Thread: video recording with blacklight

Tweet

Hello folks, looks like I'm going to try my project.

I tried a serch of the forums, but kept getting error messages. So here goes.

I need to record my FCG in a dark area under blacklight. Do you folks have any good suggestions, obn video camera setup...lighting if needed etc.

Any assistance appreciated.

Best,
David

You would have to be either over the fog or under it.....trying to video tape in fog just will not work,also when recording use manual focus,I do my videos using very little fog and they come out great, you may also have to attach a light to your camera.

Hi, sorry for the confusion. I'm not using fog.

Basically, I'll set my FCG up on her crank system..then place a flatblack background behind her...turn on black light, then record her movements.

My goal is to have a video of my floating FCG in my dining room ala (peppers ghost principle)

Since there is no existing floating ghost DVD's around that I know of, I'm trying to recreate the effect this way..using a projector.

I'm just not sure about how the recording will be with my vidcam under the blacklight conditions.

I could just record her using normal lighting, but then i loose that cool mysterious purple glow...hence wanting to video tape her under blacklight.

Still open to any suggestions.

Best,
david

any chance you can keep the camera still? a tripod would make your life much more simple... and mounting a uv behind the camera will also help... small normal light on the camera is what i think b737 means - which i would agree, just enough white light to help the camera figure out what it looking at...

the light coming from the object after being illuminated with UV is now VISIBLE light and should be bright enough for your camera to record properly. UV (blacklight) is only invisible until it hits a color it floureces with and then its visible light. The intensity of the UV is directly propportional to the amount of light coming off the lamp but it only reacts with UV reactive colors leaving everything else "unlit".

If your ghost looks very bright then it will be very bright in your video...in fact, it might be overexposed if you camera takes into account the entire black background. also, focus should be on manual as video cameras have a hard time getting focus in these types of situations.

Here's some shots of my 2005 graveyard. Mostly list with UV light but it was a combo on the stones and coffin guy.
20051010_springmill2005

I would suggest a totally black background using black fabric or landscaper's cloth in a room that is completely dark except for the blacklight (like GrinShady suggested). Then, using a tripod (like Vanyr suggested), get as close to the ghost as you can, to the top of the camera's frame on the upstroke of the ghost, to the bottom of the frame on the downstroke.

I'm not sure what you are using to project the ghost, but the secret to a good Pepper's effect is getting the contrast and brightness controls right on the TV/projector. You need a super-bright ghost with a completely black background.

They show on Big Scream TV how to up the brightness and contrast so that there is no light coming from the background and only the object you film. Maybe that would be the rout to go. I would also film against a flat black background. You dont want any shine because than it will show up in the fill and ruin the effect.

Thanks everyone, this is just the info I was looking for. Thank You so much!

Happy Haunting,
David

What about something like this with out the back ground images?
[ame=http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc25/TNBrad/Spooky%20window%20videos/?action=view&current=Graveyardghostandskull21small .flv]Video of ghost in graveyard demo - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting[/ame]

TNBrad, that is exactly the EFFECT I'm trying to achieve. Only with the FCG, and somewhat more transparancy of the ghost.

Thank YOu.

Best,
David