Setupology#2 - Let there be light

 

Rule n°2 : The blurred shadow

2 things are needed when working on lighting :

  • enough light (but not too much)
  • blurred shadow of the hand

Both are linked to readability. Regarding light, if the intensity isn't enough, it's harder to dissociate fingers/tricks in the combo.

WT19 R1 - one of my biggest failure regarding setup 

If there is too much lighting, there's a clear dissociation between the palm of the hand (white) and the back of the hand (the shadow). Often, it's not a huge issue for readability but it's most of the time displeasing to watch. 

Regarding the shadow of the hand, if it's really distinct behind the hand, it reduces readability because you have 2 elements doing the same movement : the finger and its shadow.

 
Weerman at the FPSB beginner tournament
 
 

Understand how the light works in a room

 A few things to understand regarding lighting

  • intensity of the sun >>> all but it's hard to master and it depends of the time of the day
  • the more your lightbulb is bright, and the more it will create indirect lightning, which will then blur your hand shadow
  • sheer curtains and lampshade are an efficient way to disperse the light and blur your hand shadow

 


 Succession of examples

Example 1 : natural light, no shutter, the palm of the hand is too bright

Example 2 : natural light, half shuttered window, good readability but the contrast between palm and back hand is displeasing
 
Example 3 : artificial light, 4.2W (teinted) light bulb, close to being good but too dark to be really efficient
Example 4 : artificial light, 7W lightbulb, good lighting
 

Using parameters, and depending on your tastes, you can get something similar to example 3 with the lightbulb of example 4, the other way around isn't possible.

Notes :
- backhand lighting isn't necessarily bad but it's not suited at all for competition, especially when filming at 30 FPS
- example 2 looks displeasing but using webcam parameters, it is possible to get something close to examples 3 and 4. I refrained myself to modify too many parameters when making the examples.
- Most of the time you get a distinct hand shadow when using an artificial light source that is far away from you hand.

 



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