video lighting suggestins

I find I'm using lights less and less. Editing software like Final Cut Pro now has extremely powerful color correction tools, even when used with auto white balance. As soon as lights are turned on, natural animal behaviors stop. Shooting behaviors like cleaning, camouflage, and predation becomes far more difficult as soon as lights are turned on. Besides, they are only effective to a distance of 3 feet.

Currently I use lights only for macro, night dives, and dark overhead environments. Therefore they aren't a big issue with me. I'm happy with my hid's (warm, even light with a fairly wide beam). Considering that and the cost of upgrade, I'm not about to move to led's any time soon.

The handling issue of having negative light heads should also be considered.

Having more weight on the top of the housing, if spread unevenly will cause the housing to rotate upside down. It's physics and handling is a very important aspect of getting good shots.

Eric

I agree that lights do cause much behavior to change or stop. They still can function as foreground illumination or fill light. As with color correction, it does take a bit of work to get the color right in post. I always suggest for those who are going to shoot with color correction in post, shoot with filter and daylight preset for shallow to medium depths or shoot without filter with daylight preset. It's easier to color correct constant color problems versus having AWB change color mid pan or something.

I've also used red filters on my lights at medium depths to illuminate subjects and MWB to that. It actually doesn't freak certain fish as much as they are usually blind to it. The filter also cuts a few stops off which helps as too much light will frighten anything.

The handling issue of having negative light heads should also be considered.

Having more weight on the top of the housing, if spread unevenly will cause the housing to rotate upside down. It's physics and handling is a very important aspect of getting good shots.

 

Eric

I agree that lights do cause much behavior to change or stop. They still can function as foreground illumination or fill light. As with color correction, it does take a bit of work to get the color right in post. I always suggest for those who are going to shoot with color correction in post, shoot with filter and daylight preset for shallow to medium depths or shoot without filter with daylight preset. It's easier to color correct constant color problems versus having AWB change color mid pan or something.

I've also used red filters on my lights at medium depths to illuminate subjects and MWB to that. It actually doesn't freak certain fish as much as they are usually blind to it. The filter also cuts a few stops off which helps as too much light will frighten anything.

Drew

Rather than use a red filter with your lights, would you think that a "redder," dimmable viodeo light would give more flexibility?

Art99

Art

I used red filters ON my lights. My halogens are fully dimmable and the red filters help with the wildlife. I don't bother using red filters on my HMI or HIDs.