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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Partly Cloudy Ceremony

woolbrig
Novice

May 5, 2008, 9:33 AM

Post #1 of 9 (251 views)
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Partly Cloudy Ceremony	Can't Post

The wedding we shot this weekend was out doors under partly cloudy skies. We shot on manual iris, and didn't adjust for the clouds as they covered the sun. So, the ceremony gets dark and light again as the sun peaks through. Perhaps we should have shot auto iris, but I didn't even think of it.

I'm curious as to how others have handled this. Should I leave it as it is or should I adjust the levels to make it more even through out?

Thanks,
Joe

MLiebergot
Veteran

May 5, 2008, 10:20 AM

Post #2 of 9 (242 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

Personally speaking thats exactly how I would have shot it. Set my white balance, iris, shutter speed manually and go with it. there's only so much you can do in an uncontrolled shooting environment like and outdoor wedding.

Maybe split the difference with the iris might help. But if the sun was going in and out, then thats what everyone else saw. I think the changing light conditions on a cloudy day is easier to shoot in than a bright sunny day, as the extra light can play havoc with your backlighting.

Michael

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chucksav
User

May 5, 2008, 11:40 AM

Post #3 of 9 (223 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

In situations like this, we shoot at a fixed exposure as you did, then color correct so that the skin tones remain constant throughout the ceremony. If the CC is done well, most viewers won't notice the changing light conditions.

Steve_Bailey
Enthusiast

May 5, 2008, 1:42 PM

Post #4 of 9 (196 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

You have to remember, we're our own worst critics. There was a big push a long time ago for setting a perfect white balance for each shot but that made each shot feel a little cold for me. So I went and added a little warmth to the shot and it looked better. If the dress looked a little yellow, no one cared but me. The human brain can figure out what color it should be.

Same goes for luminosity. Unless it's REALLY noticeable, just set your color tones and go with it. If it's REALLY bad, then just razor the clip at where the brightness changes and cross fade between them over like 10 seconds... No one will notice if the cross fade is long enough but you have to decide if that much work is really worth it. You may think it is but will your clients? Edit for them, not you.

Steve Bailey
Memories Forever Video Productions
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

"I'm NOT bitter."

Kenneth
Veteran

May 5, 2008, 1:57 PM

Post #5 of 9 (192 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

That's the way things happened. You'll go nuts trying to make imperfections perfect. Just wait until you film a wedding with a sucky band. You'll spend time putting delay and reverb and all this stuff but just remember it's not your fault they hired a sucky band.

you cant polish a turd.
......................................................................
Philadelphia Wedding Video
The Kenneth Stillman Blog
Philadelphia Trash the Dress

Scott S
Veteran

May 5, 2008, 2:33 PM

Post #6 of 9 (186 views)
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Re: [Kenneth] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

If the band sucks I replace them with the original recordings... If the B&G ask, I tell them..."the band sucked."

Only happened once with a band and once with a friend of B&G who did karaoke of "broken road"...dude butchered it and the mic kept cutting out on him... Frown

Scott

RT Steele
Veteran

May 5, 2008, 4:15 PM

Post #7 of 9 (176 views)
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Re: [Scott S] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

who did karaoke of "broken road"...dude butchered it and the mic kept cutting out on him...

I wonder what's up with that song? A duet sang it at a cermeony a couple of weeks ago and forgot the lyrics. I thought one of the singers was going to cry but nobody really cared. Sly

Anyway... I'm glad I provide 2 versions of their ceremony. A 12 minute "quickie" with my own music bed and a rough edit containg all the songs intact.

The dance is "what it is" for me though. Other than a dubbing the original first dance tune and maybe one other... if you're a band playing off key or can't sing for crap it'll be obvious in my edit.

And I agree with Steve up the line... we're our own worst critics and tweak crap that nobody else cares about.

- RT

MVLV
User

May 5, 2008, 6:37 PM

Post #8 of 9 (158 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

I put all my cameras on manual iris and focus, Just a habit with shooting local news here.

LV

Laura Moses
Veteran

May 5, 2008, 7:43 PM

Post #9 of 9 (148 views)
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Re: [woolbrig] Partly Cloudy Ceremony [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Joe,

I'm not sure I completely understand. If this was a manned camera, in the future simply adjust the iris as necessary as the shoot goes along - just like the focus.

For your current edit, as others have stated, a certain amount of variation due to the cloud movement is natural; however, I'd adjust the filters if you have noticeably over-exposed or under-exposed faces.

Laura

Laura Moses
Vantage Point Productions, Inc.
www.SteveandLaura.com