[MacDV] Re: A Lighting Question

[Jim Zabilla]

You need to set the exposure on the camera and not use the "auto" exposure
mode.  This will stop the fluctuation.

Jim


On 5/2/03 3:43 PM, "Erica Sadun" <erica at mindspring.com> wrote:

>> Not Mac specific- just a general question on shooting video, upon
>> which some of you may be able to shed some "light."
>> 
>> Yesterday, I was shooting video of a musician. One performer on
>> stage- playing a very shiny new guitar. I set up a consumer-type DV
>> camcorder on a tripod, about 10 feet in front of (and slightly to
>> the left of) the musician. This camera remained stationary to record
>> the master shot and the master audio. I used another camera to move
>> around the room and shoot different angles.
>> 
>> The main lighting came from two fairly bright spotlights hanging
>> from the ceiling (roughly directly above the camera position) which
>> lit the performer uniformly on both sides. When I started capturing
>> the video from the tripod mounted camera, I noticed the picture was
>> fluctuating between correct exposure and slightly too dark-
>> seemingly a random intervals. After watching carefully, I finally
>> realized what was happening. Every time the guitar reflected one of
>> the spots. the glare would force the camera to adjust it's exposure
>> setting. When the guitar moved- and the glare disappeared- the
>> camera went back to the correct exposure.
>> 
>> So far, I haven't come up with any bright ideas to counter this kind
>> of problem. Anybody care to venture a solution?
> 
> Use manual white balance settings. -- E
> 
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