July 2009 Lighting: Operation & Safety

2 Lighting Kits Before Borrowing Lighting Kits −Complete the online quiz −Score 100% Based on the material in this workshop

3 Lighting Kits Quartz Halogen vs Incandescent Lighting –Both operate on the same principle: Electric current passes through a thin tungsten metal filament causing it to heat white hot and emit light –However, quartz halogen lamps encase the filament in a quartz casing filled with halogen gas. This allows these bulbs to run hotter, brighter and whiter

4 Lighting Kits Lighting Kits For Loan: –Lowel ViP Pro-light Low-level key or accent light, fill light (with diffusion) or back-light for interviews & other small shooting-areas 250w 120v Max 8.3 Amps Power cable 4.88m long

5 Lighting Kits Lighting Kits For Loan: –Ianiro Varibeam (red heads) 1000w & 600w Spot-flood rear knob Head cable 3.50m long 4 leaf barn doors with gel clips

6 Lighting Kits Extras You Can Supply: –Wooden clothes pegs for fastening gels, foils, etc. –Sandbags for weighting down equipment –Practical lighting from hardware stores: Utility lights: –Aluminum reflectors, ceramic sockets, etc. Windshield sunscreen as a reflector Foam core whiteboard Leather gloves for handling bulbs

7 Lighting Kits Safety First –Check all equipment for damage before use –Use at least 14 gauge extension cords –Tape down all cables (Gaffer’s tape) –Use ONLY in dry conditions –Always open the barn doors before turning a lamp on –Never look directly at the lamps –Never pick up and move a lamp stand while the lamp is on

8 Lighting Kits Safety First Cont’d –Do not operate the lamps pointing up or down at a very steep angle (greater than 60 degrees) from the horizontal –If smoke appears around the lamp or cables turn off the lamp and return it to the library

9 Lighting Kits Hot Lamps –These lights can get very hot! Use only approved accessories, e.g. gel frames Only use approved bulb replacements and never touch the new bulbs with bare hand (oil from your skin can cause them to explode when heated) Subjects will be affected by the lights Keep all subjects/objects minimum 2 meters away Keep all lamps and cables at least 6 meters away from all flammable materials such as gas and oily rags

Lighting Kits Hot Lamps Cont’d Do not touch the lamps without gloves for at least 20 minutes after turning them off Wait at least 10 minutes after turning the lights off before disassembling the lights

Lighting Kits Electric Safety Official –How to find the draw on a circuit Draw (amperage) = total power (watts) / voltage  e.g. draw = 1000 watts / 120 volts = 8.3 amps Using this formula do not load a circuit more than approximately 80% of it’s maximum  e.g. most household circuits are rated at 15 amps: »15 amps x 80% safety factor = 12 amps there for do not use more than 12 amps

Lighting Kits Electrical Safety Simpler –An alternate formula, with a safety factor built in: draw = total power /100 e.g. draw = 1000 watts / 100 = 10 amps –Using this formula, the 80% safety factor is built in so any circuit supporting at least 10 amps is fine for lamps totaling a 1000 watts

Lighting Kits Electrical Safety Simpler Cont’d –Note: the total power consumed is the sum of all the lights on one circuit, so add together the watts for multiple lights e.g. 600 watt light watt light = 1600 watts –1600 is too much power for one household circuit, so split the load onto different circuits

Lighting Kits Activity: Inventory Check –What is in the Kit: A set of 2 or 3 lamps 2 or 3 sets of barn doors 2 or 3 light stands Operation and safety guide Gaffer’s tape or duct tape Leather Gloves Spare bulbs Gel frames are in the Lowel Kit only

Lighting Kits Activity: Inventory Check Cont’d –What’s not in the kit Gels Weights e.g. sandbags Umbrellas, reflectors, gobos 14 gauge power extension cables

Lighting Kits Activity: –Setup and Assembly

Lighting Kits Assembly and Setup –Procedure: Assemble your lighting kits according to the instructions Recall what you learned about safety and… Configure the lighting kits according to the 3-point lighting diagram to the right After your setup is checked by your instructor, disassemble and return the kits

Lighting Kits Three Point Lighting –Position your key light 15° to 45° off the subject- camera axis, and raise it approximately 30° from the horizontal. –Always loosen the T-handle and thumb-screw locks on the lights before making adjustments. –Place the fill on the opposite side of the camera from the key. It doesn’t have to be equal distance.

Lighting Kits Three Point Lighting –The fill can be physically lower than the key, and is usually lower in intensity as well. –Use some diffusion gel on the fill light –The back light can be positioned opposite the key, or directly behind the subject. Raise it high enough to get the rim lighting effect you want. You may have to hide the stand in some cases.

Lighting Kits Online Quiz: – Lighting kit workshop and quiz

Lighting Kits Questions: –Contact the Library Media Technicians –Contact Media Coordinator

Lighting Kits First Level Bullet Point (Main Points) –Second Level Bullet Point (supporting points) Third Level Bullet Point –Fourth Level Bullet Point »Fifth Level Bullet Point