Exposure level for Shuttle launch?

[Neurodancer]

We have an upcoming Red shoot of the space shuttle launch. Anyone have any recommendations for the exposure? We obviously only have a few seconds to get this right. We will be shooting from the media area.

 

[Frank Martin]

shuttle launch

shuttle launch

From my experience with large pyro effects you might try this technique, set exposure for 320asa, then underexpose a stop or two depending on sky or highlights ( you can bring back detail in redcine by lifting your exposure to 500(2/3 stop) then when the lift off occurs you can close the iris another three or four stops upon lift off. at least you will have a fighting chance. it's not like you can test it so just dont jerk the iris to fast since you will have adrenaline flowing. good luck

 

[Brent J. Craig]

Do a search on Reduser. Someone already shot one and there was some discussion of exposure before and after the launch, with sample frames.

 

[Francis Kenny]

The blast will overexpose no matter what you do. Depending on how tight (focal length) you are will determine your choice of exposure. When I am faced with exposures that go beyond latitude I begin making choices, i.e. what will happen to the highlights and what will happen to the shadow area at 1,2,3 stops. There's not much difference between 4 stops over and 8 stops over so let it go. I keep a remote iris motor on the lens when doing fire shots so I can play with the T stop during the shot. Because I never know what is going to happen. I know it's going to be bright but never know how bright. Many of my friends in the ASC have funny stories about their first big fire scene. All of us are shocked at the brightness. Just don't underexpose too much. Pick a point of reference in your frame and stay with that reference. You might have to do a correction during the shot. Just do it naturally.

Ask some of the other camera people that will be shooting next to you. I'll bet they have done the shot before and will be happy to give you some advice. Good camera people always share information and want to help. Good luck and I know you'll do great! What a great experience. Francis

 

[Dominic Cochran]

Depending on how tight (focal length) you are will determine your choice of exposure.

This is the key statement in a great post. Why are you shooting the launch? Are you one of many cameras? If you're focusing on the engine exhausts you'll need to be WAY under the pre-launch exposure(like as much ND as you can stack). If you're the WS guy with the bottom of the shuttle at the bottom of the frame and a bunch of sky for headroom and on the sides of the frame then maybe under-expose the white of the shuttle by around 2 stops? Obviously these are just guesses since I don't have the awesome experience you're about to get, but these are the questions I'd be asking myself. It ALL depends on what's in your frame.

 

[Pierce Cook]

http://redrelay.net/owners/0206/

There's the shot I know of, and who to contact.

Edit: See below

 

[Michael Hastings]

We have an upcoming Red shoot of the space shuttle launch. Anyone have any recommendations for the exposure? We obviously only have a few seconds to get this right. We will be shooting from the media area.

Neurodancer:

I shot the shuttle back in April? STS122 with my RED and a contax/yashica 300mm on the Birger mount - in dumb mode. I think we stopped down about one extra stop over normal exposure and it worked pretty well - just a locked down shot (from the press area) until the shuttle left the frame, then tilted up and reset iris.

I think that is what I recall anyway. if you search on "STS122" a variety of posts, stills, and maybe some videos, should come up.

PS we were at the press site - normally the closest you can get - so about 3 miles away. The thumbnail below gives you the framing we for the 300 on RED. Don't have any other photos here on my laptop.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

Why are you shooting the launch? Are you one of many cameras? If you're focusing on the engine exhausts you'll need to be WAY under the pre-launch exposure(like as much ND as you can stack). If you're the WS guy with the bottom of the shuttle at the bottom of the frame and a bunch of sky for headroom and on the sides of the frame then maybe under-expose the white of the shuttle by around 2 stops?

Excellent post. What are you hoping to get out of shooting the launch? What is the end product?

I guess the ideal solution would be to have some sort of over/under rig and set the second camera many stops underexposed so you could combine the two shots for a wide dynamic range finished product.

I liked Redsail's idea of asking the camera folks around you. In general we seem to be quite a sharing community and I'm sure any cameraman worth his salt would be happy to give you advice. The ones who are reluctant to share are usually the most insecure and least experienced, so if someone refuses, just move to the next guy.