Gold medal performance for the TruColor HS at the Olympics

With the BBC News and weather broadcasting from the Olympics for over two weeks, lighting the temporary sets was a challenging job for lighting chief John Dowzell. With the use of the TruColor HS, the news and weather were lit in the best possible way and in a very limited space.

Contact the LCA team for more details on the TruColor HS

TruColor HS poised for action

TruColor HS with the Olympic Park in the background

TruColor set up in the studio

Weather girl, Laura Tobin, lit by the TruColor HS

Looking back at the TruColor HS in action

Laura Tobin, John Dowzell & 
Lynda Hanlon (BBC weather producer) 

Mark Thronton, John Dowzell and Suzanne Sanders 

from Goleudy lighting rental 

New light shows its TruColor in the UK

After extensive use in the USA and with resounding success, Production Resource Groups, TruColor HS lighting system for film and television production is now available to buy at LCA.

TruColor HS uniquely represents the next generation of professional lighting tools with an incredibly accurate, vivid color rendering across the visible spectrum. Equally impressive is the volume of light produced, with nearly twice as much output as a 2K soft source with no substantial heat, no flicker and no noise.

Bob Finley (Gaffer: MIB3, The Matrix Revolutions, Spider-Man 3) commented, "The HS light has performed very well on set. We have found it to be a very versatile piece of lighting equipment both in night and day interiors. I have been using one now for four weeks -- now I wish I had four fixtures."

Darran Webb, television LD whose portfolio includes X-Factor, American Idol and America's Got Talent had this to say: "From my experience with HS lights so far, these are major improvements on anything that is already out there. The enthusiasm I was getting from the producer and director was very positive."

At the heart of TruColor HS fixtures are custom-formulated ChromaLit™ remote phosphor panels, the result of collaboration between PRG and Intematix, a leading supplier of LED phosphors. The result: accurate and consistent color rendering that has been achieved at a wide range of color temperatures. Light spreads evenly from the HS fixture at nearly 160º with a single soft shadow. The TruColor HS can output up to 100 fc at 10 feet, providing an unprecedented 25,000 lumens while consuming less than 450 watts.

For more information or to purchase your TrColor HS call us on +44 (0)20 88337600 or email sales@lcauk.com.

Visit our new website at www.lcauk.com

TruColor HS given rave review by leading DoP

Leading the way in the latest phosphorous technology, the TruColor HS is an ideal light for film and TV - as John de Borman BSC testifies on his latest movie.

"What a fabulous light the TruColor HS is . I have just been working with it in Africa on a film called ‘Half of a yellow sun’. The most impressive thing about it is how small it is against the output you get . It’s like having 1.2K HMI but smaller than the size of a 2ft 4bank kinoflo! So perfect for travelling . It is soft and directional with the egg crate provided. What was so surprising is that against the harsh Nigerian sun it worked very well in car interiors when we put it on the bonnet mount and even on exteriors to lift the very dark complexions of the Nigerians . It is a very versatile light converts easily from tungsten to daylight and has it’s own dimmer that doesn’t effect the colour temperature . Doesn’t need a lot of power and for us ideal as we were shooting a lot in small rooms on location and was able to use it to continue the daylight through the window so that it would subtly send the light further into the room. It could be hidden easily and doesn’t seem to heat up so great in the searing heat of Africa.
I was very impressed with it and could see lots of other possibilities ....you could for instance have a bank of them side by side and create a pretty big and powerful soft single source light without it taking lots of power or room. I’ll have to try that on my next film... Anyway a great piece of kit to have when you are in a tight spot and needing some soft directional punch out of your light. Well done."
John de Borman BSC

Taking out the guesswork for the right lamp

We're loving the new Light Source Pro app for the iPhone, iPod and iPad. Light Source is a fully functional photometric calculator for industry professionals, for Film, Television, Photographic, Theatre and Stage applications. This application also serves as an essential learning tool for Film Schools and their students.


Designed for Cinematographers, Directors of Photography, Cameramen, Lighting Directors, Stills Photographers, Camera Assistants, Gaffers, Best Boys, and Electricians; and as a guide to Producers, Line Producers and Production Managers - Light Source helps take the guesswork out of choosing the correct lamp for the job in hand.


Light Source contains an extensive database of lighting fixtures from leading manufacturers. Enter your criteria and the search engine will suggest suitable lamps to meet your needs. Alternatively you can start by selecting your favorite lamp to see if it will be suitable for your requirements.


In all modes (Movie, DSLR and Stage) the output includes the foot-candles and beam spread you can expect.

Features:

-Light Search - let the App find the lights for you
-Light Library - search the library for a favorite light
-3 Calculator Modes - Movie, DSLR and Stage - allow you to enter criteria to suit your different jobs
-Refine your search by Throw and Beam spread
-Detailed results are outputted for Foot-candles, T/F stop and Beam spread for each lens type (whether spot, medium, flood etc.)
-Defaults - save or load commonly used settings for your calculations
-Extensive Database:
-Altman
-Arri
-Dedolight
-Desisti
-ETC
-Film Gear
-K 5600
-Kino Flo
-Kobold
-LTM
-Luminys
-Mole
-Musco

Light Source’s primary function is to get you close to the exposure you wish to operate in, whether in F/T stops or foot-candles.
They’ve built the database from published data from the manufacturers and we’re hoping to expand the same as more information is published. 
The T/F Stop exposure levels outputted by the calculator would be correct for the center of the lit area, falling to approximately 50% exposure at each side of the beam spread.

The database has been complied to contain as much relevant information for each fixture taking into account specifics for lens type, lamp setting and specific beam spread. Light Source updates will include new lamps and manufacturers as they come on board.

Light Source been built to be intuitive and quick to use while in the middle of a job. Anyone with a basic understanding of light / photography can pick it up quickly and get great results fast.




Available from iTunes for £20.99

Your Invitation to BSC evening with LCA

Thursday 7th June sees LCA hosting a BSC evening at North Lodge, Pinewood Studios, 6pm-8pm where we will be showing the K5600 Joker and Alpha ranges.

These HMIs are probably the most versatile in the industry and is the only HMI that can be pointed straight down!

Feel free to come along - we shall look forward to seeing you there!

New LitePad Loop from Rosco

LitePad Loop™ is an innovative and unique approach to the ring light. Powered by the Rosco LitePad light engine, LitePad Loop is a soft, lightweight, and powerful ring light that can work with virtually any camera and lens system. The ingenious, two-part design allows for quick and easy attachment to the camera while its soft, diffused light is ideal for close up photography - the mode for which ring lights were designed.


For more information on the LitePad Loop, click to visit the LCA website >

  

New K5600 Joker Bug Launching at NAB

If you're at NAB this week, don't miss the chance to see the new Joker Bug 1600 from K5600. Launching this week at the show, you'll have a chance to see the light in action on booth C6348.


For more information, please contact the LCA office sales@lcauk.com

New Phosphor Technology Shown at BSC

LCA were delighted to show another new lighting technology to hit the industry at the BSC the other night.

The new TruColor HS delivers an unprecedented volume of soft light optimised for image capture, as well as other applications that demand accurate colour rendering. By harnessing Remote Phosphor Technology (RPT), the TruColor HS exceeds the output of a traditional 2K incandescent soft light using less than 400 watts of AC power. This means you can plug several units into a single 15 amp circuit and avoid the added cost of generators, fuel, and heavy cables. Operating temperatures are also significantly reduced, producing virtually no heat in the illuminated area. 

Putting the new light through its paces at the BSC was Robbie Bryan, Derek Suter BSC, Lou Bogue (gaffer), Alan Lowne BSC Magazine, Richard Blanchard 

Look at those skin tones - Derek Suter BSC and Lou Bogue












Nick Shapley and John de Borman

Lou Bogue (gaffer) Robin. Vidgeon BSC put the PRG TrueClor HS Phosphor light though it's paces

Rather than traditional diffusion to soften the light source, the light actually emits from the RPT panels on the front of the fixture, providing a lighting characteristic that radiates equally in a 160o radius. The ability for TruColor HS light to "wrap" your subject with soft, edgeless shadows is unlike any fixture you’ve ever used.

PRG has partnered with a leading innovator of phosphor technology to develop special high-CRI formulations that deliver 3200K with a CRI of 96. When daylight is required, the interchangeable phosphor panels allow the same fixture to output 5200K with a CRI of 90. Additional color temperatures are being developed to match other light conditions. The color temperature of the TruColor HS is extremely consistent fixture to fixture, and will not change over time like other lighting technologies.

Like all PRG products, the TruColor HS is extremely durable, built to last with anodized alloy construction, flexible polycarbonate panels, and field-serviceable components. The fixture ballast includes both local and DMX control, and connects to the lamp head with a ruggedized multi-core cable.

The TruColor HS is completely flicker-free and passively cooled, perfect for any film or television project, in the studio or on location.

Features

• Utilizes Remote Phosphor Technology (RPT) for accurate, consistent output
• Optimized output for film, video and still photography
• Changeable CCT for maximum flexibility
• High-quality color rendering: CRI 96 @ 3200K, CRI 90 @ 5200K
• Delivers up to 60fc @ 10’, 645 lx @ 3m at 3200K, 75fc @ 10’, 806 lx @ 3m at 5200K
• 160o light spread
• Small and lightweight
• 100% flicker-free
• Passive cooling – no fans, no noise
• Local and remote dimming on-ballast with no color shift • Optional phase dimming ballast
• Field serviceable components
• Built-in filter tray to attach accessories
• Accessories include gel frame, louvers

For more information call LCA on +44 (0)20 8833 7600 or email sales@lcauk.com.

www.lcauk.com

On set with up and coming DoP Annika Summerson

LCA met up with up and coming DoP Annika Summerson on set at Cineco Studios, Brentford, while shooting the promo for Dog Is Dead - Two Devils directed by Prano Bailey-Bond. Annika tells us of the challenges she faced lighting the promo on a tight budget and with limited space.


"The lighting kit wasn't very exciting, mainly par cans and 650w fresnels, 2k fresnel and chimera on a boom arm for top lighting, a 5k fresnel for general fill when needed and a 4k HMI for the forest, we were on a pretty tight budget...

 

The forest itself was made of cardboard that had been ripped and roughed up to create the birch tree like texture but it also meant you couldn't really backlight them since they then got a strange glow that we decided didn't fit so the most difficult thing was lighting the 100 trees from the right angle in a fairly small studio.  It was a lot tighter then it looks.

And a five piece band that all needed to look pretty (which they of course were in real life), but sneaking beauty lights in for the wideshot was pretty tricky since there was no grid in the ceiling yet so everything had to go on the floor and be hidden behind other props.

The production designer Damien Creagh was pretty brilliant and clever I must say though, he basically made it all out of nothing, really minimal budget, and the girl coming up from under the bed was his contraption as well as when she sinks into the ground so he did the SFX as well together with John who owns cineco studios."

LCA Show New Lights at BVE

BVE at Earls Court proved to be a great success showing a number of new and innovative lights to the film, TV and photographic industry. The stand was busy throughout the exhibition with a lot of interest being shown in all the new equipment.  

On show was the latest K5600 Alpha 1600 alongside their Soft Tube (below). The shot on the right shows the Alpha 1600 at strike up.

The K5600 Big Eye was also exhibited. The two images below show the light lit and at strike up.

LCA's Big Softie, daylight LED light source, made an appearance with its 118cm circular hole in the middle.

LCA also presented the latest innovation from Cinesphere - the CineMagicTube which allows you to run both daylight and tungsten from the same tube!






Lastly, but no means least, Litepanels Hilio, 1x1 and Sola 4 were also on show (below)

For more information on any of the above lights, please contact the team at LCA on +44 (0)20 8833 7600 or sales@lcauk.com.

www.lcauk.com

LCA Big Softie Softens Tyson!

Cinematographer, Eduard Grau, recently gave a big thumbs up to LCA's Big Softie on his latest commercial shoot for Fiat Panda commercial starring Mike Tyson.

Eduard recent accolades include the award winning movies Buried, featuring Ryan Reynolds and A Single Man starring Colin Firth who was Oscar nominated, and won a BAFTA for his performance in the film.

Eduard, has recently finished working on three other movies: Animals, featuring Martin Freeman, Arthur Newman, Gold Pro starring Emily Blunt, Colin Firth and Anne Heche and finally A Single Shot starring William H Macy.

The LCA Big Softie key features include:

• 610mm circular big softie eyelight with 118mm circular hole in the middle 
• High Output 6000k 
• Daylight LED Light Source
• Fully dimmable from 0-100% with hand held in-line dimmer 
• AC/DC option

The Big Softie comes in a Kit format which includes:

• Head
• AC supply
• Power cable
• In-line dimmer
• Mounting plates
• 1 x circular discs (for gel or to create your own effects, stars,stripes) 
• Flight case.

Contact the LCA team for more details at sales@lcauk.com or call +44 (0)20 88337600. 

Visit the LCA website at www.lcauk.com

The World's Most Powerful LEDs

And we're not exaggerating! 

FilmGear Lighting have added a new range of extremely powerful LED lights to their current and established range of Film and TV lighting.

AC or DC, these powerful LED lights come in a 360 and a smaller 240: The 240 runs AC230 and 220v or 15-30v DC, 9600 lux at 3 metres. The 360 runs the same voltage range, 14000 lux at 3 metres and an incredible 31000 lux at 2 metres. Both dim from 0-100% and can be DMX controlled.

Rear Housing showing heat syncs, ac/dc input,
dimmer knob and DMX input

To find out more about the World's Most Powerful LEDs simply give the LCA team a call on +44(0)20 8833 7600 or email sales@lcauk.com

LCA - Lights, Camera, Action, suppliers of lights and lighting equipment to the Film & TV Industry

K5600 is certainly no 'Casualty' on set!

Jaz Castleton, the lead DP on BBC's long running 'Casualty', spoke to LCA about his choice of K5600 lights on the set of Casualty and how they have lived up to expectations. 

"I was first introduced to the K5600 product line by Nick Shapley from LCA, the UK agent for K5600.

At that time I was working on a project to move the long running BBC Drama “Casualty” from its home in Bristol to a brand new studio facility in Cardiff.

Part of the brief was to change from a “Tungsten Set” to Daylight sources, this was to facilitate the combining of the interior and exterior sets and also to explore the possibilities of more energy efficient lighting. This combined with moving over to HD on the light sensitive Arri Alexa camera meant we could look at lower powered light sources.

Nick was keen for me to meet with Marc Galerne MD of K5600 and felt Marc had a range of lamps that would fit my needs.

Well I wasn’t disappointed; little did I know that they had a range of Par and Fresnel HMI lamps from 200w to 18k with a very useful array of accessories, I was previously aware of the Joker Bug range but not of these accessories, they really enhance the versatility of the lamps.

Ultimately we specified a range of Joker Bugs of 200w, 400w and 800w with soft tubes and the Big eye attachments. They have proved to be the right choice with 5 months of service behind them they have lived up to my expectations.

They are compact, have great light output, have proved to be reliable and of excellent quality construction and even the Sound Dept like them, as they are silent!!!!

For Location Filming we also went for the Alpha range of 2.5K/4K and 18K Lamps. I particularly liked the innovative Quartz reflector technology this has led to a very light weight compact lamp head that competes directly with the competition, but with a couple of tricks up their sleeve’s, how about mounting an 18k vertically down with a 160 degree beam angle and a ¼ stop difference across that beam.

With the clear glass lens the Alpha lamps produce a stunning quality shadow due know doubt to that special reflector.

I’m really happy that I went with K5600 they delivered on their promise and turned around a large order in just a few short weeks, both Nick and Marc have been a pleasure to deal with and Marc’s passion for his product is clear to see, constantly on the lookout to improve and innovate.

I look forward to the surprises that K5600 will produce in the future."