HDRI Chrome Ball Photography

[tk421storm]

Hey all,

I’m just learning how to do HDRI panoramas on set, and I think I have a pretty good handle on it. However, there are two questions I have that I haven’t been able to answer in standard tutorials:

1) Clearly it’s important to take all the pictures from the exact same spot, correct? So a tripod system would be needed. Do people use two tripods, one for the camera and one for the ball?

2) Would something like [URL=”http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/707200-REG/Vanguard_MULTI_MOUNT_6_Multi_Mount_6_Tripod_Utility.html”%5Dthis%5B/URL%5D work with just one tripod? As in, mount the chrome ball at one end and the camera at the other. I guess I’m wondering if it would create too much to be painted out in the shot. I could place the tripod under the camera, or under the ball, I’m guessing.

[Kermit Halligan]

the position where you put the chromeball depends on the situation, but yes, you probably need to put it the closest to the place where you are going to place the CG as possible, to get more accurate info.

And yes you need a couple of tripods, I guess that multi-mount tripod won’t work, because the camera would be too close to the ball and you woud get a huge reflection of the camera in the photo as you said.

I’ve always used two tripods, maybe you can have another person to help you set up everything as fast as possible.

Anyway, always the fastest way to get HDRIs is to shoot with a wide 180 FOV lens and a panorama tripod head. Much better information for accurate reflections, although more expensive.

[Anonymous]

Awesome! That makes a lot of sense. I’ve been experimenting and have come up with pretty much the same solution.

If it ends up being something I do more often, I’ll def look into one of the panorama head solutions. For now, that’s outside my price range.

Thanks for your help!!

[Niccolò]

Hi,
Yes FishEye lens is the coolest choice but in most situations when you dont need precise reflection map but good env. light chrome sphere is enough and you can take 2, 90degree shots and have pretty good 360 map.
One thing to consider while shooting chrome ball vs. FishEye lens is the position of camera.
In shooting chrome ball, the ball is where the CG subject will be.
In shooting FishEye lens, camera is where the CG subject will be.
Also if you have Full crop 180 Fish eye lens in rush situations you can tilt your camera straight up and get 1 shot full 360 pano 🙂
On the other hand you can shoot chrome ball with shooting camera and get another reference how reflections behave/look through the color process of footage.

[Anonymous]

going to hijack this super old thread, to ask about shooting on set hdr’s and green screen.
Do you just have to paint out the green later?

[Author]

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