Thread: Lighting Question

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What would be the best way to light a graveyard and how? I've been using a couple spotlights the last couple of years, but I would like more different lighting setup with more color and a more real effect.

I tend to use, red, green, yellow and blue lighting in my graveyard. Lighting placement is by far the most important. You can drastically change the appearance of any object by moving the light source around. I find that most things look spookier by lighting from the bottom. Shadows are created and it creates and eerie look.

Strobe lights are also a good effect. I tend to place strobes in trees and behind objects as it once again casts even shadows. Using two strobe lights set at different speeds can create a whirlwind of confusion and look great ! You can also add colors to your strobes!

Lighting simulator boxes are a great addiction. You plug your lights into them and they flicker and dim normally to a sound input or a microphone on the device. These are also known as color organs, instead of using 3 colors you can use all normal bulbs or even one yellow.


On a general note, I find that more dim lighting is FAR more effective then a couple bright lights. You can specifically pin point objects and create far better illusions!

Check this tutorial:

http://www.skullandbone.com/tutorial_01.htm

Rob is a master of graveyard lighting. Take a look at the gallery pictures as well. I've learned a lot about how to light my yard haunt from his examples.

I use green floodlights that cast a haze over the whole area, and then spots of red and blue on certain areas to highlight them. I'm working with an orange streetlight right next to my driveway, but it tends to have a nice overall effect.

The skull and bones tutorial is excellent - I wish I could get that perfect!

Blue Led spotlights!! I have found this works the best for me.

I use blue floodlights to create an eerie glow and red lights to highlight certain props. I want to transition to LEDs, but have yet to find a good source with reasonable prices.

MinionsWeb seems to have the best prices (but only when you purchase quite a few). Anyone know a good source for LED floodlights?

I also use blue flood lights, in the graveyard mostly, with green and red lights to high light different areas, and props. I would like to switch to led's, I will check it out at some point, and maybe start one at a time as I can afford it. I wasn't super happy with my lighting last year, have to think it through this year better, and try to improve. Skull and Bones tutorial is great, when the time comes will have to study it better.

Here is a great thread with lots of info on different types of lighting. I'm thinking of making my own led spots this year myself.

Yard Lighting Hookup Question

For those interested in LED spots, I found these lights at:

http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=17352+OP

They come in red, white and blue and are just 1" in diameter. It would be really easy to stick one in a tube to make a spotlight. They also have some 12 LED arrays that are used for auto tail and brake lights for $4.95 each. Small size, and they are described as super- or ultrabright LEDs.

One word of advice: Don't try to perfect it in one year, it can break the bank!

After some advice from others, I have mixed blue and green LEDs I bought from Minion.


Ambient lighting for my cemetery custodian...


Some lighting in sync with sounds thanks to HHIAB


In the left corner, a tombstone with a built in strobe behind a lightning bolt cutout covered with red gel, timed with lightning in my sounds.



Some landscape spots to accent areas of interest...
(from 2006)


I spot on monsters in the woods and signage.

I also did some work to make the house look 'cooler' from the road.
I had 3 of these guys...


One of these...


And glowing curtains in all the windows...