C-Stand Basics, Powered by Matthews Studio Equipment
While traveling around to different cities on the Illumination Experience Tour, I quickly realized that many people did not understand the basics of how to operate a c-stand properly. A foundation in c-stand protocols, the so called rules, are essential to live by. In the right hands and with the right instruction, this baby will change the way you light. That is what I want to share with you.
C-Stand Basics:
The Most Powerful Tool in Your Lighting Arsenal
I started out as a grip truck driver in the business and then moved up to a dolly grip, a key grip, eventually a gaffer, and finally a director of photography.
Going back through sharing information
When I made these jumps on the ladder rung of my career, many times I jumped four rungs. Imagine an alphabet. I went from A to F, G, H, to P, Q, R, S, T, U to Z. When you jump like this, sometimes things are not realized or conceptualized. Helping all of you has brought me back to those steps that I had missed. I now have the opportunity to take you all from A to B to C to D to E and so on. This has given me a whole new outlook on light quality, quantity, shaping and controlling light as well.
Here is the lighting schematic for our shoot.
Discovery
To be a part of this discovery and to find more information about the advanced c-stand techniques that I use, please visit Shane’s Inner Circle as well as Shane’s Store.
All videos were edited on HP Z840 workstations using HP Z24x DreamColor monitors.
EQUIPMENT SPECS
Camera AKS:
Lenses:
Lighting:
1K Open Face (“Red head”)
A big thank you to Matthews Studio Equipment for powering this how-to video. Happy c-stand setting y’all!
Shooting Location: Revolution Cinema Rentals
Shane, this is a great video. Super polished and concise. Who needs film school again? I’d love to see a continuation of this series of practical grip guides.
Haha, Yeah baby! Thanks so much Jared. We’ve got more coming to the Hurlblog and more detailed videos on the Inner Circle.
Is this the 1/2 white diffusion you were using?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/90644-REG/Rosco_102302504825_E_Colour_250_1_2_White.html
This was a great video. Going to be grabbing a few of these suckers.
Yes, that’s the one.
Great examples and breaks it all down very simply.
Always a pleasure to learn from you.
great video. very clean. Have a question, i was taught to front load with sandbags as you do in the video but I never do it, it seems like it adds weight on the load side when it should be on the opposite side. I have googled it and it seems to just be a preference but I am curious what your thoughts are on it. Is there a reason to add it to the rocky mt leg?
I had the same question, Jason. I thought I was taught to use one of the back legs, but they’re too short and the sandbag would touch the ground and would not work, unless you had short sandbags.
It’s all physics baby. It’s 100% how a C-Stand is designed. You’re putting weight over the “tall or big” leg in front so that it stays rock solid to the ground, as all of the weight is headed that way. It’s about where the force is headed, the back legs are there for balance, but the front leg keeps all of the weight laid out on the base of the stand.
As I’ve said before Shane, “Love your work”! You are truly a very generous person. Thank you
This is the first video I’ve watched since joining! What a fantastic start. Hope they are all this informative. I have one c-stand for a Kino and I had no idea I could use it for so many different applications.
Cool man! I’ve been using my Cstand to hang my gimbal and now I need to buy more for lighting and diffusion. Quite an elaborate lighting set up… Great to be learning from you Shane!
You’re welcome Vance. Keep that positive energy coming!
I love being an inter circle member! :) That was brilliant, Shane! I wonder if there is a big used Cstand market? Time to go to eBay!
I don’t even shoot movie, but will do one in the future. Watching all of these “lessons” are entertaining and throughful. Thank you, Shane!
You are very welcome and thank you for the kind words.
Wow, that’s what I was exploring for, what a material!
existing here at this blog, thanks admin of this web page.