There’s been a revolution in lighting for film, TV and video. For decades, lights didn’t change much in terms of how they worked. Traditional Tungsten lights for film and TV get hot, really hot, as hot as an oven. You need thick leather gloves to handle them. In our homes, lightbulbs have been replaced by LEDs. In a similar way, in TV studios and film sets, Tungsten and other old lighting technologies are being replaced by safe and efficient LEDs. LEDs save on electricity bills, don’t fry the talent and are faster and more convenient to work with in every respect.

I’m planning to shoot video so checked my plan to get LED lights with a couple of old hands to get their opinion. One, a cinemaphotographer, went all misty eyed “I’d love to use Tungsten but they won’t let me,” he said wistfully. Another – a celebrity and fashion photographer –  told me he uses the old Tungsten lights 90% of the time, modern LED’s the other 10% because he finds the skin tones more pleasing. I found their responses surprising and intriguing,  I’ve only used Tungsten lights once before and to be honest found them a bit intimidating and old-fashioned compared to LED’s. But their reaction made me want to at least give Tungsten lights a proper try and sell them if I didn’t get on with them.