Three Commercial Lighting Setups From Gaffer Benjamin Erdenberger ICLS

Gegenlicht Design is a network of economically independent gaffers and electricians who work on a wide variety of projects including short films, music videos, and commercials. Benjamin Erdenberger, gaffer, lighting console operator, and head of Gegenlicht Design, often relies on Rosco DMG Lighting fixtures to create engaging and impactful commercials. Below Bejamin walks us through three television ads that he shot using his compact and lightweight DMG Lights.

Recreating Early-Morning Sunlight

NaNaNaNaNa! German musician Alexander Marcus is back to sing a new version of his popular Hawaii Toast Song for a Golden Toast commercial. The video shoot included scenes of a family gathered around the table savoring their delicious Golden Toast for breakfast.

To create the right atmosphere for this scene, Benjamin used artificial light sources inside and outside the apartment set. He mounted a DMG SL1™ fixture with a SNAPBAG^® and a SNAPGRID^® to illuminate the talent with a gentle early-morning glow that matched the tungsten "sunlight" coming through the window.

A Flattering Lighting Setup For Close-Ups

This EDEKA store ad immerses the audience in the exciting world of the citrus fruits they offer all year round. When a couple of time-travelers land inside the store with their shopping trolly asking what time it is, the shop attendant exclaims “It’s citrus season!” and then he goes on to show them the wide variety of oranges and lemons available in the store.

Benjamin aimed a DMG MAXI fixture with a SNAPBAG^® and a SNAPGRID^® through a Quarter Grid Butterfly to create an alluring lighting setup for closeups on set. The fixture ensured even, flattering light for the close-ups, while also making the grocery behind the talent look appealing.

Colorful Game Show Lighting

Animated food products compete for the lowest prices in this commercial for the German discount supermarket chain Netto Marken-Discount. To create the commercial, actual products were filmed as color-changing lights created a game show atmosphere in the background, and then the animated faces and arms were added later in post.

Benjamin used a DMG SL1 fixture with a SNAPBAG^® and a SNAPGRID^® to brightly illuminate the products in a pool of vivid colored light. This created an excellent base of soft light that contrasted perfectly with the other background hard lights that were flaring the camera as they all worked together to surround the product in exciting flashes of purple, teal, yellow, and green.

Rosco DMG Lighting Equipment For Gaffers

DMG Lighting fixtures provide everything that gaffers need. Benjamin commented: "I fell in love with DMG Lighting fixtures after I learned about their excellent spectrum quality. The fixtures work great as a lightweight toplight that includes both the light ballast and controller. It’s a highly versatile light that can be used in many different scenarios."

Thanks to Gaffer Benjamin Erdenberger ICLS for sharing his commercial ad lighting techniques. If you would like to see other projects that Benjamin has worked on, you can follow @gegenlichtdesign  and @ben.erdenberger on Instagram. If you would like to learn more about the easy-to-setup lighting package that Benjamin used in these commercial lighting setups – please visit the DMG Lighting product page on the Rosco website.