Windows
- Thread starter filmny500
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David Mullen ASC
Active member
Depends on the look I want and the mood I'm trying to convey. Maybe two people in profile, nearly silhouette, is what I want. Maybe two people against a bright blown-out window is what I want. Maybe I want them balanced because something is happening outside the window that I want the audience to see.
If you're asking for some generic example, though I don't like to think generically, most people would say that on film, two to three stops overexposed looks natural for the view out the window -- bright but with detail. Now on video, it may or may not hold detail even only two stops overexposed, so you have to be more careful.
But it really depends on how big the window is and how much of the frame it takes up, etc. And the mood you are trying to create.
If you're asking for some generic example, though I don't like to think generically, most people would say that on film, two to three stops overexposed looks natural for the view out the window -- bright but with detail. Now on video, it may or may not hold detail even only two stops overexposed, so you have to be more careful.
But it really depends on how big the window is and how much of the frame it takes up, etc. And the mood you are trying to create.
David Mullen ASC
Active member
Here are some samples from movies I've shot.
The first one was more or less available light, exposed for the light falling through the window, so the outside view is probably three or four stops overexposed:
Then I had an angle looking straight at the windows, so rather than use the natural light coming in, I put ND gel on the windows and added light to balance more with the background, which is only about two stops overexposed:
Here is a shot on stage, a flashback, where I deliberately blew-out the windows for a special look:
The first one was more or less available light, exposed for the light falling through the window, so the outside view is probably three or four stops overexposed:
Then I had an angle looking straight at the windows, so rather than use the natural light coming in, I put ND gel on the windows and added light to balance more with the background, which is only about two stops overexposed:
Here is a shot on stage, a flashback, where I deliberately blew-out the windows for a special look:
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