Feedbacks and suggestions needed

[Nino]

After a few years in the making, the first tutorial site totally dedicated to lighting techniques and equipment for ENG and EFP is now in the final fine-tuning phase, and the best part is that it’s free.

www.ENGlighting.com (or www.EFPlighting.com both will get you there)

This site will be continuously upgraded and expanded with new topics and techniques but because it was created for you I need your feedback so I can take it in the right direction.

In addition of what’s in right now and what’s in the work (see “Future topics”) what else would you like to see. Do you think that the current topics are too advanced?

Your opinions are extremely valuable. There's no such thing as a bad suggestion. Please reply here, or if you want to keep it confidential send me a PM or directly to ideas@efplighting.com



Thanks

Nino

[thru-the-lens]

Nino,

You have really created something awesome. You have used pictures that explain what each light does and explain it very well.

Thank you.

thru-the-lens.

[Rad]

Just breezing through it before going to work.... looks pretty cool. So many photogs in the business these days can't even set up a simple light plan. Maybe this can help bring some of the art back to the craft.

[Stoney]

Wow! As I go through your chapters, I think, "would I have had the foresight to pick a backdrop like that?" You are good, man, real good. I really appreciate the effort put into this website. It is answering questions I have had for many years.

[Lost in Alaska]

Very cool. It may be a bit more than I would use, but it never hurts to know too much. I look forward to more updates.

[McQueen]

You an Old World Master that knows how to "paint" with light.A really first class website. How bout a safety section(bagging stands,Bulb handling etc.Mixing audio and power cable problems?Dedo light techniques? Very nice,Thanks.

[lucky13]

Excellent site...passed it on to all the other photogs I work with.

[elvezz]

Just fantastic of you to do this for the rest of us.

I am often challenged by light, I'll admit it, and this may
help solve my issues. I cant wait to start playing with some of these techniques.

Again, thanks.

[Canonman]

Many thanks for that site, Nino. An instant bookmark for the browser!

cm

[Flaca Productions]

folks - you really should check this site out. its amazingly well done and illustrates things with extreme clarity. this really shows how the 'big dogs' do things.

it shows some pretty advanced setups - and some people out there may want to downplay this by saying "i don't have 10x10 silks" or "i don't have ONE chimera, let alone any HMI's" - but don't be scared. if you look at what is being explained, its mainly THEORY - but it IS coupled with PRACTICE. stuff you can do if you happen to have the same or similar tools.

if you take the theories that are presented here, and adapt them to your own, personal toolbox of lighting gear, you will raise your game for sure.

if you go one step more and actually purchase some of the things that nino has found helpful over the years, you'll advance even more. you'll notice that he isn't scared to show his tricks.

nino is the man. i'm just happy to be a man who knows the man.

[amp]

Great site! So good. I always carry a "Frezzi on a stick" to get the light off the camera. It is a quick and easy way to set up and shoot an interview as the pace of news.

I would love a section on lighting in the very fast paced world of news. One of my favorite ways to light someone in an office is to use the window as my key light. Works great on a cloudy day. I then use my "Frezzi on a stick" as a fill light. Looks good and it really easy to set up. Just switch to filter 3 and use the daylight.

[javary]

there's just something about seeing lighting done right that makes my spine get all tingly.

thanks - there are definitely some things i can add to my bag of tricks.

[schlagdrg]

I would love to see a section on live shot lighting. Lighting with the basics, ie a couple of 250 pro lights.

The site looks great.

Thanks

[newsdude477]

Great site. Very well done. I sent a link to all our guys. Hopefully they'll use it.

[herter857]

I really enjoy this site. It will be a great resource that I will use. I am just a student starting out learning the tricks of the trade and it is nice to have something like this to refer to if I need to. I have learned some of this stuff and it is always nice to see some different ways of doing lighting. I will let other students know about this and instructors. Thank you again for creating a web site like this.

[filterblue]

Nino many thanks to you...seriously...i thought that i might have been somewhat of a lighting guru but seeing what you have put on your site just makes me that much more humble that i know there is always something to learn out there...i thank you...i am going to preach your site to alot of the photographers that i know...i cant say it enough thank you thank you thank you thank you.

[kene1024]

Outstanding site! As a still photog who just lurks here looking for info that applies equally well to video or still shooting, I have to say I am very impressed, and many of your techniques easily apply to still photography.

The truly accomplished individual is one who is not afraid to share his knowledge with others and you, sir, are the consummate pro.

Perhaps you will be the "Dean Collins of Video".

Thanks for taking the time to put that site together.

-ken

[Nino]

Thanks gang for the very encouraging and kind words. In addition to all the replies I’ve received dozens of positive e-mails and some great suggestions from novices as well as veterans. I will reply to all and get to work immediately on those suggestions.
B-roll so far is the only place that the web site has shown and yesterday the site had over 1000 hits, Kevin did a superb job on b-roll, the number of people that regularly read b-roll without being active is incredible.

I had to admit that I had butterflies in my stomach the day I started collecting and organizing the material a few years ago, “if you build it will they come?” or am I wasting my time. I have no doubts now, thanks for coming thru gang.
Future big plans include a series of traveling lighting workshops tied-in to the web site and I want the workshop to be very affordable or even free. To make this possible of course I will require sponsors. I don’t know when but I’m determined that it will happen.

McQueen
Good point about safety. We are lucky in this industry that we are not a target of OSHA or we’ll be in big trouble. After doing this for so many years working safely has become an instinct, you do things without thinking, safety is mostly common sense but what I see everyday in this business unfortunately is not always the case, I will start assembling material for the topic of safety. Thanks.

AMP and SCHLAGDRG
Thanks for the suggestions, quick and good lighting for news crews is part of the immediate plans, such plans also include how to create good, I’m sorry, great interviews on a shoestring budget, and I mean shoestring.

KENE1024
Thank you. My career started long time ago as a still photographer. Unlike the video industry today, back then the educational opportunities for photographers were abundant, we were very fortunate. In the mid 80s when I made the move to television from photography and film I took many of the techniques with me and converted to what I do today. I was also fortunate that I had the opportunity to attend some of Dean Collins seminars sponsored by Kodak, I think that was in the late 80s.

[newshooter]

Great site! Will definately being going through it page by page.

My only suggestion has to do with the layout of the site. The gray font on black background is hard to read. I have to highlight the text just to be able to make it out.

[BluesDaddy]

Nino,
Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge, experience and obvious love and pride in what you do. It is people like you who "give back" that make this industry great to work in.
The principles and setups you show on your new site are something any visual artist can learn from.
My only request is to echo what a couple other folks have said: Give us one page showing some creative run-n-gun setups that take 10 minutes and use a couple Totas or Omnis like most of us at TV stations use. Some photogs might have an easier time getting their heads around these ideas if they see familiar instruments being used in new ways.
Once again, thanks so much.

[Fotoografa]

Nino,

Yes....finally this webpage exists!! I also really appreciate your work on the site. The diagrams are especially useful for geometrically-challenged people like myself! The pictures are perfectly labelled and explain everything---you really should consider a teaching career in videography if it's something that interests you.

I second or third the idea to include more ENG-type lighting for news with tight deadlines. I'll certainly try to use some of the principles you've explained, but I'm only ever able to have 2 lights on me at the most when I'm in the field. Not to ask for "shortcuts"...but something to explain "lighting to deadline" would help me even more.

Thanks again! Great work.

[cameragod]

Nino, it’s been my belief that if I can do something to improve the standard of work out there, be it through training or talking on b-roll or whatever, if it was good for the industry long term it was good for me. You’ve out done me by a mile. The amount of work and thought you have put into this amazing resource is just awesome. Congratulations!!!

[austinsatguy]

Two Words, WOW and THANKS

[Matt Box]

Nino this is just great! I learned a lot on my first visit. It's like getting to do an apprenticeship with a pro--online!

Looking forward to your additions in the future. Maybe you could add the wattage of the bulbs used in the demos on the site, but thats the only thing I can think of.

Thanks so much!

[joecam147]

Great job Nino, Chiaroscuro to you ! No wonder your truck is so big. You should be getting some jing from Source Four, Lowel, Matthews, K5600 and every other toy manufacturer in those pictures, Good Luck.