Shooting with Lasers

[kevinjoelson]

Hey Red Users!

I have a project coming up where I'm being asked to work with lasers and laser light refracting through objects. Part of the creative requires a few shots where the lasers directly spike the lens. Please note, I am well aware of the damage that lasers can do when they hit digital sensors. I am just curious if there is an alternative or scientific workaround that involves some sort of "Filtration" if you will. Otherwise, I think I'm left with suggesting to shoot these assets on film or having a team craft these shots digitally in post.

Any thoughts?

 

[Arthur Woo]

Hey Kevin,

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I've been searching for laser lights for an upcoming project and wondering where you would source these from? Local g&e rental house, or a live entertainment/theatrical rental house?

Looking for lights similar to the 0:27-0:30 mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTaqcGz2O5o

 

[kevinjoelson]

Hey Arthur!

Cool reference video...Love the look. For our project we were going to look at the live entertainment / theatrical lighting route. If you look at the 1:22-1:24 mark, the camera passes through a set of beams. I've see shots like this that have roasted digital sensors.

Would still love the input from others who have shot with lasers in the past.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey Arthur!

Cool reference video...Love the look. For our project we were going to look at the live entertainment / theatrical lighting route. If you look at the 1:22-1:24 mark, the camera passes through a set of beams. I've see shots like this that have roasted digital sensors.

Would still love the input from others who have shot with lasers in the past.

Anyway to fake lasers with tightly spotted LED fixtures instead? Just riffing here. A roasted camera sounds like a real bummer.

Wassup Kevin!!!

 

[kevinjoelson]

Wassup Nick!!

Yes! The basic household variety of lasers, like the kind you buy for cat toys are basically just LEDs with a focused lens. These will probably work for some of our situations. We we're hoping to program some movement with the lasers and like the video that Arthur posted, it would be great to have an instrument that could project multiple beams at once. Just trying to figure out what process we might be able to use to ensure we don't burn up the camera like this situation. https://fstoppers.com/news/lasers-take-down-20000-camera-less-one-second-2700