Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1953)

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MOVIE MAKERS 53 a particular sequence calls for a 3 to 1 lighting contrast ratio. In this case he begins by placing the key light and noting its reading in foot candles. If this reading happens to be 750, he simply divides by 3 and knows that the fill light must be so placed as to deliver 250 foot candles at the subject position. After the lighting contrast ratio is finally set, the incident light meter is then used to determine proper exposure for the film — as outlined in our December discussion. Up to this point all of our suggestions will apply equally well to all meters when they are used as incident light calculators. Owners of the Norwood meter may install its Photodisk in place of the Photosphere to provide a more directional reading than that obtained with the hemispherical unit. However, if the Photodisk is not available, do not LIGHTING CONTRAST of 1 to 1, soft and almost shadowless, is seen in top photo. More natural lighting, at 3 to 1 ratio, is seen below. hesitate to use the Photosphere for determining lighting contrasts ; but be sure to shield it from the light not being gauged. Or, if only one light is turned on at a time, the Photosphere will work as efficiently as the Photodisk. Also, in using the Norwood meter it must be remembered that the brightlight slide of the meter must be either in or out when both the key and fill lights are measured. In other words, do not take a reading of one light with the slide in and a reading of the other light with the slide out. And remember— when the bright-light slide is in, the number indicated by the needle must be multiplied by 30 to determine the foot candles. So much then for the measurement and control of lighting contrast range. Still further balance may be effected in the control of subject contrast range. To find out if the subject brightness range for good color is being exceeded, the cameraman proceeds as follows: 1. With the Photosphere in place, a meter reading is made from the subject position with the bright-light slide out and the meter directed at the camera. The out pointer is then set on the number indicated by the needle. 2. However, instead of determining the proper exposure in the usual way, the cameraman notes the position of the in pointer, because it will indicate the mid-point of the brightness range when the Photodisk is used. 3. Thus, the Photosphere is replaced with the Photodisk and readings are made of all light or dark objects to determine their high and low numbers. Dividing the highest number by the lowest gives the brightness range. If this is greater than 16, the latitude of color film has been exceeded. 4. To correct the lighting, first determine whether the variation from the mid-point is in the direction of the brighter side or the darker side. If the borderline numbers are more than six blocks removed from the in pointer (the mid-point) , then lighting adjustments are necessary. To illustrate, suppose that with the bright-light slide removed and the Photosphere in place the reading is 500 foot candles. We then set the out pointer to 500 and forget about it. But a look at the in pointer shows that it now reads 16. This is the mid-point of the brightness range. The next step is to insert the Photodisk and make readings of the lightest and darkest areas. If the highest reading is 125 and the lowest 4, we immediately know that our scene exceeds the brightness range of color film — since 125 divided by 4 gives a 31 to 1 ratio, nearly twice the permissible range. However, looking at the dial of the meter, we note that the 4 is within six blocks of the mid-point, whereas the 125 is eight blocks removed. Thus, all we need do is to shade the brightest object down to where the meter will read 64, and our lighting will be correctly adjusted. (This is the last of two articles on the use of the incident light meter indoors. For a similar survey of the meter's outdoor operation, see Movie Makers for February, 1952 — The Editor.) \16mm&8mm » Tttatcott 'PietuneSenvtce I 1 6 mm Reduced to 8 mm 8 mm Enlarged to 1 6 mm 16 mm Duplicates 8 mm Duplicates Co/or and Black and White 35 mm slide duplicates and film strip service ^SSfa GEO. W. COLBURN LABORATORY, INC. 164 North Wacker Drive, Chicago 6, Illinois ttiratminjfr THE RALPH R.EN0 CORP. 626 W. 165 ST. • NEW YORK Send your film for free criticism or estimate Inauguration of Eisenhower and Nation's Capital (both in one film) 16mm. sound, 350' . . $21.75 16mm. silent, 360' . . 9.75 8mm 180' . . 5.95 (Postpaid cash with order, U.S.A.) Orders filled in order received. Commercial and Home Movie Service 727-729 No. 19th St., Allentown Penna. •MM— 16MM K0DAOHROMK ■lACKfcWHITl ^^NAYTIONAL CIN* LAB BOX 4+25 • WASHINGTON /T, DC Dress up your films with an ACL COLOR LEADER 8mm. . . $1.50 16mm. $2.00 Amateur Cinema League, Inc. 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y. Safeguard your Film. Ship in FIBERBILT CASES. 400' to 2000' 16mm. FIBERBILT CASE CO. 40 WEST 17th ST. NEW YORK CITY