cinematography Budget night-shoot with candles?

R

raychild

Hi all!

I'm making a music video and the concept basically centres around a small group of people walking around suburban streets holding candles at night.

I've done some test shoots with my friend holding a candle and walking down some streets near my house, but even in areas with lots of street-lights the shots are just too dark. Close-ups are fine, but when it's a long shot it's too dark and there's not enough definition/contrast.

I have decided that I'm going to need external lighting of some kind. I need it to be portable (as we will shoot in lots of different locations), rechargable (we won't have access to mains power) and affordable. I was thinking of maybe using heavy duty torches or some kind of spotlight on a stand with someone holding a reflector thing.

Do you guys think this will work? Any suggestions for (cheap) products/types of products?

Thanks so much - this is my first post so I'm new to this :)
 
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Welcome!

Being realistic about it, it's difficult to light wide shots on night even with access to mains power, especially on a low-/no- budget production. However, it sounds like you want to create more contrast rather than be able to see everything, which is much more easily achievable.

I'd go with the powerful torches and find some way to attach them to lighting stands or lamp posts. If you set them behind or to the side of your actors, they will "pop" out from the background, and you'll be able to see a clearly defined edge. You may need to gel them slightly with an orange gel to match the street and candle light more closely.

You can use a similar idea on the surroundings. Use the torches to create accents on walls and trees to pick out details and make the scene more visually interesting. Finally, consider the obvious choices - ask people to turn on the lights in their front rooms and porches. It won't be enough on its own, but it could take a shot from adequately lit to something a little more visually interesting.
 
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I'm wondering, are there streetlights where you are walking? They may help illuminate a bit obviously, but what an interesting challenge nonetheless.

Also(depending how well you know the neighbourhood) see you can get permission to use people's external outlets outside their house for a possible power supply for lamps,ect
 
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I still haven't decided...
I'm thinking super-powerful torches if I can get them OR using car headlights OR getting good lights and asking to use people's mains power.
Any ideas anyone?
 
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Even with a f/1.2 lens a Nikon D90 (and also D300s) would have trouble.
http://blip.tv/file/3460809

A Canon 5D Mark II might pull it off with some grain but a Nikon D3s is flipping fantastic in low light.
See Webepisode #2
http://www.zacuto.com/shootout

Now for lighting, if you can get a jeep or truck with lights on the top you could use that to light your set and its mobile.
129_0605_12_z+honda_ridgeline_trophy_truck+lights.jpg

There is the noise issue from the running engine, but since its a music video your going to replace the sound of the shoot with the music.
 
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