I've join Control Booth to explore the pros and cons of redoing a photography studio, borrowing ideas considerably from theater rigging and lighting.
I imagine that most people subscribed to Control Booth can envisage how a photo studio is equipped. In short, mono-lights on stands and roll-down backdrops. The more complex the scene one wants to create the more congested the set becomes.
In my niche photo studios are in the early stage of morphing into also being video studios. But I'm wondering what the evolving studio learn from theatre setups. I suspect quite a lot.
For example:
why not attach lights and backdrops to a rectangular truss that can be raised/lowered on demand instead of grip people climbing ladders to make changes;
why not use continuous lighting instead of only strobes that are attached to pantograph arms, which are hung from sliders on rails attached to a truss, so that lights could be moved to any position;
why not manage everything from a console that can be rolled around the studio?
The 2 initial categories I'd like to discuss are rigging and lighting. My engineering knowledge isn't deep and I know little about light fixtures, even though I've watched many youtube videos. I know how to light scenes with strobes and I understand color.
I'll try to explain how I envisage rigging to get the ball rolling. In simple terms, I'd erect a 25'x25' truss and stand it on (truss) legs so that it's 15' high. At one end I'd mount a line-shaft hoist or a powered clew winch and through a configuration of pulleys create a 4-point lift to raise a 24'x24' truss to a max height of 14'
To the truss that's raised/lowered, I'd attach say 6-8 lighter weight cross beams and attach rails and rollers to them. To the rollers I would attach pantograph devices and attach light fixtures to them. I'd also attach roll-down seamless paper and backdrops.
Hope to hear from anyone interested in helping me spec such a project. I'll get to lighting later on.
Thank you.
I imagine that most people subscribed to Control Booth can envisage how a photo studio is equipped. In short, mono-lights on stands and roll-down backdrops. The more complex the scene one wants to create the more congested the set becomes.
In my niche photo studios are in the early stage of morphing into also being video studios. But I'm wondering what the evolving studio learn from theatre setups. I suspect quite a lot.
For example:
why not attach lights and backdrops to a rectangular truss that can be raised/lowered on demand instead of grip people climbing ladders to make changes;
why not use continuous lighting instead of only strobes that are attached to pantograph arms, which are hung from sliders on rails attached to a truss, so that lights could be moved to any position;
why not manage everything from a console that can be rolled around the studio?
The 2 initial categories I'd like to discuss are rigging and lighting. My engineering knowledge isn't deep and I know little about light fixtures, even though I've watched many youtube videos. I know how to light scenes with strobes and I understand color.
I'll try to explain how I envisage rigging to get the ball rolling. In simple terms, I'd erect a 25'x25' truss and stand it on (truss) legs so that it's 15' high. At one end I'd mount a line-shaft hoist or a powered clew winch and through a configuration of pulleys create a 4-point lift to raise a 24'x24' truss to a max height of 14'
To the truss that's raised/lowered, I'd attach say 6-8 lighter weight cross beams and attach rails and rollers to them. To the rollers I would attach pantograph devices and attach light fixtures to them. I'd also attach roll-down seamless paper and backdrops.
Hope to hear from anyone interested in helping me spec such a project. I'll get to lighting later on.
Thank you.