There is a lot of discussion of low light, discussions of Lux, light bulbs, wattages, CCD's....

Examine this image which contains four images A, B, C and D. Which looks better and why?


Rich

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Image C appears the brightest and sharpest. Colors are slightly more visible than image B.

Next ranks Image B, followed by A and then D.

Image A appears to be darker than D, but is sharper and has more color detail.

Image D, doesn't have enough light illimuninating the horse. It appears blurry to me, and color visibility is poor.

Since you said "better", I'll rank then B, C, A, D.


While C might be the brighest, the color & quality in B is greater. I think the color/quality of B over C more than makes up for the brightness of C over B.

I think the color & quality of A is good also... a little better than C even, but it's a bit too dark to overcome C overall.

D is last in color, quality and brightness.

OK, I'll play. I say they all look equally good. Or, another way, you can't answer that question in the abstract. It depends on what you are trying to do with the video.

If you're shooting something for, say, a catalog, you'll want the flat, high detail of C. If you're going for something moody or scary, then A or B might be "best". (I could see B in a Stephen King movie with some demented clowns!) I'm not sure what the situation might be but I'm sure there's a use for D, too.

What do I win?

Good luck.

Dennis

Well, I guess I was trying to make a point... Light placement can have a big effect on your image, not just how many light bulbs you use.

All four images were taken with the same 100 watt bulb. The only difference was the placement of the light bulb, all images are with the light bulb being 6.5 feet from the subject, but the light bulb was in different locations...






I guess everybody wins, a free beer at Perea's Restaurant & Tijuana Bar in Corrales, New Mexico!



Rich

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Thanks for the info Poncho. Where is the best place for the light source to be?

Russr, normally to the side of the camera with the light elevated a bit, depending on what effect you want to see as you can see in image B and C.

Image B is to my right, but I placed it too low. You can see the shadow of the horse on the wall which is about two feet behind the horse.

Image C is almost next to the camera and gives the "brightest image" but increased glare. If you are using people you might get glare and/or "red eye".

Image A is with the light directly facing the horses face. It might have worked out pretty good if I added another lower powered light near the camera to "fill in" the shadows and bring out detail.

Image D was high to the left and behind the horse. Normally the worse situation. A common mistake is taking an indoor photo during the day of someone standing in front of a window with outside light coming in.

If you look at the shadows carefully you can determine where the light was placed,

This was a quick example I did in my garage, the only dark location with the room to move around. But I wasn't able to place the lights exactly where I wanted and my garage has a lot of junk in the way. It was also 20 degree Fahrenheit in my garage, so I was not going to spend too much time setting up.

Properly lighting requires some thought and some practice.



Rich

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You're on, Rich! Since you didn't put any time limit on your offer, I'm sure I'll get through there someday. I'll be sure to look you up for that beer.

Good luck.

Dennis

PS: I'll buy the second round.

Rich,
Very interesting and useful demonstration! Thanks...

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Guy

Camcorder User Network

Thanks Guy. Even though the contest is over, the one free beer still applies



Rich

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