It takes a lot of energy to power a film shoot, especially if you've got a lot of big, heavy lights to place everywhere. However not all locations are going to give you the electricity that you need to run them. But don't throw in the towel just yet—there are plenty of alternatives to powering your lighting setup through the nearest outlet, and Simon Cade of DSLRguide is here to tell you what they are, as well as how to use them to make your images look cinematic.


Filmmakers shoot in places without electricity all the time, whether it be in some abandoned warehouse or at the top of a mountain. So, generators and battery-powered lights are common go-to's for those who don't have a socket to plug into.

However, the big take-away from Cade's video is the fact that you can still light a scene beautifully and cinematically without needing electricity, something perhaps someone new to filmmaking might unduly stress over. You can (and should) take advantage of light from the sun, as well as windows and other openings through which it spills. In this post we talked about how to harness its awesome power for lighting your scenes.

But what about at night? Well, if you can get your hands on a battery-powered LED, which are great when it comes to low energy consumption, then you can use everyday lights, like lanterns, flashlights, and other practicals to sneakily add a little illumination to your scene.

And then, you know, there's fire. (Be careful. That's all I'm gonna say about that.)

What are some other ways to light a scene without using electricity? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: DSLRguide