Last Friday I had decided I would use LED panels for my project but after consideration and some research into the advantages and disadvantages of alternative film lights I’ve decided it best to use a Blonde (2000w) because it still has great strength when diffused so that I can establish that warm lighting that I intended on.

The drive behind the warm lighting choice is that this location should feel like home and thematically it makes sense that the lighting be warm so as to literally accentuate the figurative warmth of the home environment. I will also have a red and a blue gel so as to slightly alter the colour temperature depending on the natural lighting on Saturday.

Below I’ve written a basic pros/cons list including the Red Head, Blonde and the 2k Fresnel :

Red head

• Advantages – Strong, good if you have a smaller space because it doesn’t have wide projection.
• Disadvantages – because it doesn’t have a wide projection it wouldn’t function well as a fill light in a room. Even if you were to diffuse it using a white board the light would be too soft (particularly for the warmth I want to achieve).

Blonde – 2000w – it’s very hard but you can diffuse it

• Advantages – stronger than red head (2000w vs. 800w), therefore when diffused still has a powerful effect. I can put a blue gel on it to cool it down (full, half, quarter)
• Disadvantages – you need a power circuit, just need to ensure nothing else is plugged in

2k Fresnel with lens

• Advantages – still strong output, clean beam of light
• Disadvantages – has a lens so its not the same output as the Blondie, extremely hot, high power requirement

Today’s epiphany: Each film light has advantages and disadvantages and its so important to recognise the difference between them so as to choose the correct light for your particular project. Also, its important to remember that you can do so much more with the lights than you initially think at face value. For instance, you could diffuse the light using boards on a c-stand. Synonymously, you could completely reflect the light off a wall if it is too strong. You could use gels to change up the temperature. I guess what I’m saying is that the basics include choosing the light you want. Then, if need be,  narrow down exactly what it is you want using the extra elements such as the boards or gels….

🙂