How to Use a Halogen Light for Video

Halogen bulbs produce a warm bright, white light, making them ideal for car headlamps and outdoor lighting.

Halogen lights typically produce a significant amount of heat, which is sometimes considered a waste of energy. They are also known for producing a bright, white light, and are often the choice for headlamps on an automobile. Using a halogen light for video is possible with adjustments, depending on the desired effect in the finished video product and the availability of additional items.

Things You'll Need

• Video camera
• Tripod
• Halogen light(s)
• Paper light filter
• Lightbank
• TV or monitor (optional)

Instructions

1. Set up the tripod facing the desired target, or the location where the subject of the video will be. Attach the camera to the tripod and position it so the camera is facing the target area. If desired, connect the camera to a TV or monitor to determine the quality of the video in the finished product.

2. Position the subject of the video in the desired location. For example, if the video is an interview or video blog, have the person sit where he will be talking on video during the recording. If the video is of a birthday party, have someone sit where the target of the video will be, to ensure proper setup.

3. Place the halogen light in front of the subject of the video. The light may be positioned between the subject and the camera, or behind the camera facing the subject. Look at the monitor on the camera or on the TV to determine where the best location of the light should be. The subject should be clear on the video, well-lit by the halogen light.

4. Look at the TV or camera monitor to determine if the halogen light is producing too much light for a natural video appearance. Use a paper light filter or a lightbank placed in front of the halogen light to filter, smooth, diffuse or blend the light coming from the source facing the target. This helps produce a more natural appearance, similar to those on professional video recordings.

5. Adjust the settings on the video camera to help the lighting improve to a more natural or the desired appearance. In the menu on the camera, select "White Balance" if the camera has this feature. This helps smooth the light if it is too bright and makes the appearance of the finished video product more natural and professional looking. White balance helps improve the color in the video based on the lighting used to record the video.

Tips & Warnings

• Lightboxes, light filters and lightbanks are available online and at photography and videography retailers.

• Take care when making a paper light filter, as halogen lights produce heat and can burn the paper if placed too close or left unattended.

References

• Consumer Energy Center: Light Bulbs
• MK Digital Direct: White Balance

Resources

• Photography Studio Equipment: Lightbanks
• Chimera Lighting: Lightbanks