Filmmaker David Linstrom recently returned from Madagascar, where he shot stunning visuals of the delicate art of silk weaving for a documentary commissioned by the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. His Litepanels 1×1 panels and Sola 4 Fresnel fixtures were key to capturing these works of art.
“It was an incredible journey,” Linstrom said. “To bring this beautiful art to life, we had to go to the artists. That meant visiting their homes. Each day we had to travel far from home base, along unpaved roads and to villages without electricity.”
“My shooting package was basic; Sony F800 HD camera, Fujinon 4.3×13 HD wide angle lens, Canon 8×20 HD lens, my favorite Sachtler Video 18 tripod, Anton Bauer Dionic batteries – and of course, for far away locations like this, Litepanels LED lights.”
“I chose them because I knew there was no AC power and I needed battery-powered lights to supplement the daylight we had,” Linstrom said. “Litepanels are great because they use little power for the amount of throw they produce, have true color, are dimmable and hold their color. And, they are very durable, so they travel well.”
“For all of our locations we were using available light coming through the doors and windows,” Linstrom continues. “I had good exposure for the artists and the room but, what I really needed to see was the beauty of their work. By augmenting the daylight with the Sola 4 Fresnel, I got just enough extra light to make things like a silk scarf ‘pop’ as the woman’s hands flew over her weaving.”
“And, when I was doing interviews, we ran the 1×1 off our Anton Bauer battery pack and it was a perfect key light. I used The Sola 4 for backlight and the Sola ENG for background light.”
“I simply wouldn’t go on any locations without Litepanels in my package,” Linstrom said. “They are great products, designed by people who work in the industry, not an engineer who has never struggled on location.”
Linstrom will be returning to Madagascar in August in order to capture more footage for the project. This documentary on folk art will become the pilot for a series that will air on PBS in 2013.
