Author: Kyle Spencer

Legality of Shooting in Public vs. Private Spaces

Posted on by Kyle Spencer

Filming in Public: Key Legal Principles to Understand

Filming in public may seem as simple as taking out a camera and pressing record, but there are important legal considerations that creators should understand to avoid violations and unnecessary conflict.

  

Public Spaces

In most public areas, streets and parks are considered open for photography and videography. Individuals in these locations generally have no reasonable expectation of privacy, meaning they may be recorded as part of the environment. However, exercising discretion and avoiding intrusive behavior prevents confrontations.

Private Property

Once filming happens on private property such as retail stores, malls, restaurants, or residential areas, the rules change significantly. Property owners and managers have the authority to allow or restrict recording. Refusing to stop when asked can result in removal from the premises and, in some cases, legal consequences such as trespassing.

Audio Recording Laws

Video and audio laws are not always identical. While filming visually may be permitted, recording conversations without consent can violate wiretapping or privacy statutes. Regions vary between “one-party consent” and “two-party (meaning all-party) consent,” so it is essential to understand the law based on where you are operating.

Filming Law Enforcement and Public Officials

In many countries, including Canada and the United States, individuals have the right to record police officers and public officials performing their duties in public spaces. This right is protected so long as filming does not interfere with their work or compromise safety. Maintaining distance and cooperating if instructed to move is recommended.

Professional Conduct

Although the law may allow filming, professionalism and respect are crucial. Approaching individuals aggressively, obstructing movement, or recording in a harassing manner can escalate situations and may cross into legally questionable territory.

Conclusion

Filming in public is generally lawful, but the boundaries between permissible recording and infringement depend on location, context, and conduct. These are general guidelines that you should follow, however you may want to check local regulations as they vary between states, provinces and countries. Understanding these principles and applying sound judgment ensures compliance with the law while maintaining responsible filmmaking practices.

 

Black Lights Party Event UV Ultraviolet Canada

Comparison of Blacklight (UV) Lights by Big City Lights

Posted on by Kyle Spencer

Glow In Dark UV Ultraviolet black light blacklight Curtains Party Decorations Canada

Blacklights are useful in entertainment, art, and event lighting. They shine ultraviolet light that makes fluorescent materials glow, making them great for stage effects and parties. At Big City Lights, we offer several types of blacklights with different wattages and designs. Here’s a breakdown of each option and where it might be best suited.

9W Blacklight Bulb
A 9-watt blacklight bulb is the most basic and compact option. It’s ideal for small spaces or decorative use, such as accent lighting or small displays. It doesn’t cover a large area but provides enough UV output for subtle glowing effects on nearby objects.

12W PAR Blacklight
The 12-watt PAR blacklight provides a moderate increase in brightness and coverage compared to a standard bulb. It’s commonly used for small room setups, or points of interest. The spotlight style also helps focus the UV beam better than a bulb.

36W PAR Stage Blacklight
At 36 watts, the stage light is significantly brighter for professional or semi-professional environments. This model works well for stage productions or parties that require UV coverage over a medium area.

54W BAR Blacklight
The 54-watt BAR blacklight is designed for broader coverage. Its elongated form allows for more consistent light across a wider surface, making it ideal for stage backdrops, large rooms, and themed events.

And finally our 100W Canon Blacklight
The 100-watt Canon blacklight is the most powerful option in this lineup. It provides intense UV output suitable for large venues or concert stages. The focused design of the lens allows the blacklight to project UV light over much wider areas, maintaining brightness and clarity even in large spaces.

 

 

LINKS TO PRODUCTS:

 

100W LED COB UltraViolet Cannon UV Black Light

 

2 Pack Neon Disco Party Decorations 3.3 x 6.6 ft Fluorescent Glow In The Dark

 

9w LED Black Light Bulb A19 E26 Base

 

36x1w (36W) LED UV Blacklight PAR Stage Light

18x3W (54w) LED UV Blacklight

 

12x1w (12W) LED UV Blacklight PAR Stage Light

 

Glow in the Dark Body and Face Paint

 

Glow in the Dark Gaffer Tape for Blacklight Parties

 

12x3W (36w) LED UV Blacklight

 

polarizer photo lens filter

Polarizers – What They Do and What Are They Good For?

Posted on by Kyle Spencer

A polarizer is an optical filter usually used on cameras to block certain light waves while letting others through. In photography, it can darken skies, reduce reflections, and enhance colour saturation by filtering out unwanted light that causes glare. Light waves travel in different directions and using a polarizer sections off waves going in certain directions lessening reflections and making the shot slightly darker.

polarizer photo lens filter
Here we see how it darkens the blue of the skies.

Thin film linear polarizers use glass layers on which a special optical coating is applied. The interference in the glass causes them to act as beam-splitting polarizers. The layers for the film can either be a plate, which is inserted into the beam at a particular angle, or a wedge of glass that is put into a second wedge to form a cube with the film cutting diagonally across the center.

 

polarizer photo lens filter
Here we can see how it removes the reflection off of the water.
How to Use a Polarizer
• Screw it onto the lens.
• Look through the viewfinder or LCD.
• Rotate the front ring until reflections decrease or colours deepen.
You’ll see the results immediately as you turn it and get darker skies, less glare and clearer detail.

VIDEO OF POLARIZER IN ACTION:

Time Lapse Canada Slider Timer Toronto Scarborough Markham Ajax Pickering Oshawa Hamilton Barrie Etobicoke Markham Ajax Richmond Hill Vaughan North York Ottawa

Great Examples of Time Lapse using The Big City Lights Rotating Timer

Posted on by Kyle Spencer

Doing a Timelapse is a Phenomenal type of videography that literally turns hours of time into a seconds. If its a construction project, a sunset or even city traffic, it will make art of what you cant see in real time. This is a handy tool to show the passage of time.

Timelapse’s take an extreme level of patience and delicateness to pull off, it involves taking a series of images at a pace of around once every 5 seconds over a long period of time and then playing it back at 24 – 30 frames a second, making a smooth motion clip. For example, at the rate of one picture every 5 seconds, you would need to wait around 30 minutes to get a clip of 10 seconds long playing at 30 frames per second, but if you have the time, it really worth giving a shot.

HERE ARE SOME HANDY TIPS ON HOW TO CREATE A GREAT TIMELAPSE:

Make sure to use a tripod or a stable surface so the camera doesn’t move.
Fast scenes (traffic, people) work best with 1 to 3 seconds between shots. Slower ones (sunsets, shadows) can use between 5 to 10 seconds.
Switch to manual exposure so the lighting stays consistent between shots.
Try mounting your camera on a small motorised rotating timer or slider. this will add a dynamic movement to your timelapse. (Big City Lights sells Rotating Timers and Sliders- We have links to them below.)
If your camera does not have a time-lapse ability, you can use a editing software or a time-lapse app to stitch the photos into a video, then adjust the speed to your liking.

ADD MOTION TO YOUR TIMELAPSE WITH EITHER A ROTATING TIMER or a SLIDER:

Lets take a quick look at the 3 products that we carry:

You can make your time-lapse more dynamic and add motion as well as depth by using a rotating timer or slider. First up lets look at our 360 Degree Timer. This product is ideal for doing panoramas. It comes with adjustable time markers showing the 5, 10, 15 all the way up to 60 minute marks helping the user set exactly how long they want the time lapse to be as well as the degree of the panorama. (45, 90, 180 or 360º or anywhere in between.)

Now lets look at our sliders, Big City offers 2 different motorised sliders. They can both be programmed for use using your smartphone. They both have an X-axis which can be used to add slow dolly or truck movements and our deluxe model also has a Y-axis so you can pan at the same time.

All of these are very easy to use, all you have to do is attach your camera to one of these units, set your camera and timer settings and you are ready to go.

OTHER WAYS OF SHOOTING A TIMELAPSE:

Phones have come a long way. iPhones and Androids both have timelapse modes now, and they automatically handle all the timing, exposure, and blending for you. You don’t have to know anything. its  just hit record and wait.

The downside is that you don’t get much control over the final look. But for casual videos or short clips for social media, phone timelapses are surprisingly good.

GoPros and other action cams have built-in timelapse modes that make it easy. You just choose “timelapse video,” set the interval (like 1 photo every 4 seconds),  and it spits out a watchable clip.

They’re not as sharp as say a Sony or Nikon, but they’re great for movement, like driving, travel or city shots. You can also mount them anywhere.

 

360 Degree Panning Rotating Panorama Time Lapse Timer

Big City Model 100 – Single Axis Motorized Slider with Smart Phone Control

Big City Model 200 – Dual Axis Motorized Slider with Smart Phone Control