I’m a great believer in using the right light for the job.
Gone are the days when a cameraman would turn up with just a box of redheads. I take pride in using the best lighting tools available and all of my lights have been carefully chosen for performance, speed and portability.

Modern digital cameras are extremely light sensitive and produce bright images in even dimly illuminated environments. Therefore, today I can at last light purely for aesthetic effect as opposed to lighting mainly to achieve a level of illumination in which the camera can deliver decent images.

Put simply, I no longer need to use massive and powerful 'key' lamps in every situation. Instead I can travel lighter, equipped with smaller and more versatile lights such as Dedolights, Rifas and Zylights.

 

Dedolights are Amazing, I don't know how I managed before I had them!

 

 

With it's 150W lamp in flood position, its light output is greater than a 600W studio fresnel. In spot position, its output equals or exceeds a 1000W studio fresnel.

Each Dedolight has an in-line electronic power supply that is dimmable from maximum to minimum.

Projector attachments allow projection of background patterns from MM size Gobos.

 

My Dedolight 575HMI is the big brother of the classic Dedolight and it really packs some punch!

It delivers perfectly even output all the way through the focus range with no hot spots or dark rings. The quality of this light has to be seen to be believed.

 
Zylights came along just when I thought things couldn't get any better
 

 

My Zylight Z90 is the brightest next-generation LED lighting instrument on the market. It can instantly change from fully calibrated tungsten to daylight with the push of a button. When switched to creative colour mode, the Zylight can output any color of the rainbow including pastels.

This multi-use palm-sized light is a perfect addition to my dedolight kit. It can also be used as an onboard camera light.

 
Rifa-Lites often surprise directors by the quality of light they produce
 

 

The self-contained Rifa 55 creates a beautiful soft key and is my preferred choice for talking head interviews.

The lamp is placed in the focal centre of the soft box so the surface of the soft box is perfectly lit. The result - much higher light efficiency (more than twice the output than any Fresnel with soft box attached).

I also have a large CineBank Soft Light (120cm x 90cm) and two Daylight Soft Lights (70 x 50cm)

 
LightBreaks are the textural equivalent of diffusion

LightBreaks are a series of patternsf silk-screened onto clear, heavy duty, heat resistant Mylar. When placed in front of a light, it adds texture, style and complexity to lighting design.

When placed in front of a light they produce a range of effects which can be subtly textural or boldly graphic. They are designed to be the textural equivalent of diffusion and allow you to take control of lighting texture.

I purchase two sets of these fantastic breakup patterns and now use them daily. They roll up into a small tube and have become an essential lighting tool in my kit.

 

 
My standard lighting kit comprises of:
 
TUNGSTEN
3 x Dedolights with dimmers
1 x Soft Light - Riffa 55
1 x Soft Light - CineBank 120cm x 90cm
2 x Omni-lights
2 x Tota-lights
1 x Zylight Z90 - RGB LED that outputs any colour without gels
 
DAYLIGHT
1 x 575 HMI - Dedolight DLH 400D
2 x Soft Lights - 70 x 50cm
1 x Zylight Z90
 
LIGHT CONTROL
Dedo projection attachment with gobos and iris
40 Degree grid
6 x LightBreak gobo patterns
Reflectors and diffusers
Mini grip kit
 
BACKGROUNDS
8 x Interview / packshot backgrounds - click to see them
16:9 Blue screen