@@pierogiannist I'm totally new to videography and lighting, but really hope to be able to incorporate this motivated lighting technique with the spotlight someday, and master levels
@@pierogiannist I'm sort of confused by this. How do you know to set the right levels if the lights are exposed the same and the only difference is the ND(camera exposure). is it just looking at the difference in exposure in the shadows/fill? Or is it the brighter the lights, the harsher the shadows?
@micahsmithmedia Great question! The key is maintaining the overall brightness levels and the contrast ratio, which is a big one. In my example, lowering the camera's exposure by adding ND and brightening the lights kept my face and the slash of light exposed correctly, but it made the room too dark overall. It increased the contrast ratio, making it now look unnatural. The trick is to balance the light levels so the scene feels cohesive and realistic-like how light naturally fills a space. Hope that makes sense?
@@pierogiannist yes that does thank you! Contrast ratio is something I'm still trying to learn and especially without a light meter. Maybe one day you could make a video on it?
I have been debating for weeks whether to invest in a spotlight, and your video finally gave me the confidence to go for it. Thanks!Now I have to decide between the Amaran and the Godox 😊
Hey Piero! I just wanted to say THANK YOU for making this amazing tutorial! Beautifully made, the instruction and flow are top-notch and to the point. It's been a while since I came across a video like this! I wish you could expand more and even slow down a bit so you can have time to go more depth in how you approach each lighting setup. (perhaps you were trying to keep the video engaging?) The educational value is so good I wouldn't mind watching for longer! Great presentation and voice! Thank you! Please keep them coming. You have a new subscriber and supporter.
Thank you so much for the kind words and support! I'll definitely keep these suggestions in mind for future videos. I think it‘s a tough balance between going in depth and keeping a video engaging. But I might just make them a bit longer and see what happens😊
Great video! I use hard light in a similar way. Just a small addendum: I avoid using hard light on non-professional actors, actresses, or models. For "normal" people, hard light can be quite harsh, and they are often not used to it. Additionally, I try to work with a makeup artist when using hard light.
Thanks for the great input! I totally agree-hard light can be uncomfortable and unforgiving. Makeup artists can really make a huge difference in balancing the harshness.
Great job! Thank you! Please tells us the light power you attached to the spot light attachment to it! If you could list the lights you used and the contrast ratio that will be helpful too! Cheers
thanks for watching! good point, I will add it to the video description. for the spotlight I used the aputure 300d at maybe 70% and for the keylight a small 60w panel at a low intensity and very close. tbh I can‘t tell you the contrast ratio but I can take a look at false color later!
@@pierogiannist If they are poorly cut, you can get really ugly shapes. So I'm kinda concern about the cut quality and material as well. But will see :D.
Nice video on showing different uses of spotlight attachment. It is really helpful for a better production value. Just a constructive criticism though, the part of the contrast ratio is a little bit misleading. Its actually not incorrect, as many narrative film actually used high contrast ratio, depending on the mood or scene that they are trying to portray. Generally though, you want lesser contrast ratio since it will generate a "happy" feeling, and it will also feel natural because light naturally bounces on most materials so contrast ratio wont be that high, but if you want to portray an intense scene or maybe a forboding scene, you want a high contrast ratio. DPs even used Duvetyne for negative fill so they could have higher contrast ratio. DPs though generally dont want their shadows to be crushed if they have some details on the shadows that they want to be seen, but if there isnt, many DPs nowadays dont care if their shadows are crushed, as long as they are consistent on their contrast ratio.
Totally, I appreciate the feedback, and you’re right that contrast ratio can be used strategically. I was focusing on one specific situation/ look in this video but will definitely cover more creative uses in a future one. Thanks for sharing your insights!
good one! of course depends on the budget a lot and in what conditions you‘re working in. for a situation like in the video: 300watt cob for the spotlight. you could go for the nanlite fs-300 which is really affordable. and for the keylight you could get a second fs-300 and you have a great kit for not too much money. but if you have more budget, for the keylight I would get a bi color 300 or 500 option and use it with a softbox or through some diffusion. hope that helps?
Hi Piero. Great video just what I was looking for to my real estate photos and video. What gobo do you use to emmitate windows and where to buy? Thanks for a awesome video.
thank you man! so the spotlight comes with a couple of gobos already. you might not need to buy any additional ones. I use the ones that came with my aputure spotlight plus I purchased a second set (again aputure). but careful, they don‘t all match from different brands. the diameter is important!
First, it’s important to note that the ND itself doesn’t cause more contrast-it simply reduces the amount of light hitting the camera sensor. The issue arises when you compensate for the darker image by increasing the brightness of your lights without also addressing the ambient light in the room. This creates an imbalance: your highlights and subject stay bright, but the rest of the room becomes too dark, resulting in an unnatural, high-contrast look.
Great video! I am planning to start my own channel as well and this is pure inspiration of how I aspire to communicate! Also quick question; I loved the fact that you are also committed to the German channel; I am Mexican and I am torn about what language to do it; do you have any advice for me in this regards ?
thank you so much man! uff that‘s a tough one. so, I consume so many youtube videos and almost all of them in english, so even though it’s not my first language, I weirdly feel more at home doing the videos in english. also, there are so much more people you can reach all around the world which I think is so cool. definitely don‘t start 2 channels😂
at 4:00 you talk about "levels" but do not really explain what should be done to make it "right". Can you please explain more on this? What settings should be on lights sources, what settings should be on a camera, is there some desirable ratio between levels?
Hey Evgeniy, great question! I realize I should have made this section longer and more in-depth. In my example, lowering the camera's exposure by adding ND and brightening the lights kept my face and the fake sunlight exposed correctly, but it made the room too dark overall. It increased the contrast ratio, making it now look unnatural. The trick is to balance the light levels so the scene feels realistic-like how light naturally fills a space. But I will definitely cover this in a future video so stay tuned! If you have any more specific questions, let me know and I can include them in the vid.
Totally get what you mean about the price. It’s expensive because of the precision optics. There is s lot of glass in that thing that makes sure there is no color fringing. And it‘s heavy and solid. That said, there are some DIY alternatives out there if you’re creative and want to try a budget-friendly approach.
@ sorry bud. Should have appreciated you first. Great video by the way ❤️. I’m also an amateur creator and k know the work that goes into this kind of a video 💪
Wow, when you showed the difference that having the correct levels makes, it was surreal. True sign of a pro, and great educational value!
thanks so much dude🥹🫱🏼🫲🏽 the right levels are so important!
@@pierogiannist I'm totally new to videography and lighting, but really hope to be able to incorporate this motivated lighting technique with the spotlight someday, and master levels
@@pierogiannist I'm sort of confused by this. How do you know to set the right levels if the lights are exposed the same and the only difference is the ND(camera exposure). is it just looking at the difference in exposure in the shadows/fill? Or is it the brighter the lights, the harsher the shadows?
@micahsmithmedia
Great question! The key is maintaining the overall brightness levels and the contrast ratio, which is a big one. In my example, lowering the camera's exposure by adding ND and brightening the lights kept my face and the slash of light exposed correctly, but it made the room too dark overall. It increased the contrast ratio, making it now look unnatural. The trick is to balance the light levels so the scene feels cohesive and realistic-like how light naturally fills a space. Hope that makes sense?
@@pierogiannist yes that does thank you! Contrast ratio is something I'm still trying to learn and especially without a light meter. Maybe one day you could make a video on it?
I really like the content... no BS, just craftmanship...
thanks brother!
This is actually one of the most useful lighting videos on RUclips Ive seen. Great job, keep doing videos like these!
Wow, thanks!! :)
That “levels” tip was so good!
I almost cut that part out of the video😅 glad I kept it in!
The last look with the window gobo looks so good
thank you! :)
I love spotlights. It really is an amazing tool to have in the lighting toolbox!
must have! thanks for watching🫱🏼🫲🏽🫱🏼🫲🏽
Finally some new and refreshing insights.
thanks for watching! :)
I have been debating for weeks whether to invest in a spotlight, and your video finally gave me the confidence to go for it. Thanks!Now I have to decide between the Amaran and the Godox 😊
glad I could help! definitely worth it :)
The video is simply amazing, thank you!
thanks for the kind comment!
Hey Piero! I just wanted to say THANK YOU for making this amazing tutorial! Beautifully made, the instruction and flow are top-notch and to the point. It's been a while since I came across a video like this! I wish you could expand more and even slow down a bit so you can have time to go more depth in how you approach each lighting setup. (perhaps you were trying to keep the video engaging?) The educational value is so good I wouldn't mind watching for longer! Great presentation and voice! Thank you! Please keep them coming. You have a new subscriber and supporter.
Thank you so much for the kind words and support! I'll definitely keep these suggestions in mind for future videos. I think it‘s a tough balance between going in depth and keeping a video engaging. But I might just make them a bit longer and see what happens😊
3:39 Is the best advice i have ever heard, thanks a lot for this
glad I could help!🫶🏼
Fantastic tips, I'm just on my 'lighting' journey and then are some really useful pieces of info in this video, thanks :)
really appreciate this kind if feedback, thank you!
Merci infiniment pour ces conseils, ça m'a éclairci sur l'approche des lumières pour mes vidéos 🙏🏾
Glad you found it helpful! 😊
Incredible content here! Great job touching on overall exposure levels of the room and making sure the lighting doesn’t feel unnatural or artificial
thanks so much mate! yeah I think this is def the hardest part of the whole technique, easy to get it wrong😅
Keep it up! Been enjoying the uploads!
Thanks so much!
What a great video, thank you for sharing this man.
Glad you liked it, mate!
Great brief run down on motivated light.
many thanks!😊
Wait… so you're telling me the sun isn't actually inside the room?🌞💥
Amazing job 😊 thanks for the insights
Dude !! you're too good man, thank you for such quality content, Subscribed 🤙🏻
Thanks for the love!🙌
Beautifully explained. A spotlight attachment is my next investment. Thanks for the valuable advice on contrast ratio 3:42. Subscribed for more.
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you... Great content... Please don't stop... Please
More to come!
Great video, nice new perspectives on lighting.
thanks for watching! :)
thanks family for the tips
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
Definitely want to see more videos in the future bro ❤❤❤
thanks so much man!
I love so much that u sharing skills which u learned and improving others! Really quality video ☀
Thank you so much! It means a lot to know these tips are helpful for others.
Great video! I use hard light in a similar way.
Just a small addendum: I avoid using hard light on non-professional actors, actresses, or models. For "normal" people, hard light can be quite harsh, and they are often not used to it. Additionally, I try to work with a makeup artist when using hard light.
Thanks for the great input! I totally agree-hard light can be uncomfortable and unforgiving. Makeup artists can really make a huge difference in balancing the harshness.
Cool! Just subscribed, thanks!
thanks for watching!
Great job! Thank you! Please tells us the light power you attached to the spot light attachment to it! If you could list the lights you used and the contrast ratio that will be helpful too! Cheers
thanks for watching! good point, I will add it to the video description. for the spotlight I used the aputure 300d at maybe 70% and for the keylight a small 60w panel at a low intensity and very close. tbh I can‘t tell you the contrast ratio but I can take a look at false color later!
I love your videos. Thankyou.
Appreciate it, thanks for watching :)
Spotlight is definitely in top 10 video gear I bought in 2024. Just ordered 100 gobos from aliexpress :D.
dude, such a smart idea!😅 haven‘t thought of that
@@pierogiannist That would be smart if the quality of gobos is good :D. Will let you know if I won't forget :D.
@JoATTech well as long as they‘re not made of cardboard😂 appreciate it!
@@pierogiannist If they are poorly cut, you can get really ugly shapes. So I'm kinda concern about the cut quality and material as well. But will see :D.
Just commenting so I can see a notification of an update on this. :) Wanna hear how the Ali Express gobos quality turns out haha
Very inspiring.... keep up with more great videos!
thank you!
Nice video on showing different uses of spotlight attachment. It is really helpful for a better production value. Just a constructive criticism though, the part of the contrast ratio is a little bit misleading. Its actually not incorrect, as many narrative film actually used high contrast ratio, depending on the mood or scene that they are trying to portray. Generally though, you want lesser contrast ratio since it will generate a "happy" feeling, and it will also feel natural because light naturally bounces on most materials so contrast ratio wont be that high, but if you want to portray an intense scene or maybe a forboding scene, you want a high contrast ratio. DPs even used Duvetyne for negative fill so they could have higher contrast ratio. DPs though generally dont want their shadows to be crushed if they have some details on the shadows that they want to be seen, but if there isnt, many DPs nowadays dont care if their shadows are crushed, as long as they are consistent on their contrast ratio.
Totally, I appreciate the feedback, and you’re right that contrast ratio can be used strategically. I was focusing on one specific situation/ look in this video but will definitely cover more creative uses in a future one. Thanks for sharing your insights!
this is really good. thank you
Thanks for watching, appreciate the comment!
Great video. Gorgeous shots
Thank you! glad you liked it🤝
Great video, very well explained!
thank you! glad you liked it🫱🏼🫲🏽🫱🏼🫲🏽
If you were building an essentials kit with lighting, along with the spotlight attachment what else would you have?
good one! of course depends on the budget a lot and in what conditions you‘re working in. for a situation like in the video:
300watt cob for the spotlight. you could go for the nanlite fs-300 which is really affordable. and for the keylight you could get a second fs-300 and you have a great kit for not too much money. but if you have more budget, for the keylight I would get a bi color 300 or 500 option and use it with a softbox or through some diffusion. hope that helps?
Hi Piero. Great video just what I was looking for to my real estate photos and video. What gobo do you use to emmitate windows and where to buy? Thanks for a awesome video.
thank you man! so the spotlight comes with a couple of gobos already. you might not need to buy any additional ones. I use the ones that came with my aputure spotlight plus I purchased a second set (again aputure). but careful, they don‘t all match from different brands. the diameter is important!
The tip with the levels is a very underestimated tool. Maybe you could make your own video about it?
You gained a new follower 🙂
thanks a lot for the sub! I will make a dediated vid about this soon. if you have any specific questions, drop them here :)
Thank you 🙏🏽
Glad you enjoyed it!👋
How to avoid that contrast you talked about when using NDs ?
First, it’s important to note that the ND itself doesn’t cause more contrast-it simply reduces the amount of light hitting the camera sensor. The issue arises when you compensate for the darker image by increasing the brightness of your lights without also addressing the ambient light in the room. This creates an imbalance: your highlights and subject stay bright, but the rest of the room becomes too dark, resulting in an unnatural, high-contrast look.
Great work man! Subscribed
Thanks man!
Insane video thank you so much ! What lens was used on the talking head please ?
thank you! I used the sony 35mm GM.
I’m here before this channel hit 100k subs ❤
haha you‘re too kind, thanks!🫶🏼
What camera is being used here?
all shot on sony a7s III
@ amazing work. Subbed.
thank you🫶🏼
Great video!
Killer work! Subbed
Thanks for the sub! 🙏
Great video! I am planning to start my own channel as well and this is pure inspiration of how I aspire to communicate! Also quick question; I loved the fact that you are also committed to the German channel; I am
Mexican and I am torn about what language to do it; do you have any advice for me in this regards ?
thank you so much man! uff that‘s a tough one. so, I consume so many youtube videos and almost all of them in english, so even though it’s not my first language, I weirdly feel more at home doing the videos in english. also, there are so much more people you can reach all around the world which I think is so cool. definitely don‘t start 2 channels😂
@ hahaha thanks man
great video!! new subscriber here!
Welcome to the channel! Glad you liked the tips!
Instant subscribe
thanks🤝🥹
Best useful video 2024 ❤
aww I doubt that but thank you so much!🫶🏼
it's realy good man
thanks a lot man!
very helpful video thank you
Thanks so much! 🙏
at 4:00 you talk about "levels" but do not really explain what should be done to make it "right". Can you please explain more on this? What settings should be on lights sources, what settings should be on a camera, is there some desirable ratio between levels?
Hey Evgeniy, great question! I realize I should have made this section longer and more in-depth. In my example, lowering the camera's exposure by adding ND and brightening the lights kept my face and the fake sunlight exposed correctly, but it made the room too dark overall. It increased the contrast ratio, making it now look unnatural. The trick is to balance the light levels so the scene feels realistic-like how light naturally fills a space.
But I will definitely cover this in a future video so stay tuned! If you have any more specific questions, let me know and I can include them in the vid.
Great 👍🏽
wow, your eyes are beautiful! Just needed to say that.
Haha thanks!
4:30 I’ll have to say although it doesn’t look real. I definitely looks like an 6:45 early morning shot
ha, good point!
Ok that a sub
thank you!👀
That spotlight is so damn expensive and does the most simple job in the whole universe. They should be priced 50 bucks max.
Totally get what you mean about the price. It’s expensive because of the precision optics. There is s lot of glass in that thing that makes sure there is no color fringing. And it‘s heavy and solid. That said, there are some DIY alternatives out there if you’re creative and want to try a budget-friendly approach.
@ sorry bud. Should have appreciated you first. Great video by the way ❤️.
I’m also an amateur creator and k know the work that goes into this kind of a video 💪
apparently i don’t have stuff to do
Well.. I guess we’re both in too deep to quit now.
hey there's NO SUCH THING as overusing a spotlight ;)
sometimes more is more!