Filming Under Harsh Lighting Conditions

[thepainguy]

I do hitting instruction and some scouting and often film ballplayers at major league ballparks. I am having two problems that I haven't been able to fix.

1. In some cases, greys will have a blue tint to them when shooting at night. This isn't a big deal, but I'd like to fix it. It may be that I need to get a white balance card. However, the issue is that the lighting changes over the course of the game as the sun sets. I guess I may need to re-balance several times during the night. However, the challenge is that I'm often shooting from a position with different lighting than is on the field.

2. I have bigger image problems when filming during the day, particularly when shooting from a heavily shaded position. The image often gets very harsh and contrast-y and the color balance is off, with reds turn orange. I also have some problems when shooting right next to shadowed areas, as when the shadow is just about to cross the plate. The auto-focus often has a very hard time getting the focus right. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Krane]

I do hitting instruction and some scouting and often film ballplayers at major league ballparks. I am having two problems that I haven't been able to fix.

1. In some cases, greys will have a blue tint to them when shooting at night. This isn't a big deal, but I'd like to fix it. It may be that I need to get a white balance card.

Ya think?

However, the issue is that the lighting changes over the course of the game as the sun sets. I guess I may need to re-balance several times during the night.

That would be my suggestion

However, the challenge is that I'm often shooting from a position with different lighting than is on the field.

Adjust for what the camera sees.

2. I have bigger image problems when filming during the day, particularly when shooting from a heavily shaded position. The image often gets very harsh and contrast-y and the color balance is off, with reds turn orange. I also have some problems when shooting right next to shadowed areas, as when the shadow is just about to cross the plate.

In that case, you can do one of the following: 1) Take a reading form both and set your camera to half way between the two readings. Or, 2) determine what's important and don't worry about the rest. Or, 3) Lighten/darken the areas using lights, reflectors, gels.

The auto-focus often has a very hard time getting the focus right. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Yes, turn off the auto focus and do it manually. Auto focus is fine and very efficient when conditions are optimal. When they are not, you have to do things the hard way--manually. The good news is that it will make you a better filmmaker; and you will get paid the big bucks?