

[savagesax]

The big issue with continous light is the Kalvin color temperature. You can use video lights but you will have to deal with the color change in Photoshop. Flash units range around 5600 degrees Kalvin for the most part, a few flash units read as high as 6300 degrees. 5600 translates to a sunny day around noon time. If you shoot in the shade, that Kalvin rating is about 6400. I actually use flash unts set for shade, (6300) because thats where I do most of my outdoor portraits. This avoids color issues that range from the standard 5600 to 6400. When using video lights I think they are rated around 3500 to 5000, but I'm not positive. This has to do with the actual light bulb being used.

 

There are 2 ways to solve this. The first way is to use another flash unit to light up the dark backgrounds, or the second way is to put a tungsten filter on your flash unit and use the constant lighting system you are referencing. Tungsten like can vary based on the heat, but you can plan on this type of light to be around 3800.

 

There's actually a third option. Ditch your flash unit, use video lights for everything and do a white balance on your camera. Most likely you will be around a kalvin rating of 3500. Sadly I don't know of anyone doing this so I can't refer you to any sites.

[savagesax]

Tungsten like can vary based on the heat, but you can plan on this type of light to be around 3800.

 

 

Meant to say "Tungsten LIGHT, not Tungsten like.

 

By the way the higher the Kalvin temp goes the redder, often referred as warmer the images become. The lower Kalvin ratings the more blue.

[bobcossar]

<p>Ah...the higher the Kelvin, (not an 'a'), temperature is, the light gets <em><strong>cooler</strong> </em> .....<em><strong>.not </strong> </em> warmer in the color of the results.....<br>

It <em><strong>is </strong> </em> true that the black body temperature rises as the Kelvin temperature increases, but this results in cooler images, not warmer ones...regards, Bob</p>

[savagesax]

I'm confused. I use a Minolta color meter, not a flash meter. I'm confused with your comment Bob

[pete_s.]

<p>Bob, what Bob meant was:<br>

Camera set at 5500K, true Kelvin at 3300K => image turns red (looks warmer)<br>

Camera set at 3300K, true Kelvin at 5500K => image turns blue (looks colder)</p>

<p>Kelvin is temperatur just like farenheit and celcius so a higher temperatur is in reality warmer but looks photographically cooler.</p>

 

[savagesax]

I think there's 2 answers here, depending how you shoot the image. If you have an image that was shot at 5600, shot at daytime and looks fine,but for whatever reason you decide to turn it blue, head for 3000. It you want it magenta send the same image to 8000. So based on what Mario is asking both answers are correct, therefore you need to adjust your flash with tungsten.

[craig_shearman1]

<p>Standard tungsten lighting is 3200K. You can gel it to 5600K to match your flash but you lose a lot of light output. Easier to gel the flash to 3200. But the real issue here is that to make a difference in your background exposure you're going to have to light up the church like a movie set. Given the restrictions that many ministers put on photographers (I assume this is for shooting weddings) it's highly unlikely that you'll be allowed to do that. Most people who light backgrounds on location, including churches, use strobes for all the various reasons that strobes are easier to work with. If you do want to go with hot lights, look at Lowel. Their line is very affordable, very effective and very rugged. Extremely popular with TV and documentary crews who have to come in quick and get the job done in a hurry. </p>

[mario_saliba]

<p>Thanks for your contribution. I think I would prefer to invest my money on small strobes like the canon 580exII. I already have one of those and a sigma 530dg.<br>

<br /> I also have a set of bowens strobes but those are bulky to carry around.<br>

I will check also on Lowel to see what they have available.</p>

[bobcossar]

<p>Thanks Pete.....you said it better than I did.....</p>