Hi, I'm directing a dance/fine art project next week and i was wondering if you guys could provide me with some tips and practical considerations for my shoot.

I'm shooting a single dancer, lighting her with one fast flickering 400 watt strobe with an arri sr16 and 9.5 lens. Shooting on kodak 250 daylight black and white film.

What you guys think in therms of being able to get exposure etc, focus isn't a problem cause of the lens but yeah. Don't really know what i'm asking for here, just looking to ease my mind a little. any you guys got any advice etc?

for exposure, I would take incidental readings from the dancer just with the 400 watt strobe light (is there a way you can turn the strobe off? or lower the frequency so that you can get time to get a meter reading?)

Since you're using film, it would be a good idea to at least (dimly) light the background or else it will appear really muddy and grainy. Since you're using such a low speed film, you'll need a lot of light. Are you sure the 400 watt strobe will be sufficient in terms of its intensity? You will probably have to move it in closer than normal, which could compromise wide shots in the scene (if you are shooting wide shots).

EDIT: you know, now that I think of it, since you're using such a wide lens to begin with, you'll probably be able to get away with 400 watts, just take some light-readings on the dancer and compensate for it, good luck.

yeah i'm worried about the light. Because i want specific parts of the person to be isolated in white pools and ribbons of light and black everywhere else. It is gonna be pretty close, nothing bigger than a long shot on a person. I have 2 X 400w's and a controller, what if i synced them up and placed them together, would that make much of a difference in terms of light intensity?

I'm a little confused.

quote:

Originally posted by rage2005:
Shooting on kodak 250 daylight black and white film.

Are you referring to 7222? By mentioning it's speed in daylight conditions do you mean that you're shooting in a day exterior (Meaning you're lit by way more than just the strobe), or just that you have a quarts or xenon strobe?

Is the strobe synced to your shutter? If so I think you'll have to link the strobe up to your meter because there is no exposure compensation due to frame rate.

If you're trying to use it as a contiguous source, and aren't syncing to your shutter, you'll want to make sure your frequency is happy. If it's at a flicker free rate agreeable with your shutter you can probably get away with metering towards it, but I'm not completely sure off-hand. Check the ASC manual if you can. I don't have one on me, but will try to look this up when I get home.

Nota "Ow that Hz!" Mono

I'm confused now too. Yeah 7222 is what 'm using. i was told it would be fine? I'm shooting indoors. Only light is my strobe. Dunno what kind of bulb i'm using but the strobe is a 400w Diversotronics data flash. Strobe speed will vary. I'm just gonna hope it doesn't sync itself to my shutter.