Lighting the front of a catwalk

[madorangepanda]

I've read the various threads on lighting a catwalk on here. I'll be using a lot of Acclaim fresnels spread along on truss either side of the catwalk.

 

I've been asked by the photographers for something brighter at the front.

 

They asked for a single 2k, 3m away at a 45deg angle straight on. With 2 fresnels backlighting.

 

Saying this was "butterfly" lighting. Firstly, this is not "butterfly" lighting, I've checked. Secondly, even if we did "butterfly" lighting correctly it would be far from appropriate. Thirdly, it will look horrible.

 

So two things I'd like to ask.

 

1)What is normally used to cover the front "photographic" area of a catwalk?

 

2)Secondly, with the fresnels along the length, I assume that they are used to point both up and down the catwalk, so that the audience can see people from both sides?

[LXbydesign]

Well im sure everyones got their own idea, but for the 'photofinish' at the front I tend to use Source 4's with a bit of diffusion and a couple of PARS as extra backlight. That way, its nice and bright and then the photographer can stop it down as he needs.

 

For evenness though, I will still use whatever else I had been using for the rest of the runway - at the front, but then these extra bits just give a little more lux for your money!!

[paulears]

I suppose in a way, you could often call the end of catwalk stop/pose and turn position lit by what the photographers like to call the butterfly technique because, very often, there is a single light source at that location. They're interested in a single position, we're interested in lighting moving people in much larger areas.

 

With fashion shows, the usual problem prople complain about are too shallow angles, blinding the audience on the other side. I'd be quite happy with Fresnels up and down boths sides, as they blend well and can be shuttered off. Why not add an extra one just to keep the togs happy. They're using their jargon to make you feel uncomfortable - and anyway - proper photographic technique for this would be to have a lower down fill to sort out the under nose shadow - which with an audience will be difficult unless you can hide an uplight on the floor?

 

Your side lights with careful focussing can work for the side light and the backlight for their 'special'. Much depends on your function. Lighting for the audience, or lighting for the togs?

 

A 2K at 3m is one hot light! I'd love to see the models not squint - especially if they are not 'pros'.

[islander]

I assume this is Fashion show. Maybe I am missing something here but my first question is. Which is more important. The public viewing or the camera. Are the photographers Pro and shooting for magazines and or promo shots. or are they just amateur shooting for themselves. I delve back to an old reliable method from my television days.. Our LD used to say, "when in doubt base it out." The answer was scoops. Lots of them. 18 and/or 22 inch scoops with full tough spun. For a runway situation we would set them at 4 ft spacing with the center ones facing straight from front to back and the ones on the side facing in slightly. Fresnels served as backlights, and were run down the centre straight on and barn doored off the audience. Lots of nice even soft light which was already on when the audience came into the room so they get used to it and not grumble. Check for light levels with a meter so the photogs are not changing exposure if they are shooting from one end to the other. Only one better I could think of is a huge chimera. Scoops are cheap to rent or purchase. Not much more than parcans. cheers - Marv