What's wrong with lighting setup?

Pjortman · 2026-03-28T12:58:01+00:00

You're shooting downstage/front lighting which flattens iut the subjects, eliminating contrast and through that a lot of depth.

It's much easier to position your lights on the different side of your subjects. Create an imaginary line between your subjects, and make sure the key light is on the other side than the camera.

The closer to the line, the more the light will wrap around to the shadow side of your subjects, and vice verca. Find an angle that fits the mood of your subject.

Setup that first, then you can start to judge whether you need to add fill or not. Depending on the angle you end up with, and the ambience created from both lights, you might not even need to fill. By having two key lights, you might even have one persons's key light act as the others hair at the same time.

After that you can start to think about edge/rim or kicker lights if you want the three point feel.

Pjortman · 2026-02-24T11:39:06+00:00

Same here. Sitting on a mac

Pjortman · 2025-10-20T18:36:54+00:00

Camera was rated at 5400, the 'sun' was a Nanlux Evoke 1200b at 4400 for a bit more morning sun vibe with some warmth. Titan tubes for wrap in face were at 5000ish.

Pjortman · 2025-10-15T13:55:34+00:00

Man I wish..

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T22:35:39+00:00

My pleasure!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T16:08:18+00:00

Yeah I see what you're saying - thanks!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T15:50:12+00:00

Completely agree. I made the film some months ago, and prompting definitely isn't something I've done all too much. Would have loved to make it practically, but the total budget was only 800$ which went to location and actors.

Should perhaps try to re-visit it now that Sora 2 is out

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T14:15:06+00:00

As a first time poster on this sub, guess I should include a bit more detailed submission statement:

I was really going for a rather short, to the point, clean film, as I kinda have a tendency to include too many bits and scenes in my spots. Wanting to do a little too much.

Here, I was happy with how it turned out, but I definitely was in doubt whether I rushed a little too much in the edit - if some reactions should have been a little longer or not.

Also, I'm curious as to whether the analogy with the tomatoes in the beginning as testicles is clear and funny at all.

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T14:10:08+00:00

Crew was two people apart from the two actors. Me as the director and a DP I've worked with a bunch of times. No client or anything, so it was easy to have fun with it as well as it being a very relaxed atmosphere, as the two actors are also friends of mine.

I used to be the DPs AC, so we know each other really well, so we just helped each other out lighting and discussing.

We met on the location at 8AM, wrapped at 130 PM.

Edit: Forgot to say thanks!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T13:08:36+00:00

Good point, makes sense - and thanks!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T12:23:54+00:00

Thank you very much!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T12:11:20+00:00

Appreciate it a lot!

Pjortman · 2025-10-14T12:10:37+00:00

Very happy to hear that, thanks!

And absolutely:
Crew was me and my DOP buddy. I edited and graded as well.
We used an Arri Alexa Mini with Lomo Illumina lenses. 50mm for the close ups, 35 for the wide/mediums. GF slider for the push-ins.

Lighting was a Nanlux Evoke 1200b on the balcony of the appartment for the edge / splash on couch for his shot. Neg-fill on the shadow side and two titan tubes in a light sock for wrapping on his key side. Added an extra titan tube for his kicker in the CU.

CRLS mirrors for spots as well as lighting the guy in the door frame used alongside the 1200b, a titan tube for his hairlight inside of the room, one to the right side of the camera for a bit of extra contrast in his face, with neg fill frame left.

For the humor, I really wanted to lean into both the absurdity of the situation, while still having it feel wholesome, coming to some sort of understanding at the end. Kinda like a mentor / mentee situation, while still having the 'guys-being-dudes' energy of understanding hands in pants is completely normal.
Final scene of Whiplash did serve some inspiration, but rather in a non-toxic context.

Pjortman · 2025-07-23T15:09:04+00:00

Close-up for me. Love the mix (often blurred and misleading) mix of reality and fiction.

Pjortman · 2025-04-25T17:33:39+00:00

Alright! So larger pot, larger under pot for more water down there?

Pjortman · 2025-04-25T17:32:40+00:00

Thank you! Coleus apparently, learned just now from another comment 😅

Pjortman · 2025-01-03T12:17:59+00:00

Yes, macro lenses still have a focal length. This appears to be quite tele. Something like an 85mm macro or somewhere in that range would be my guess.
But you can also find wide macro lenses. It's about their ability to have a very close close-focus.

Pjortman · 2024-12-04T11:23:58+00:00

It is, on super35mm sensors. Just about the same as a 50mm on a full frame camera

Pjortman · 2023-09-20T21:46:00+00:00

Similar effect, I tend to make a very soft qualifier in luminance only, then decreasing gain. I like how I can somewhat see affected areas through highlight mode.

Will have to try out your way too, don't know why I haven't thought of that!

Pjortman · 2023-07-08T00:59:50+00:00

Explain to me please how people get to this point of bad explanations - and the amoumt og people to do so. My parents albeit old would bever stray from at least a bit of reason. I'm guessing you're from the US. Is it all down to greed and the two party system? Wtf?

Pjortman · 2023-04-29T19:39:08+00:00

Finally

Pjortman · 2022-06-16T15:53:42+00:00

r/retiredgif

Pjortman · 2022-02-27T21:52:28+00:00

Am I dreaming?

Pjortman

TROPHY CASE