Maximizing Natural Light: Tips for Bringing the Outdoors Inside

Beautiful soft light coming from the windows means less work inside the room.

There’s nothing quite like using exterior bounced light to bring life to the interior of a space

It’s great for a subdued look that resembles a cloudy day. The falloff on faces is gorgeous and a large bounce will give you a natural feel since the source outside is so large in comparison to the windows

The only downside of this technique is that it requires quite a bit of power to register the value of light during the day. Three 1200s and one 600 may seem like a lot, or it may seem like nothing at all. Denver is a medium sized market and it’s often cost prohibitive to bring out the tow plant generator, hire a genny operator, plus additional labor and time to run distro for large fixtures. A 7K putt-putt and LEDs will often get the job done for much less.

If you’re concerned about using three smaller lights instead of one large light: fear not. The bounce or diffusion becomes the source. So you don’t need to worry about multiple shadows or unnatural looking light. However, if you’re gonna BajaBlast™️ through a window, I would recommend using a single more powerful fixture. If you absolutely have to use multiple units for the exposure needed, pushing them through diffusion like Hampshire Frost (253) can take the edge off the double shadows while cutting less than ¼ stop of light. Not ideal, but will work in a pinch!

This scene was lit with three @aputure.lighting 1200Ds into 12x ultrabounce outside. A 600C pushed light in the far window and two Infinibar PB12s lifted the ambience while providing warm edge light. A @litegear LiteMat Spectrum 4 through 6x ½ grid with LCD wrapped the key inside. Solid ottomer kept light off the table. Two 12x solids played some negative fill for more shape.

Production @jetblackfilmco

Talent @christiana_sylvia

Dir/Prod @anordgren

EP/DP @hudsonbloom

PM @jordanthansen

Cam Op @ben.p.ward

Stills @ryanwaneka

AC @gabbyjagoras

2AC @anna_sutterer

KG @thefirmgrip

BBG @tongkatt

BBE @trevortietjen

Sound @dillonjamescole

1st AD @sinclairfilm

2nd AD @rfrazee

Art @makeupbyjessicathommes

Wardrobe @vanillabiscottie

HMU @beckyfrazee_

PA @thekidbsmith

PA @madelin.cover

Color @jonniesirotek

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Tyler Kaschke is a gaffer / chief lighting technician with 2 ton G&E grip truck and sprinter van rental serving Denver, Boulder, Golden, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and the Rocky Mountain Region at large.

For more information about grip and lighting tips and shooting video production commercials in Colorado, follow me on Instagram @colorado_gaffer