Shane Hurlbut, ASC on Nanlux Lighting: A DP’s Perspective

As a cinematographer, I’m always on the lookout for lighting tools that can help me bring my creative vision to life. When I embarked on the journey of shooting Música, an Amazon Prime Original film, I knew I needed lighting that could not only deliver exceptional performance but also adapt to the unique challenges of this multi-genre project. That’s where Nanlux stepped in, and their lights became an indispensable part of my toolkit.

BALANCING ACT: DAY INTERIORS IN THE DINER

One of the early challenges in Música was balancing the interior of a diner with the bright exterior sunlight. I needed to boost the light levels inside while maintaining a natural look. The Nanlux Dyno 1200s proved to be the perfect solution.

By strategically placing them outside the diner windows and bouncing their light into 12×20 bleached muslin frames, I achieved a beautiful, soft light that seamlessly integrated with the daylight streaming through the windows.

What’s remarkable about the Dyno 1200s is their boost mode. This feature gives you a 30% increase in output compared to similar-sized lights, making them incredibly powerful for their compact size.

This allowed me to maintain consistent lighting over two days of shooting, ensuring a cohesive look throughout the diner scenes.

NIGHT AMBIANCE: CAPTURING THE URBAN GLOW

Música also featured scenes with a lot of urban lighting. To capture the unique ambiance of city nights, I turned to my trusty “Depron Dome.”

This simple yet effective tool involves layering foam to create a textured diffusion that gives the light a distinct quality.

For close-ups, I love using the Depron Dome in combination with Nanlux Dyno 1200s. By dialing down the light’s intensity and positioning it close to the subject, I can achieve a soft, enveloping light that beautifully wraps around the actors’ faces.

In one particular scene, I matched the Nanlux Dyno 1200s to the high-pressure sodium vapor lights commonly found in urban settings. The ability to precisely match any light source using the XY coordinates on the Nanlux lights is a game-changer.

It allowed me to seamlessly integrate the actors into the existing lighting environment, creating a truly immersive experience.

SOFT LIGHT FOR EXPRESSIVE EYES

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and lighting them effectively is crucial for conveying emotions on screen.

I often use LED tubes to create soft, flattering light for close-ups. However, I like to break up the light source to avoid a flat look.

Nanlite’s PavoTubes II are a favorite of mine because of their unique octagonal shape. This design allows me to easily adjust the angle of the light without the need for additional rigging.

I often combine the PavoTubes with foam noodles to further diffuse and soften the light, creating a beautiful, cinematic look in the actors’ eyes.

SMALL FOOTPRINT, BIG IMPACT: THE PERFECT COUPLE IN LONDON

During the production of The Perfect Couple for Netflix, we faced a unique challenge. Due to restrictions at our London location, we could only use lights that plugged directly into the wall. This meant no generators or bulky lighting setups.

Thankfully, my gaffer, David Smith, had six Nanlux Evoke 2400Bs on hand. These powerful lights were the perfect solution.

We were able to achieve the desired lighting effect by simply plugging them into the wall and bouncing their light through magic cloth. This not only saved us time and money but also allowed us to maintain a small footprint on location.

The Nanlux 2400Bs also proved invaluable for balancing the interior lighting with the bright exterior.

The Perfect Couple series floor plan lighting schematic

By adjusting the green and magenta shift on the lights, we were able to perfectly color balance the scene, even with ND 1.2 on the windows.

THE FUTURE OF CINEMATIC LIGHTING

My experiences on Música and The Perfect Couple have solidified my belief that Nanlux lights are at the forefront of cinematic lighting technology. Their combination of power, versatility, and color accuracy is unmatched.

Whether I’m shooting a sun-drenched diner scene, a moody urban night, or a complex interior on location, Nanlux lights consistently deliver exceptional results. They have become an essential part of my filmmaking toolkit, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve and push the boundaries of what’s possible in cinematic lighting.