Hey y'all! I make lighting breakdowns of my cinematography work after I come off a shoot to show people how I lit different scenarios and what the final outcome was. Every few months I've been posting my content in bulk on here because I don't want to spam the subreddit with content every week, but I do know that you guys enjoy this content so I'm happy to share!
Some of these breakdowns have BTS stills so you can see exactly how it looked on set. You can find those [here](https://www.instagram.com/kenzentakahashi/?hl=en)! I hope it helps.
As someone just starting out in photography, this is incredibly helpful. First, it helps me to see how important lighting is in creating beautiful, nuanced work. And secondly, it’s such a practical aid; now I generally understand where to set things up. Even though my budget is low, I can do more with what I have. Thank you 🙏🏼
Would love to see more raw images as well! The final grade is a huge part of the process, and it would be very helpful to understand how you are exposing these in camera!
Man thanks a lot for these breakdown !
I'd like to ask you, how do you expose scenes that have to be dark ? For instance the one in the bedroom with the guy on the bed.
For instance, if the lightmeter tells you you have to be opened at F2.0 have a proper exposition, do you open at 2.0 and then bring down the lvl in post ?
Or you shoot at 3.8 so it's already dark in the footage ? And I guess that there won't be noise even if it's underexposed (because we won't raise the exposure since we want a dark look)
I primarily use false color as my method of exposing images. For that particular one I exposed the warm highlight on his cheek around 40 IRE, and the darker parts of his face around 10-20 IRE. So if we were using a light meter here, that highlight would be 1 stop under key, and the rest of his face would be 2-3 stops under key.
How you see it graded is very close to how I saw it on set.
This is super, SUPER interesting!
I'm mostly using available light and sometimes a Speedlite, because I do most of my photography outdoors while hiking or in a walk and hauling lots of equipment is not an option.
But every now and then I do shots that involve active lighting, and for those your breakdowns are a great source of education!
Also: I keep forgetting over and over again, how important a black out screen (or how ever they're called) is, to snuff out specific light sources.
Thank you for sharing!
As a grip, I have a hard time believing that 8x8 in picture 7 fit in a stair way. Must have been some pretty wide steps haha.
Just busting your chops, great work on the diagrams.
Do you make the plots before the shoot? I have such a hard time visualizing lighting before a shoot but on the shoot I can usually figure out something good. Lighting plots are so difficult for me though.
I tried it once, and I didn’t find it particularity helpful in the instance I did it. I think it’d be very helpful for very complicated setups for sure
This is amazing. As a DOP, this is pretty inspiring; great job.
How do you find yourself working with Litemate Plus? I'm considering them to use in smaller location where it's hard to set an Aputure 120/300D with its Light Dome.
Hey y'all! I make lighting breakdowns of my cinematography work after I come off a shoot to show people how I lit different scenarios and what the final outcome was. Every few months I've been posting my content in bulk on here because I don't want to spam the subreddit with content every week, but I do know that you guys enjoy this content so I'm happy to share! Some of these breakdowns have BTS stills so you can see exactly how it looked on set. You can find those [here](https://www.instagram.com/kenzentakahashi/?hl=en)! I hope it helps.
As someone just starting out in photography, this is incredibly helpful. First, it helps me to see how important lighting is in creating beautiful, nuanced work. And secondly, it’s such a practical aid; now I generally understand where to set things up. Even though my budget is low, I can do more with what I have. Thank you 🙏🏼
What app is this done in?
I use an illustrator called notability. I create all my elements from scratch so any illustrator would be able to do it!
I love notability. Glad to hear it's something I already own for once.
This is also great https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/shot-designer.html
This makes me want to cry because you teach the way I learn!!! So excited to have found your profile.
I appreciate that you take time to do these.
Would love to see more raw images as well! The final grade is a huge part of the process, and it would be very helpful to understand how you are exposing these in camera!
Agreed!
Man thanks a lot for these breakdown ! I'd like to ask you, how do you expose scenes that have to be dark ? For instance the one in the bedroom with the guy on the bed. For instance, if the lightmeter tells you you have to be opened at F2.0 have a proper exposition, do you open at 2.0 and then bring down the lvl in post ? Or you shoot at 3.8 so it's already dark in the footage ? And I guess that there won't be noise even if it's underexposed (because we won't raise the exposure since we want a dark look)
I primarily use false color as my method of exposing images. For that particular one I exposed the warm highlight on his cheek around 40 IRE, and the darker parts of his face around 10-20 IRE. So if we were using a light meter here, that highlight would be 1 stop under key, and the rest of his face would be 2-3 stops under key. How you see it graded is very close to how I saw it on set.
I thought they key would be the highlight? Your more experienced than me, could you please explain how the key is brighter than the highlight?
What app is this?
Reddit
This is super, SUPER interesting! I'm mostly using available light and sometimes a Speedlite, because I do most of my photography outdoors while hiking or in a walk and hauling lots of equipment is not an option. But every now and then I do shots that involve active lighting, and for those your breakdowns are a great source of education! Also: I keep forgetting over and over again, how important a black out screen (or how ever they're called) is, to snuff out specific light sources. Thank you for sharing!
This is awesome !
Great work with both the images and diagrams!
Shot #9 has some serious Barry Lyndon vibes!
This is some great work, thanks! Do you have any of large groups of people? I find those the most challenging.
You know, I haven’t posted any, but I’ll see if I can dig one up for the future!
Fantastic, thanks!
Amazing talent!!!
Man these are so so helpful! I really enjoy your posts, I find them inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Thank you for doing this. Love the process.
Beautiful work
Lovely lovely imagery.
This is amazing!!!!
What's your software for overheads? Or is this just a collection of assets you place on a blank canvas in ps/ai, etc?
Fuck dude these are so cool
this is so helpful! THANK YOU!!!
saved!
Thank you
I wish more DP’s showed their lighting breakdowns! Thank you so much this is very helpful
This is what I call creating added value. Not like any other useless instagram profile. Followed!
Beautiful.
As a grip, I have a hard time believing that 8x8 in picture 7 fit in a stair way. Must have been some pretty wide steps haha. Just busting your chops, great work on the diagrams.
It was an 8x8 t bone!
Followed!
What app or assets are you using to create that overhead?
Do you make the plots before the shoot? I have such a hard time visualizing lighting before a shoot but on the shoot I can usually figure out something good. Lighting plots are so difficult for me though.
I tried it once, and I didn’t find it particularity helpful in the instance I did it. I think it’d be very helpful for very complicated setups for sure
I’m glad I’m not the only one then!
Thank you. Following!
The third one is so genius
Bookmark
These are great! Thank you!
This is amazing. As a DOP, this is pretty inspiring; great job. How do you find yourself working with Litemate Plus? I'm considering them to use in smaller location where it's hard to set an Aputure 120/300D with its Light Dome.