Fill LightA Case Study

Analysing the requirement for a Product/Idea to light up a Mandap efficiently

To help wedding photographers in India

The Problem● 95/100 wedding halls in South India are closed halls: With zero natural light esp. at the mandap area where the main

rituals are performed and where the couple and their family sit.● The light provided by 9/10 halls are basically floodlights: Big Halogen lights or commonly known as flood lights. ● The mandap structure blocks the light: Even if the hall has lights mounted on the roof focused at the mandap, the

mandap structure blocks the light from reaching the subjects● Banding experienced while shooting video: Cameras record some sort of banding while shooting under Floodlights and

limits the use of shutter speed esp experienced while shooting video.● Light stands everywhere: Because of the lack of lighting where it’s actually required to help photographers, conventional

teams are accustomed to bringing their lighting equipment like strobes, sun guns, 1000W tungsten lights, etc. ● Obstacle course: The lighting equipment occupy a lot of space around the mandap and causes a lot of inconvenience to

photographers, subjects and the guests● Desperate alternatives that don't work: The alternatives are par can lights mounted on stands and focused at the

mandap from a distance but since Indian weddings involve a lot of people interacting with the subjects, their shadows on the subjects leads to uneven light and a lot of inconvenience on the eye of the subjects

Our ExperienceThis works but with major reservations:

We used a 500W halogen light with a clamp and mounted it inside the mandap.

Either directed the light downwards at a 45 degree angle or directed it to the roof to get a more diffused even light on the subjects.

Advantages:

It was the most popular lighting style, commonly known as Paramount Lighting or Butterfly lighting. This lighting style is the most flattering light which makes any subject look great. This is the style used by many great artists/painters grand masters during the renaissance period.

For Cameramen: Beautifully metered photos and videos!

Disadvantages:

1. The immense heat. 500W is a lot of power2. Too bright. It cannot be varied 3. Too warm - White balance (5600k - 6000k)4. Maintenance and storage

The light that we used which came with clamps that could be mounted anywhere

The light at the end of the tunnel...

LEDs The biggest innovation in lighting

LED lighting equipmentCurrently available in the market

The problem with LEDsReferring to the LED lighting equipment available in the market today

● Stands: They have stands too! ● Very less throw: The throw of the light source is not much (as the image in the previous slide

suggests) the subject needs to be very close to the light source● Small LED panels need Batteries: The small camera mountable ones are good, can be

mounted using a gorillapod. But runs on batteries (need specific batteries too that are not easily available)

● Form factor: The form factor doesn’t solve our problem

Now.Do we have a case!?

YES!

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