Book light

[Shawn Nelson]

Anyone have any examples of the use of a book light? Either BTS showing the fixture or screen grab of the result (preferably both). In last month's ASC mag Jendra talks about how much she loves them and i've never seen one in action, I cant search this site because the reduser search engine doesnt honor quotes.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

I can't find a BTS pick of one in action, but here is the result of what she was able to achieve with it:
http://www.floatingcamera.com/jendra_reels_puppyLove.asp?ep=1

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

And here is the BTS video:
http://www.floatingcamera.com/jendra_reels_puppyLove.asp?ep=1b

(You never get a good look at the light, but I think at about 18 seconds you can see one in the background- but I can't tell if that is just a straight bounce or not.)

 

[andrewjwhittaker]

If you need another example of the use of a book light you can find it in "Inglorious Basterds." Robert Richardson discusses his love for them as well in the current issue of American Cinematographer.

Just to be clear, a book light itself is not a unit but instead the practice of hitting a bounce source with light and then further softening the light with a piece of diffusion. Hence the name book light where the bounce source and diffusion are like covers of a book and the light itself falling somewhere in between.

 

[Nick Gardner]

Traditionally - 4x8 foam core folded in half with usually a 2k open face bounced into the V. Many people then put opal,or heavier diffusion on the open end of the "book". Big soft source. Takes up a lot of room, and grip intensive to control. Cheap though.

Nick

 

[Shane Kelly]

I've used 2 12' x 12' frames connected at the top and spread apart at the bottom to create an "A" frame. One frame has a white griff and the other a silk. I put 2 maxibrutes inside on the ground pointing up at the griff. Basically it's a diffused bounce, very soft and hard to cut but very pretty.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Traditionally - 4x8 foam core folded in half with usually a 2k open face bounced into the V. Many people then put opal,or heavier diffusion on the open end of the "book". Big soft source. Takes up a lot of room, and grip intensive to control. Cheap though.

Nick

Whoa, so it's bounced against foam core twice as well as diffused? Every description i've read involves a single bounce and then diffusing that bounce

 

[Nick Gardner]

Well it is only one bounce, but you are bouncing it into the V shape of the 4x4 or 2 pieces of 4x8 foam core. So it's a little more scattered, and a little more directional (control wise) than a straight bounce. I'll try and dig up a picture of one.

Nick

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Interesting- I'd be really interested to see that setup, I hope you can find a picture of it.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Found one-

Found one-

Here is a picture of one in use by Jendra:

This was a still frame I grabbed from the following video that is on her site (At about 2:25 into the video):
http://www.floatingcamera.com/jendra_press_interviews_ctv1.asp

 

[wshultz]

Hard to tell exactly what the setup is. Is that a single bounce off a flat piece of foam core through a silk?

PS. Hi almost neighbors Shawn and Ryan from way down here in Southern Oregon.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

It is hard to get a definite reading on it- but what you described is what a book light is: (From what I understand anyway) A light bounced into bead board or foam core and then diffused through a frame.

Good to see you on the boards Warren.