X-Phil_Adams_
Imported Account
Oct 12, 1999, 10:31 AM
Post #6 of 33
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I like that lighting configuration for macro...
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Not long ago,
I was using the AMPHIBICO Pro lighting system with the VH 1000 housing when they first came out with it in early 97. As I recall, I split the lighting heads into a 30watt / 75watt configuration for ECU's and Macro scenes, the 30watt being my primary foreground light, the 75 watt was a secondary background fill (less burn time, so I only turned it on when I was ready to roll tape).
I recall one fascinating scene I captured of a "Decorator Crab" whom dressed as though it was a Deer or Moose, in about 90fsw. It managed to attach two almost similar small branches (twigs) onto it's head in perfect alignment of one another, thus resembling giant, intimidating "antlers". I'd never seen anything quite like it.
By flexing the 30 watt foreground light at several angles I was able to capture various intriguing facial expressions as it scavenged and ate the dead carcass of a small fish. By flexing the 75watt background fill light into one fixed position I was able to capture it's shadow against the background reef wall. The shadow clearly appeared as that of a large Deer or Mooses' "antlers" in the background.
It was an hilarious scene, nature imatating nature, the funniest thing being I haven't the slightest idea where the Decorator Crab came up with the idea to cross-dress as a Deer or Moose.
Moral to my story, I really liked that particular lighting configuration for that particular macro scene, it was the perfect choice in capturing the charchter of the subject, at that particular moment.
However, it didn't always work well on every macro or ECU scene I ever attempted, experience has taught me to be prepared on any professional shoot with a variety of lighting configurations, from battery powered 30 watt incandescent's to surface power supplied 1200 watt HMI's. It really depends on your ability to conduct a proper pre-production evaluation of the target subject matter, when you want to acheive lighting perfection, technically.
Regardless, for recreational U/W Videography, I'd personally recommend an afforadble dual head, variable bulb wattage system similar to the AMPHIBICO Pro Lighting system I noted above, one with options to increase / decrease your foreground / background wattage requirements for personal desired effect, one that can, or can be custom designed, to attach to your housing for easy conveinience of use, thus allowing you maximum freedom of movement underwater.
One man's opinion,
Respectfully,
Phil Adams - Manta Multimedia Inc. - Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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