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Author Topic: Teaching Lighting Class  (Read 4780 times)

Nathan Riddle

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Teaching Lighting Class
« on: June 19, 2018, 04:18:01 PM »

Couldn't decide which subforum (lighting, church sound, HOW); mods move as you see fit.

Referencing this post:
http://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,167699

I'll be teaching two classes.

1) "Moving Lights & Worship" (using moving lights in worship)
2) "Enhance Worship with Color" (using color to enhance worship)

Wanted to get some ideas/thoughts you experts might have.

1)
I'd go over the types of lights briefly (par, fresnel, leko, etc)

Lamps/temp (LED, Arc, Halogen, Incandescent)

Then types of moving lights in depth (wash, spot, beam).

Tempo = Movement speed FX

etc.

2)
Types of color producing lights (LED vs gel)

Field & beam angle

Colors to produce (purple doesn't exist)

Look at the lyrics, not just colors in the words (fire = red, light = white) , but also look for symbolism: King = Royalty = Purple or Envy/Money = Green)

Listen to the mood/timber of the music = color

etc.
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Erik Jerde

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2018, 08:45:34 PM »

The music flows from the lyric, the lyric from the scripture.  The music creates emotion which helps the congregant connect to God via the lyric.  The lighting needs to reinforce and/or enhance the emotion already present in the music.  Is the music introspective, quiet, personal or is it big, celebratory, shout it out?  It could be both and the lighting should help emphasize each mood.

At the core of it technology in worship should serve the sole purpose of supporting the mission and the vision of the organization.  Tie it back to that, give it great purpose rather than just a means of lighting the platform.  If you legitimately do that it gives you a much stronger position when people accuse you of rock concert/entertainment worship.  Not that worship shouldn't be fun at times, it should!

In my experience new/young lighting designers in church want to use all the toys all the time.  Less is more!  I know of churches that have rented in some really cool effects and used them at one moment in one song.  Because of the discipline in that programing choice the effect had great impact when used.  It's completely ok to have one look for an entire song if it's the right look.

The lighting designer/operator should know the music as well as the musicians (maybe better depending on your musicians!).  They should know it cold!  Color theory is super important for lighting people, that's why I'd rather train a visual artist to do lights than train an engineer in the visual arts.

Just a few thoughts, laundry needs folded and I gotta go keep my wife happy.  :)
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Nathan Riddle

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2018, 08:27:21 AM »

At the core of it technology in worship should serve the sole purpose of supporting the mission and the vision of the organization.  Tie it back to that, give it great purpose rather than just a means of lighting the platform.  If you legitimately do that it gives you a much stronger position when people accuse you of rock concert/entertainment worship.  Not that worship shouldn't be fun at times, it should!

The music flows from the lyric, the lyric from the scripture.  The music creates emotion which helps the congregant connect to God via the lyric.  The lighting needs to reinforce and/or enhance the emotion already present in the music.  Is the music introspective, quiet, personal or is it big, celebratory, shout it out?  It could be both and the lighting should help emphasize each mood.

In my experience new/young lighting designers in church want to use all the toys all the time.  Less is more!  I know of churches that have rented in some really cool effects and used them at one moment in one song.  Because of the discipline in that programing choice the effect had great impact when used.  It's completely ok to have one look for an entire song if it's the right look.

The lighting designer/operator should know the music as well as the musicians (maybe better depending on your musicians!).  They should know it cold!  Color theory is super important for lighting people, that's why I'd rather train a visual artist to do lights than train an engineer in the visual arts.

Just a few thoughts, laundry needs folded and I gotta go keep my wife happy.  :)

I love where you started at. Definitely going to incorporate that into my presentation, thanks!

I might also add, that the pastor, worship leader, and LD are in a triangle not a hirearchy. They three ALL cast a vision for the church and come to an agreeance upon the lighting. The LD might execute, but they establish the goal from the churches' value.

For isntance, our creative team's mission is: "Using our God-given gifts in the arts to create engaging environments for worship"

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Nathan Riddle

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2018, 09:55:18 AM »

The seminars got combined into one: "enhance worship with lighting." So we'll see where I take it haha. I do plan on recording mine somehow just for my own benefit and maybe to put on YouTube.

I definitely plan on bringing some of my lights and incorporating them into my session! I think I'll have access to an older fresnel and then I have S4 parnels & leko's. (In addition to moving lights: LED zoom wash RGBAW+UV & Beam/Spot/Wash hybrids)

I'm imagining a dark (controlled lighting) good sized room with high dark ceilings. A bit of haze. A projector to show what I'm doing on the lighting board (Jands Vista). TV's for the actual presentation. Have an outline for people to follow along with, and have some statements/questions with one word answers so they can be actively engaged. Then call on people to answer questions throughout.

Intro:
I'll start with an intro about myself, say I'm nervous about things. Been awhile since I've "publicly spoken," but my mom forced me to take 4H presentation classes, so I'm not quite a fish out of water ;) Give some background on my experience and how I got started.

Body 1:
Then move on into the core mission of a church with tech & lights. Establishing a line of communication between pastor, worship leader, LD to execute the church's vision.

Body 2:
Then move to technical. Talk about fixture types, lamp types, specific automated fixtures. Talk about beam/field angle. Talk about color theory.

Body 3:
Talk about music, tempo, timber, mood, etc. How lyrics affect colors. How instrumentation & speed affect the effects/speed of lights.

Demo:
Move on to actual demo time. Play a song, get some colors & tempo callouts from the crowd.

Conclusion:
Demo some colors I like, some effects I like, etc.

Questions:

---

Might be a bit of a squeeze for 1.25hrs, but If I write it out and practice it a lot I think I can do it.
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Scott Holtzman

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2018, 05:59:34 PM »

The seminars got combined into one: "enhance worship with lighting." So we'll see where I take it haha. I do plan on recording mine somehow just for my own benefit and maybe to put on YouTube.

I definitely plan on bringing some of my lights and incorporating them into my session! I think I'll have access to an older fresnel and then I have S4 parnels & leko's. (In addition to moving lights: LED zoom wash RGBAW+UV & Beam/Spot/Wash hybrids)

I'm imagining a dark (controlled lighting) good sized room with high dark ceilings. A bit of haze. A projector to show what I'm doing on the lighting board (Jands Vista). TV's for the actual presentation. Have an outline for people to follow along with, and have some statements/questions with one word answers so they can be actively engaged. Then call on people to answer questions throughout.

Intro:
I'll start with an intro about myself, say I'm nervous about things. Been awhile since I've "publicly spoken," but my mom forced me to take 4H presentation classes, so I'm not quite a fish out of water ;) Give some background on my experience and how I got started.

Body 1:
Then move on into the core mission of a church with tech & lights. Establishing a line of communication between pastor, worship leader, LD to execute the church's vision.

Body 2:
Then move to technical. Talk about fixture types, lamp types, specific automated fixtures. Talk about beam/field angle. Talk about color theory.

Body 3:
Talk about music, tempo, timber, mood, etc. How lyrics affect colors. How instrumentation & speed affect the effects/speed of lights.

Demo:
Move on to actual demo time. Play a song, get some colors & tempo callouts from the crowd.

Conclusion:
Demo some colors I like, some effects I like, etc.

Questions:

---

Might be a bit of a squeeze for 1.25hrs, but If I write it out and practice it a lot I think I can do it.

I would pass on the self deprecating humor.  Just talk about yourself conversationally.

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Nathan Riddle

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2018, 06:11:39 PM »

I would pass on the self deprecating humor.  Just talk about yourself conversationally.

You found it self depreciating? I didn't see it that way.

I really am thankful for the classes on presentation, it allows me to not be nervous in front of people (which often so many are).

I was merely trying to be open/honest about being nervous because it's been awhile since doing a presentation in front of people.

I'll find a better wording.
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Scott Holtzman

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2018, 07:04:23 PM »

You found it self depreciating? I didn't see it that way.

I really am thankful for the classes on presentation, it allows me to not be nervous in front of people (which often so many are).

I was merely trying to be open/honest about being nervous because it's been awhile since doing a presentation in front of people.

I'll find a better wording.

It's just my take......
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Nathan Riddle

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2018, 03:24:24 PM »

Well, I've come up with an outline.

If you prefer formatting:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/169MsxvcVe_XVHC-NZqRK6R6ffTVT3_qR6gpSkS1kqlk/edit

References:
http://tinyurl.com/Y8WEHMVN

---

5:45p
About me: (~3min)

Time to get started.
I’m Nathan and this is the
Enhance Worship with Lights Breakout.
Thanks for being here
I’m excited to meet and talk with y’all over the weekend.
Here’s a little bit about me
I got started when I was 8 with AV
 first theatrical productions was a play
“the mouse that roared
My church was building a new building
Contemporary services
They asked for volunteers and only my friend Matt and I showed up
We were 10 and 9 respectively
AV has been my passion ever since.
If we Fast forward I’m now
married,
EE
Day job as Engineer/IT
I own my own AV company.
I’ve served as
sound technician,
lighting designer,
booth producer, and
tech director.
I’ve designed and installed lighting systems,
trained countless volunteers and
programmed lighting shows for hundreds of events.

5:48p
Intro: (~3min)
Now, how about a little about y’all?
Real quick, show of hands:
Who’s just getting their feet wet in lighting?
Who has all conventional?
Who has led?
And who has moving lights?

I’m going to make some assumptions about your current competency, but if something is confusing and needs elaboration let me know because that helps me help you.
And then if you have any specific questions about the subject I’ll open the floor up for those at the end of each segment.
If a question needs a more in-depth discussion I might say we hold until after the breakout is over so there’s plenty of time for everyone’s questions.
You could even send me an email or catch me sometime over the weekend.

Where are we going?
Why lights?
Technical details
Artistic details
Practical things to know (create the experience)

5:51p
Why of Lighting: (~9min)

Why
Let’s face it, we’re all here for the cool toys
But we care about more than just the toys right?
Connecting people to Christ
God’s Kingdom grow
The how is derived from the why
Your specific style
Whether you use color or not
Haze or not
etc
Core values drive lighting design
Because if  want to reach successful Steve a 35yr old male
Or younger audience
Or older audience
Determines how you approach the lighting system
For instance: Youth
Inundated with technology
Immersive experiences
Marketing/Media onslaught
We don’t want to be stale/stagnant
We want Jesus to be important to them
Especially the unchurched
Never been to church
Don’t have a desire for God
They have a worldly desire
What’s cool, fashionable, interesting
Lighting creates an atmosphere of inclusivity
Regular retreat Blitz for Middle Schoolers
Youth minister wants to use technology to make this retreat the “place to be”
Youth invite other youth because “last year was the coolest event I’ve ever been to” “Hey, you need to come.”
Impactful
It matters
When we make the atmosphere something that people want to be apart that’s a win
It’s one thing to want it yourself
It’s completely another to want someone else to experience
Your core values drive lighting design
Any questions?

Technical details

Great - we’re going to dive right into the technical components of lighting now. I’ll be doing a brief overview..

4 main components to a lighting system:
Console
Cable
Fixture
Atmospherics

Dustin probably went over this with you

Console
Hardware or software
Same signal
Cables
DMX 512ch
110ohms
Cat5e
5-pin
3-pin
DMX over IP
Art-Net - artistic license
sACN (streaming architecture for control networks) - ESTA
Lighting instruments are called Fixtures.
Generically three varieties
Wash (or flood)
Spot (or profile)
Beam is quickly becoming the third (3rd).
Effects:
Strobes,
Lasers
matrix panels, DJ type lights, etc.
Hybrid
Atmospherics
Haze
Fog
Ground Fog
Snow
Bubbles

Lamp Types:
Sun
Greeks/Romans
East-West
Audience in shade, actors in sun
Candle
English theaters
Gas
Sometime in 1800’s
Electric
Sometime in 1900’s
Incandescent
Halogen/Tungsten
Gas/Fluorescent
Short-Arc
LED
Fixture Types:
Conventional
Par
Strip/Cyc
Scoop
Fresnel (Fre-Nel)
Followspot
Leko
Frames
Focus
Zoom
Photometrics (quick blurb)
Beam angle
Light output dropped to 50%
Field angle
Light output dropped to 10%
Joke
Then there’s intelligent lighting, but I’ve always been told we don’t want intelligent lights we want obedient lights. [laughter]
Just remember, professionals call them moving lights or automated lights :)
Moving light
These are the types of lights that have many DMX parameters that control different aspects of the light such as movement, intensity, shutter, color, beam shaping, etc.
Flavors
Wash
Spot (or profile)
Beam is quickly becoming the third (3rd).
Hybrid lights
Use any of the lamp types
Mostly Arc or LED
Each fixture has a parameter individually controlled feature
Multiple parameters; thus multiple uses
Gobo
Shutter
Intensity
Color
Framing
Modes
Uses
To create a ‘breakout’ or a ‘pop’ in the lighting
Stunning vistas
Highlight objects/people
Raise the roof

Any questions?

Lighting methods:

3 point lighting
Key
Fill
Backlight
Shoulders
Don’t spill to forehead or nose
Helps with cameras pop out of background
45°
Decrease that angle
Originally for theater so it’s bold
Deep eye sockets
Shadows
2 point lighting
Single Front (slightly off center)
Gives some dimension
Backlight
Gives some depth
Back lighting
Concentrate on the words
Ethereal draws you in
I use on my backline
Top light
Casts shadows strait down
Great for not getting in audience but highlighting people on stage
Moody
I use on my backline
Side lighting
Casts shadows on front line
Moody
Sideline & frontline
Casts shadows on one side
Can really look great
Foot light
Can be eery/gastly
Not good unless you have a key light too
Not natural shadows
Can help with eye socket shadows
Scenic-Set lighting (Stage design)
Get as creative as you want
Typically looking for a glow/backdrop

Any questions?

Color Temperature
What is white?
Degrees of Kelvin
Helpful for cameras
Tungsten = 3200k @ full
2500k @ 10%
LED consistent color temp
10% to full 200k difference
3000 @ 10%
3200 @ full
Daylight = 5600k
ETC series 2 daylight
ARC lights 5k - 7200k
Video
Find balance between blue on camera & in person
Colored outfits
Stay away from white
Stay away from red
Higher color temp
Colors shift more blue on camera
Raise white balance point more true white
You want your room light to be 2700-3500k not 4000+ those are fluorescent/work lights

Color Theory
Color theory:
Studies
Marketing
Print
In 1960 Psychologist Charles E. Osgood
Conducted tests if color affects emotion
“…specific assets of certain stimuli [including color] elicit distinct,
innate and unconditioned responses.”
A specific wavelength of light (smaller = more energy)
Elicits specific emotions
White = more wavelengths more energy =  high energy emotion
Blue = longer wavelength = less energy = peaceful reaction
Emotions:
Red - Passion, Anger, Energy, Fear
Pink - Love, Light and Airy
Orange - Warm, Success, Courage
Yellow - Energetic, Joy, Happy
Amber - Awakening Rootsy and Raw
Green - Money, Relaxing, Health, Earth
Aqua - Gentle, simple, water
Blue - Calm, Night, Trust, Peace
Purple - Royalty, Luxury, Ambition
White - Open, Raw, Pure
Black - Sin,
Gells
Red R26
Blue R83
Amber R20
Types
Warm (red, amber, yellow) = intimacy, warmth, energy
Cool (blue, green, purple) = darkness, growth, majesty
Saturated color can convey depth and intensity,
Pastel can convey gentleness and calmness
Monochromatic
Means only 1 color
Doesn’t mean just a single color, but shades of that color
Focuses on an emotion
Effective at setting a mood
Can be oppressive
2-color
Complementary
colors are directly opposite
Red/Green (no)
Blue/Yellow
Orange/Purple
Teal/Orange
2 colors
My go-to style.
Easiest to learn
Look for two feelings you want most
Try these:
Teal/White
Amber/Yellow
Blue/Amber
Green/Teal
White/Purple


Contrast can be fun
Deviate
Maybe add white as an accent color
Gradients are nice if done well
Use color positioning
Red sides & blue back
Shadows & Intensity


Multi-Color methods
Triadic
Triangle across color wheel
Analogous
Colors right next to each other
Red-orange-yellow
Teal-blue-purple
Mixed feelings
Tranquility & nobility
Red and orange battle cry
Tips
Use 1, 2, or 3 colors
5 is  circus and distracting
Intensifying song up-tempo
deep/dark colors are a dissonant contrast
yellow/orange conflicts with slower songs
Not Hard and fast rules
Start applying, eventually it’ll be intuitive
Let the lyrics speak
Jesus is pure = white
Talking about Jesus and the cross?
Red and white
Jesus as king?
Purple and white
“Let there be light”
I like a warm white/amber somewhere around 3000k
This helps the crowd not be annoyed
You might choose a brilliant white 5000+k
“Lift my hands to heaven”
Raise the lights (movers)
Lastly, I might just ignore everything
This Is Amazing Grace
Programmed to blue
Love it
Any questions?
Enhancing your Sermon with lights
Speaker wash
basic/boring
Time consuming
Rewarding
½ a day
Use a light meter
Make sure its even
Sekonic C-700-U SpectroMaster
Lu.mu ios app
40 Foot candles is what some use
Use to get rid of hot spots between multiple fixtures
Working with cameras
Iris on camera (how much light)
Remote control (shader)
My job is to make them bored
Positions are not ideal
Use all thread to help move the lights
Observe your space
30° or 45°
Intensity or lenses can help
Shadows
Shadows from below are unnatural
Shadows from high are normal
Foot light or uplighting; be careful with the intensity
45° vs 30°
Cast vision, this makes you look better
20x10ft space for walking around
S4 zoom
Photometrics
What lense does to light
½ CTB color correction
Incandescents
LED - get what you pay for
Band/Vocal
Create an experience in worship
Eyes drawn to brightest object on stage
Don’t point your lights at the bass player who’s tuning :P
vocal positions/frontline
Different’ methods
Key, back, up
Key, back
Key, fill, back
All white lights
Fill in shadows under eyes
Color Kinetics iW Blast TR
Not a fan of colored light
Band/backline
Side/back lighting
No white front lighting
Highlight them differently
Colored light
What I do
Backlight (high & low), toplight, side light, the backline
Colored light on backline
almost no front light on backline
Frontlight the frontline with white
Backlight the frontline with color or white
3 points on the frontline
Want to go to CTB
Tips
Pay attention to shadows
Any questions?

Enhancing Worship with Lights:
FILO Talk - Key Thought:
 “You are here to help tell the story, not be the story.”
Create environment
Make sure the audience and stage are connected and the message is conveyed
Distraction free
Programming
Goal in programming is to create a visual representation of what I hear from stage.
Midweak rehearsal
Listen to PCO
Challenge to think through dynamic changes/tempo changes/ energy changes
Match energy
Slow songs deserve slow effects
Fast songs deserve fast effects
Our PCO has BPM associated with the songs, spend the time to set the lights to the correct BPM
Match fade times
10s fade times
are for house lights from super dark to super bright
Let the eyes adjust
5s fade times are an eternity
Use for fades from worship to announcements or vice versa
1s fade times are super short
God for fast songs
2s fade times are medium
Good as an all purpose fades
Match the media (or media matches you)
Use intensity to your advantage
Low light can mean intimacy
Gives you room to grow
Keep learning
Lighting trends change
Watch other services
Church on the Move
Hillsong
Watch concerts
NIN
Passion Conference
Any questions?

Create the experience
Don’t distract or detract from what is happening, but enhance the experience.
Make the moment earn the cue.
Daniel Connell at Church on the Move.
When adding a cue:
 “The moment needs to earn the cue. If there isn’t a benefit for a new cue, I don’t do it.”
Dynamic changes, Energy changes, Tempo changes
Build trust with those above you
Does anyone have unlimited creative freedom?
More freedom
Longer leash
Trust you’ll execute a vision they agree with
Be mindful of your audience
Strobes
Pointing in eyes
Sweeping over crowd
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
Less is more
30 cues in a song; program 5 less cues
Use less lights for each song
Emotional journey
Any questions?

Critical listening
Listen to recordings
Anyone record their session?
Anyone listen to the originals in PCO?
What is the band dynamics doing?
Just because they go to a chorus doesn’t mean you need to
Try to be tasteful
Strobes are great, but they have to be done well
Effects are great, but if you use them all the time they aren’t effective anymore.
Choose Color wisely
Be aware that you might lose the privilege to use a certain color if it goes over poorly with your pastor/congregation
Transitions
Singings – speaker
Spend extra time
Don’t see gobos fly out
Light move to a different position
10min 2-cues; seamless
Someone sit in the audience transition happens; and they are pulled out of the moment.
Any questions?
« Last Edit: July 10, 2018, 10:46:42 PM by Nathan Riddle »
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Art Welter

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2018, 03:11:59 AM »


God for fast songs

Any questions?
Nathan,

How can you be sure  ;)?
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Nathan Riddle

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Re: Teaching Lighting Class - Update
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2018, 10:11:23 AM »

Nathan,

How can you be sure  ;)?

Haha, I dunno :)

Just an update on how things went. It went EXCELLENT!

Erik, thanks! I tried to incorporate a good bit of what you said into the 'why' of lighting portion.

I practiced all week fine-tuning my talk, and narrowed things down to more practical and tried to give lots of examples of what I was talking about. I figure lighting people are more visual learners. I then recorded myself a final time and listened to it while traveling so I it was fresh in my mind.

Thanks for the suggestions & help!

No self-deprecating statements were made during the course of this presentation  8)
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ProSoundWeb Community

Re: Teaching Lighting Class - Update
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2018, 10:11:23 AM »


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