Real camera flashes in a narrative film?

[azmyth]

I'm editing a scene now where one of the paranormal investigators is walking around the house snapping photos with a digital camera.. and I didn't even think about the flash doing that crazy "flash" thing.. that you'll see in wedding videos. Its not distracting, and I don't think I can reshoot it anyway.. but wanted to get some thoughts.

[Janke]

that crazy "flash" thing

Exactly what, in your case? Can't know without seeing...

Depends on the video camera. Usually only 1 or 2 frames that you can edit out by duplicating preceding and following frames.

[azmyth]

Exactly what, in your case? Can't know without seeing...

Depends on the video camera. Usually only 1 or 2 frames that you can edit out by duplicating preceding and following frames.

here it is...

I'm using premiere, and I thought about that.. but not sure exactly how to do it.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8um16sf05ftxcfj/flash1.mp4

[azmyth]

my attempt to fix it

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8wfumdleg5...nce%2001_1.mp4

[Janke]

Looks OK to me, except for the "streak" on the floor. I'd edit that out, too.

The problem is that the camera flashes several times, the pre-flashes are for focusing and exposure determination, while the actual "exposure flash" a fraction of a second later, is much stronger.

Furthermore, the rolling shutter in the video camera causes the flash to expose only a part of the frame. Not very filmic! Better to edit out the actual flash.

If you want to accentuate the flash, just make one frame a lot lighter.

[azmyth]

Looks OK to me, except for the "streak" on the floor. I'd edit that out, too.

The problem is that the camera flashes several times, the pre-flashes are for focusing and exposure determination, while the actual "exposure flash" a fraction of a second later, is much stronger.

Furthermore, the rolling shutter in the video camera causes the flash to expose only a part of the frame. Not very filmic! Better to edit out the actual flash.

If you want to accentuate the flash, just make one frame a lot lighter.

here we go...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0lkro1lym7...uence%2001.mp4

and another one later one.. this one was a lot harder.. hopefully it looks ok.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9f7heri1i9ukeiw/test2.mp4

[Steve_Karl]

They're fine.
I couldn't even see the second one.

[Almohada]

Lol... you can see the dolly's tracks in one shot. Looking good. Couldn't even tell you did anything to it... looks perfect

[Bif]

The "fixes" look fine, but the original flashes didn't look that odd. You know, we ourselves, can be such perfectionists over things that to the viewer won't matter worth a hoot. The rolling shutter effect makes strong strobe look weird and we see it that way because half the frame is lit way bright and the ambient light registers proper exposure on the rest.

But the flash from little "point 'n shoots" isn't strong enough to be as obnoxious as the big Metz gear does when rolling shutter only shows it in half a frame.

Your "fixes" look good, but in my opinion the originals were not distracting at all and almost looked more normal. An old Graflex Stroboflash IV on full power had a long enough flash duration it would probably register in the whole frame, but it was an archaic monster that won't even connect to most consumer cameras these days.

Bruce Foreman

[Janke]

To be honest, I find those half-lighted frames really annoying, contrary to a full-frame flash. Technically, they also reek of "cheap video"...

But, to each his own.

[Khaver]

Here's my attempt at fixing the flash in the first sequence.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tu0315py73...e01-Khaver.mp4

I downloaded the first linked file, decimated to 24p using avisynth, and imported into a Lightworks 24p project. I inserted just the first scene into the timeline and copied the clip to another video track and shifted that track by one frame. On the frames with the rolling shutter flash I masked out the flash area to reveal the non-flashed frame below. I then added a bit of flare on the frame that had the flash.

[drapeama]

They're fine.
I couldn't even see the second one.

I agree. Nice job Az!

Lol... you can see the dolly's tracks in one shot. Looking good. Couldn't even tell you did anything to it... looks perfect

I noticed it before the flash thing!

Here's my attempt at fixing the flash in the first sequence.

Very nice effect there! Looks less amateur like Janke said:
camera flash.png

[azmyth]

Cool beans Khaver, looks great.