Today on The Slanted Lens we are looking at some basic lighting concepts used in photography that can be used to shoot video as well. You won’t want to miss this one, so let’s get started!

Single-Light LEDs

LEDs are becoming more and more popular in the worlds of photography and videography and LED panels are used more and more on set. But today I want to talk about the benefits of using a single-light LED, like the Aputure 300, to light your next video project. This single light source is a wonderful tool to use as a DP. Why? Because you can modify it! You can manipulate this light so that it does exactly what you want.

Using LED Lighting Techniques

If I am planning on using one of these LEDs on set, I always start by adding a 7″ reflector to it. I do this because that reflector is then going to amplify the light coming from the Aputure 300 and increase its power a stop or two. You can then use this basic setup to change the lighting in the background and foreground of your shot (You can learn more about that here). One thing I love about the 7″ reflector is that it has a groove in the front of it that allows you to put grids onto the front to change the area of coverage of the reflector. Depending on how much light you want in your shot, you can put these grids on to control how bright or dark you set is.

How Modifiers Can Change the Look of Your Shot

Another lighting technique will allow us to soften the light in our shots. When we add a shoot-thru umbrella to this 7″ reflector, the light wraps around the subject’s face a little more. This really opens her face up. This modifier also you to light the background almost as much as the foreground. The Aputure light contains a spot for this umbrella to insert into the yoke, which makes mounting it a lot easier! I personally love using umbrellas because they make the quality of light so soft. They produce a really beautiful light!

Another one of my favorite modifiers is the softbox. For this video I am using a Dynalite 30×40 softbox, which you can see really changes the way the light wraps around her face.

The last modifier I want to talk about is the 47″ parabolic from Dynalite. I love using this modifier because it sets the head back deep in the modifier which creates a very soft, but directional light. You may also like using fresnel lenses to modify your light. It focuses light really well and can give you a really cool, film noir look.

So what do all my DP friends out there think? Have you used modifiers to light video before? If not, give it a shot and tell me how it goes!

Keep those cameras rollin’ and keep on clickin’!

-Jay P.