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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Strobes/ lightning?

O

Obin Olson

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So I need to use some type of strobe like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Equinox-Fir...sStrobes_RL&hash=item2a12fee41d#ht_500wt_1180

for simulated lightning in a scene.....how are folks dealing with the fact that it will show up as a 1/2 strobed frame like this:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/169/screenshot20101107at115.png/sr=1

or worse...does it matter? will it ruin a really cool dramatic setup indoors at night with lightning coming in the windows from a strobe or multiple strobes?

other "strobe" effect tools for the same effect that stay on longer?
 
You may want to post this in the cinematography section and ask David Mullen ASC. I would like to know the answer as well.
 
Obin - I posted this before - but Creamsource LED lights have a strobe function AND can lock to Genlock. So no half frame.

I went around Cinegear talking to Mole, Litepanels, etc about how nice it would be if they did the same thing and they just laughed at me.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com
 
Test, Test, Test.

Do you need Strobes at a frequent pace, or just as single flashes for simulating lightning ?
If you need single flashes, you can test Studio Strobe Monoblocks for still photography like Bowens, Profoto,...
We tested the Profoto D1 500Ws & 1000Ws Monoblock and the Rolling Shutter Effect is depending on the output setting on your strobe light.
Generally speaking, the higher the output setting is and the more power your strobe light produces, the longer the flash lasts and the less you will see the described effect.

we where fine with the D1 500Ws mono block as soon as we set the output over 7.0 from a possible 9.0 ( 2 stops below maximum and therefore around 125Ws of Energy)
 
Bruce, that sounds interesting.

The Creamsource Doppio has 140 high power LEDs with double density spacing. Available in both Tungsten and Daylight colour temperatures, it has similar light output to a 800W HMI, but draws only 360W.
Click to expand...

Spot lenses have a beam angle of around 10 degrees (...)
Click to expand...

I am not a DP, but it might work if you could use low enough light levels on everything else and set up a few spot Doppios in a vertical-ish strip far enough to make shadows hard enough for your taste. But you'd most likely be forced to shot wide open.

Bruce Allen said:
I went around Cinegear talking to Mole, Litepanels, etc about how nice it would be if they did the same thing and they just laughed at me.
Click to expand...

Lame... CMOS aren't going away. Or is it that they anticipate sensors to soon get fast enough to solve this issue?
 
The Equinox are repeating strobes with a programmable frequency. (They flash continuously) The Other units, and all Photographic Strobe lighting do not repeat. You have to fire them manually (typically) and can't usually pop faster than 1 fps. The repeating strobe wouldn't be random enough to create a lightning illusion. Photo-Strobes would likely be more suitable. You near any Still Rental Houses? Try before you buy!
 
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So do you think that 2 of them would work best(decrease the inverval between flashes allowing for faster then 1fps triggering) in the situation I want them for?

Anything special about the photostudio flash that I need to look for when I buy?
 
2 may get the job done. Buy the most powerful you can afford. The lower the Watt Seconds the shorter the flash duration. You want as long a flash duration as you can get. Alien Bee and White Lighting are decent low money brands. Are you sure this will work, though? I have a pile of Profoto D1's and am kind of interested in doing a test run on this idea. If it works well, it would be good to set one at full output and one lower. Lightning flashes never appear to have the same intensity.

CB
 
Would LOVE to know how it works if you feel like a test? :)
 
Lightning flashes never appear to have the same intensity.

Exactly, run a test and lets see how it looks?
 
David Mullen answered this on his thread and now it makes sense, I've see it before where big HMIs are covered with blinds which are opened and closed quickly for the effect. I suppose you could also have someone quickly hold a large scrim or two in front of it to vary the intensity, and add more lights to vary the angle. Fun stuff. Simple and better.
 
Check on Lightning Strike units for rent.
 
Erik's suggestion about the welder works great. We've tested it with our REDs ourselves. You'll have an occasional partial exposure if it gets too bright, but overall the look is incredibly realistic, especially if it's an indoor scene and you're just interested in lighting up the great outdoors. We were really impressed.

Stephen
 
I'm thinking ARC welder...since I'm a welder already I can deff give that a shot....interesting idea guys!~!
 
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