Dedolight Competition 2020: Lightstream tutorial

Summary

This video tutorial introduces the innovative lighting technique using the Light Stream system, which relies on indirect and reflected light for enhanced control in challenging spaces. The presenters, Hem and Lena, demonstrate how to use near-parallel light sources and reflectors to create soft, natural lighting in a variety of scenes, including a living room and a small bathroom. With precise light shaping tools and clever setups, the tutorial highlights how to manipulate light creatively in confined spaces, offering an inspiring approach to lighting that complements traditional methods.

Takeaways

• 💡 The tutorial focuses on using the Lightstream system, a technique involving indirect lighting with reflectors.
• 🏠 The demonstration takes place in two different scenes: a living room and a bathroom, both with challenging lighting conditions.
• 🌞 The system relies on near-parallel light sources and reflectors to manipulate light, minimizing the need for direct light sources.
• 🔧 The Lightstream system consists of four different reflectors, each providing varying levels of diffusion (from mirror-like to soft).
• 📏 Using parallel beams and reflectors allows for better control over light fall-off, which is less affected by distance compared to soft sources.
• 🏠 In the living room setup, backlight is achieved by reflecting light through glass panes, simulating natural light from outside.
• ⚙️ Key light, backlight, and scratch light are created by carefully positioning reflectors and taking advantage of existing architectural features.
• 🛁 The bathroom scene showcases the ability to light confined spaces using indirect light without hard shadows or intrusive light placement.
• 🎥 The system offers flexibility in camera movement, as reflectors can be placed in out-of-view areas, avoiding unwanted reflections in mirrors or shiny surfaces.
• 🔄 The approach is presented as a complement to traditional lighting methods, offering more finesse and control, especially in smaller, challenging spaces.

Q & A

What is the main technique demonstrated in the tutorial?

The tutorial demonstrates the use of indirect lighting with the Light Stream system, focusing on reflected and near-parallel light beams to illuminate a scene without direct light sources.

What are the two main locations used in the tutorial?

The tutorial uses a living room and a bathroom to showcase the use of reflected light, with the bathroom scene highlighting the challenges of working in small, confined spaces.

What is the Light Stream system, and how does it work?

The Light Stream system consists of a near-parallel light source and a set of reflectors that redirect and shape the light. It uses reflectors numbered 1 to 4, with each providing a different level of diffusion.

What is the purpose of using reflectors in the Light Stream system?

Reflectors in the Light Stream system help redirect and shape the light, allowing for indirect lighting setups. The reflectors range from almost mirror-like surfaces (number 1) to softer bounces (number 4), giving the user flexibility in light diffusion and redirection.

How does the tutorial handle lighting in a scene with strong backlight from a large window?

The tutorial recommends closing most of the curtains to block out strong backlight from the window and leaving only a small portion open. This helps control the lighting while still allowing some natural light to shape the scene.

What are the different light sources used in the living room scene?

In the living room scene, three main light sources are used: a key light with a soft bounce from a number 4 reflector, a backlight from a parallel beam pointing upwards through a glass floor, and a scratch light provided by redirecting light with a number 3 reflector.

How is the bathroom scene lit given the limited space and reflective surfaces?

The bathroom scene uses a Dedo 7 light with a parallel beam attachment placed on the floor to avoid reflections. Reflectors are used to bounce light off surfaces without creating direct reflections in the mirror or tiles, ensuring soft, even lighting.

Why is reflected light particularly effective in small spaces like the bathroom?

Reflected light is effective in small spaces because it can be carefully directed and controlled without the need for large equipment or direct light sources, which might create harsh shadows or unwanted reflections in mirrors and other reflective surfaces.

How does the use of parallel light beams benefit the lighting setup?

Parallel light beams reduce light dispersion, minimizing the effects of the inverse square law. This allows light to travel farther without significant falloff, making it useful for bouncing and reflecting light over long distances.

What are the advantages of using indirect lighting in film or photography scenes?

Indirect lighting provides soft, even illumination, avoids harsh shadows, and can be controlled more precisely using reflectors. It allows for more natural and subtle lighting effects, especially in tight or complex environments.