We at Big City love to support art and artists when we can, this event held on Dec 15th, 2017 was to promote local Toronto Artists. Here are a few snaps from the event.
The Big City Ring Light In Action
DJ’s SPINNING
Crystal Head Vodka was another Supporter
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) in film has been used for decades in the film industry. It started getting to the point of realism in the early 2000s. From large space battles to generating an entire person – it can get a little bit crazy. CGI is a good thing in general. It can add on and enhance film a lot. Nowadays most films can have a large portion of the film completely computer generated. A lot of the films we see today follow that trend. Sometimes actors are only needed for an in-studio shoot for a couple of days, then the rest of the film will be completed on computers for the next couple of months.
Sometimes studio can over do CGI to the point where it is almost confusing to the viewers. CGI can sometimes take over 90% of the shot with the actor’s faces added onto a generated body. We’ve advanced a lot with how CGI looks and feels but its not always going to be perfect. Back then, lousy CGI was considered the norm as it was a brand new tool being used and hasn’t been mastered completely. Studios would often use a large amount of their budget on set design and costumes to help replicate what CGI cannot. A good example is The Lord of The Rings film series which were produced in the 2000s during the sprawl of CGI. A lot of the film was done in CGI with large amounts of detail and large scale environments. Although a large amount of the film series was done with CGI they still kept practical and smart ideas with them. For example, some characters in the film are supposed to be around 3 feet tall while the actors are above 5 feet. The directors and set co-ordinators made two separate sets and filmed each different actor in their corresponding set based on height. Once both sides were filmed, they were combined together into one shot. This is a good example of how filmmakers can still use practical and creative ideas to enhance the film without using too many effects.
Sometimes little is a lot and thats what some films excel in with the usage of CGI. A one on one conversation sometimes doesn’t need a lot of visual effects to make it a spectacular shot. Although recent films have made that statement a little less true. ———- Some films do not follow that suit, they may have a focused shot on a conversation with too many background events happening. Visually the eye can focus only on so much, having all these background details can be disorientating for viewers and can leave a negative impact on the mind. Simplicity can sometimes be better for the eyes. A gunfight with multiple explosions and things swinging by might be too disorientating. This can be great for post-editing as it allows the team to focus on key details than leaving some out. An example of simple filmmaking in action movies is the John Wick series. In the films, most of the action scenes were recorded with one camera in a smooth and slow pan effect. The video below shows the difference in filmmaking between two action movies.
Have you ever sat at your desk and your computer starts freezing and taking a long time to respond? Maybe it’s time to upgrade or see how you can fix the problem.
Some tips before upgrading
A lot of problems with your computer may not be all hardware related. Issues could simply be a overloaded hard drive to having too many applications running. It is always important to manage your computer’s health by the way you use it.
A common problem is having too many applications running at the same time. Having multiple programs open at the same time can reduce speed and overall performance. This is important as some programs have heavy usage on some parts of your computer. For example, computer games can take up a lot of graphics power and a lot of RAM. The easiest way to fix this is to close any applications running in the background that you do not need to use. This will ensure the programs you need will have no limitations on performance and an overall cleaner desktop.
Here is what you can do to prevent this issue:
Another good step to fixing potential issues is maintaining your system both physically and on the system itself. Maintenance is key to making sure your computer lasts.
Maintaining your computers health can be confusing for some people, but it is a general task that most people can do that applies to other things you take care of. Tasks can include dusting your PC, cleaning the area around it, managing wires and keeping them tidy and other tasks to ensure your computer is maintained the best.
Dusting a PC can keep temperatures lower and overall reduce the aging process of your parts. Be sure you dust outdoors or in an area with good ventilation since dust can get everywhere. Be sure to use air dusting cans specifically for cleaning computers etc. Some parts you may have to detach and wipe down with rubbing alcohol or other cleaning solutions. Each part can be different based on manufacturer, so search up the best ways for your products. Once you are done dusting, the best way to prevent dust is to keep your computer at a higher elevation and away from carpets and other dust absorbing areas. Dust will build up overtime no matter what, so be sure to clean monthly to ensure the best clean computer.
Keeping wires manageable is not a necessary task but it will help a lot when it comes to cleaning, moving and maintaining your system. It also ensures that wires do not get tangled up, ripped and worn out. You can simply straighten them out and align them with each slot or can go further by labeling wires, using cable ties and other tools to keep them manageable. Both work and are small steps to maintain your system.
Some tools that can help you manage your system include HWMonitor, Windirstat, Malwarebytes and other tools. HWMonitor is an accurate way of showing temperatures, voltages and other usages your parts are doing. Windirstat displays everything on your hard drive in a simple block format and provides tools to remove them easily. Malwarebytes can scan your computer for malware and other unwanted software and can quarantine and remove them from your system. All these programs maintain and gives you tools to take action if needed. There are other alternatives to these softwares so test them out to see which is right for you.
So which parts are slowly my system down?
Computers age just like your smart phone and other electronics. There are a lot of factors in the aging process when it comes to each individual part. Some parts can last several years while some may start degrading over 4-6 years. The most common parts that need replacing before most other parts are the CPU (Processor), GPU (Graphics Card) and hard drive. There are a lot of common signs to see if your parts are beginning to slow down.
Both the CPU and GPU are the most important parts in a setup, meaning once you notice a degradation in performance – you may want to see if those two are the problem. Common signs for the two parts degrading may include an overall slow speed, stuttering and freezing during tasks, low frames per second when playing games and high temperatures coming from the parts. These signs can mean your system is needing an upgrade soon – don’t rush, be sure to follow the steps previously to see if those are the issues instead of an old system.
A hard drive may also need to be replaced since current solid state drives (SSD) are becoming the new norm for storage. The difference between a regular disk drive and an SSD is a large amount. The difference between the two is how they read and write information. A disk drive physically writes and reads information using the spinning disk. An SSD digitally downloads instead of physical movement. This results in a much more faster read and write which overall makes a setup faster. For example, an HDD can take a couple minutes to load your OS, an SSD can take less than 30 seconds to load your OS. Although an SSD has a higher performance and a higher price, HDDs can still perform the task. A common trend includes both an HDD and SSD in the system in which high priority tasks will be installed on the SSD.
Desktops or Laptops?
A recent common trend are manufacturers creating laptops with desktop grade performance at a low price. A lot of people looking to upgrade can have problems choosing between a desktop or a laptop for their next system. Here are some pros and cons to both systems.
Desktop
Pros:
Cons:
Laptop
Pros:
Cons:
Overall you would want to purchase based on what you would want to do with your system. For example, university students can always be on the move and always need something to take notes. If you have similar problems, then a laptop is idea. If you mostly stay at home or work in a stationary area then a desktop should do fine. See which you would see yourself using more.
What do I need to upgrade? Cost? Long lasting?
Based on the parts you need, you can spend a lot of money on upgrading. Parts such as CPU, GPU, RAM and other large functioning parts can be more expensive than others. The market also changes a lot as prices increase and decrease but as of right now, most prices are decreasing. An average CPU can cost anywhere between 200 dollars to 500 dollars depending on how well you would want to upgrade. GPUs can cost between 400-1000 dollars based on what you need from games to 3d softwares. RAM prices have been increasing due to the surge of smartphones using DDR4 ram and alleged price fixing in the demanding market. Ram can cost an average of 100-200 dollars for a 16 GB set. SSD prices have dramatically decreased over the past decade as SSDs are becoming the new norm for storage. A 1TB SSD can cost around 400 dollars which can seem a lot compared to a 1TB HDD, but the difference is worth it.
Operating systems are also important. They mainly control the interface, pre-installed programs and specific settings. The two most common on the market is Mac OS and Windows. Both work well but are dependant on the way the user wants out of their operating system. Mac OS is pre-installed in every Apple product for a good reason. It’s the simplicity and user friendly interface that Apple has perfected for the past decades. Mac users will have a large amount of pre-installed tools, softwares and programs they can use with Mac OS. The only limitation to Mac OS is the hardware. Upgrading hardware in Mac PCs can be limited or expensive compared to a Windows PC since some parts are not upgradeable. Apple did have a solution by making Mac PCs long lasting.
Windows does not come with every setup unfortunately, some prebuilt computers may have it installed already but Windows 10 can cost over 100 dollars to purchase and install. Windows uses a slightly more complex interface with a simplistic design. Their design and programs can be changed for beginners to experts in computers. Windows does come with their own pre-installed software and programs which replicate what Mac OS has. The big difference between the operating systems is how the user wants to interact. For those who want a simple but innovative design then Apple’s Mac OS may be more fitting. For those who want more customization and more possibilities then a Windows may be more fitting.
A typical mid-tier system can have a cost estimated below:
Estimated total cost: 850/910-1610/1810 dollars (withoutSSD/withSSD)
Additional and Optional costs
A mid tier system can last for a long time. The life span of a system can be anywhere between 4-8 years before serious upgrading is needed.
Buying Cheap vs Expensive
Upgrading should be for the long term run. Most parts can last a long time when bought new, almost like buying a new car. Some parts can be bought cheap such as case fans, peripherals etc. Some parts are always best to buy at a higher price than expected. For example, a power supply is a part you do not want to cheap out on. A cheap and faulty power supply may even cause the system to overload and cause potential harm. Buying a new part can last a long time which is good for the long run. Always check to see which parts you can spend less on and see what you need to spend a lot on.
How do I upgrade?
Upgrading a computer by yourself can be a confusing and intimidating task for some. Most manufactures have manuals and labels included to help guide you in switching out parts or building a new system from scratch. There are plenty of online guides and videos if you do need additional help. If you do not trust yourself with these expensive parts then most computer shops will be happy to build the system for you.
Overall it is important to know when is the time for you to upgrade your computer. It is important to check if your system really needs it or not. Problems can be solved by maintenance and keeping an overall good computer health. When you do need to upgrade, you always want to consider parts to buy and see which one is right for you. Expect a large amount of money spent since buying or upgrading a computer is an investment for many future years to come.
Are you thinking of buying a ring light, but you don’t know which one to buy?
Well, at Big City Lights, we have a variety of different ring lights to choose from. So we have made a video explaining the different types of ring lights we have, and their purpose and features. This video talks about 5 different lights, a 12″ Fluorescent, 18″ Fluorescent, 18″ Dimmable Fluorescent, 18″ LED Dimmable, and the 18″ ULTIMATE. Basically, the 12″ ring light is a fluorescent light, that is only recommended for close up shots only (head / shoulders) Next, the 18″ Fluorescent is just like the 12″, but more for a wider shot instead of closeups. Next, the 18″ Dimmable Fluorescent, this light is very similar to the regular 18″, but it also has a dimmer which allows you to turn down the brightness of the light. Next, the 18″ LED Dimmable, this is very similar to the previous 18″ model, but it uses LED technology. This means you don’t have to replace the bulb because it will last you a very long time, as it is also more durable. Finally, the 18″ ULTIMATE Diva, this ring light has the most features out of them all, it comes with a cellphone holder and a mirror. Also, the light has a dimmer and it is bi-colour, which means you can change the colour of the light to a cool white (5600K) to warm white (3200K) or anywhere in between.
To see a more in-depth explanation of each light, and to see them in action, watch the video above.
Current Ring Light Pricing (with stand, all prices in Canadian dollars):
The ring light in action, fashion photo by Clint Adam SmythHello everybody, today we here at Big City Lights are showing you an exceptional example of what you can produce using the Big City Ring Light. The image to the left was shot using the Big City Ring Light which only uses 65W of power yet puts out the tungsten equivalent of a 300W bulb, as you can see it can give you amazing visual effects starting with the even tone of light and appealing lack of shadows. When you look closely, you notice the reflection of the light shining off the models eyes which is also a great effect. The amazing power of this light and the way it’s used lets you show the viewers your subject in a very exciting and alluring manner. Besides the outstanding quality of our lighting equipment there’s something else we offer that might matter to you more than anything else… what’s that? An unbeatable price.
There are other lights out there such as Gekko Technologies George Light or Kino Flo’s Kamino Light which both admittedly have a dimmer on them, but they will charge you 5 – 10 times the price! We at Big City Lights understand your need for reliable, top class equipment and, we give you exactly that without burning a hole in your pocket.
The Big City Fluorescent Ring Light with a stand, and can be purchased HERE
We also carry a dimmable Bi-Colour LED model with a stand, and it can be purchased HERE
Here is a video on lighting for green screen for film and television.
Hello ladies and gentleman today we bring you an exclusive, behind the scenes, look into a professional photo shoot by Toronto photographer Clint Adam Smyth. As an acknowledged photographer/videographer Clint needs to have the best, most reliable, equipment at his fingertips to provide his customers with what they need. In this video you will see how he uses Big City Lights to attain beautiful, incomparable results. This was a calendar shoot That will be coming out in 2011 to promote a makeup, hair and wardrobe stylists work It featuring a gorgeous model and a luxurious ride (needless to say, they were very excited and completely satisfied with the final results).
Clint uses a single Big City 110, two Big City 220’s and a ringlight for this particular shoot. The two large light banks perform the duty of filling and brightening the set, they are very powerful and effective. The 110 is used to add a slightly softer touch of light in a focussed area and finally the ringlight is used for the glamorous and stylistic effect it is so well known for. The video also demonstrates the growing love for continuous lighting and the needlessness of using strobe lighting. Continuous lighting provides consistency and makes it easier to get that specific look you’re trying to achieve. Video of shoot is below.
Written by Hash Patel
Ever had trouble lighting a model in various backgrounds? No need to fear, Big City is here! In our latest video we will show you how to light your subject for a white or a black background. It may seem like a simple thing to do but, if you want professional quality photo or video, you will learn the right way to do so with this instructional video. We will talk about lighting angles, metering and even, the butterfly effect. We’ve seen failures time and time again, from photographers trying to achieve crisp whites or variable blacks but, they’re just not doing it right. It’s funny how these small tips and tricks can make such a dramatic difference in the end product, whether it be a photo or a video. You can view the video below.
Green screen is one of the most difficult things to learn to do right and if you don’t have any test footage to help you learn it can be either more time consuming than it all ready is, or costly to shoot your own test footage. Well the folks at HollywoodCamerawork have just published a series of test footage you can download and use for FREE! Now you can have some great resources to teach yourself the basics of tracking, matchmoving and rotoscoping on. They also include elements to build your scene as well, so if you want to add your subject flying in a F15 in the clouds and over the ocean you can! I was also impressed they include footage of what NOT to do as well, as there are so many mistakes you can make when doing this kind of work. Anyone who considers themselves a teacher or student of VFX or editing should bookmark this link now! Green screen originals resource
Green screen free resource footage
Don’t have thousands of dollars for a pro dolly, the following video from Peter Bak show you in this video how to make a cool home made dolly from roller-skate wheels and basic hardware. Probably not quite as good as the professional ones, but for the home filmmaker or indie filmmaker a cool and fun tool for under $50 and a few hours of work to build.
This video from Miguel Vicente show you how to make your own steadycam from standard hardware parts. looks fairly simple for those who are mechanically inclined.
For the rest of us who aren’t you can always rent a glidecam 1000 HERE
Detail of home steady cam
Don’t want to make your own? You can also RENT our dolly track system.
Big City Lights offers affordable lights and lighting for parties party events stage dolly track system Projector rent custom RGB LED DMX par fresnel laser rental film, video, tv, and photography. RGBA as well. We carry LED and Flo lighting including ring lights and light banks and light panels. We sell in Canada and the USA, with locations in Calgary and Toronto, but we ship to Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, St. Johns, Regina, Victoria, Winnipeg and more.
Last Thursday, I got to see a professional photo-shoot at Big City Studio for the first time. The model we had, Jacqueline, had the perfect look for our fantasy make up, which was done by our make up artist Vasso Thymis. Our set was a dark dramatic space, which worked perfectly with the fantasy look of our model. It also sent a mysterious feeling and got our hopes and expectations high.
This photo shoot was lit by one of our LED light banks which was an effective and a powerful tool that lit the set, and a reflector which added more light to the shadow areas. typically, most photographers use strobe (flash) to light their photographs, but as you can see here, using a light bank and a reflector, can give you the same great result. The advantage of using continuous light is that you can immediately see your en result before you take the picture, as well for those photographers who want to shoot video, you now have the capability.
These photographs take you into a strange and unusual world, which gets the imagination going and starts to tell a story.
