General Discussion

MineralMan

(149,918 posts)

22. Most people pay no attention to lighting or backgrounds

Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:32 PM

Mar 2020

when they use computer video on Skype, Zoom, or other video conferencing.

My wife complained about how she looked on screen, so I got in there and set up some better lighting for her, hung an old Persian rug on the wall behind her to kill room echos to make her voice sound better and to provide a better background. Then, I had her sit down with the camera showing how she looked, and made some camera angle changes to improve things even further.

Now, she's not so upset about doing video-conferencing. If you're going to be facing a camera, you might as well take some time to make yourself look your best on screen.

I've noticed that stay-at-home TV people, like our local weatherman, are not paying attention to any of that. I'm surprised the producers of their programming haven't come in and done what I did for my wife. Maybe they'll get around to it. Looks like amateur hour on the local news right now.

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If Matthew McConaughey looks like this in a zoom call, imagine what we look like [View all] kpete Mar 2020 OP

Post of the day so far!! redstateblues Mar 2020 #1

Really, bubbazero Mar 2020 #2

... Sunriser13 Mar 2020 #38

So often I hear, 'OMG, is that really how I look?' Cirque du So-What Mar 2020 #3

Lol Demovictory9 Mar 2020 #39

People age don't ya know, and sun worshiping folks, I have bad news.... Brainfodder Mar 2020 #4

Webcam, minus lighting, makeup, color-correcting, and editing. forgotmylogin Mar 2020 #20

A search away from enlightenment.... before and afters... Brainfodder Mar 2020 #23

I so want to see him playing a role in a movie looking that ordinary. Baitball Blogger Mar 2020 #5

I've seen him in a few roles where he doesn't look so hot. tavernier Mar 2020 #19

Did you miss "Dallas Buyers Club"? misanthrope Mar 2020 #43

I never quite understood the fascination with Matthew anyway. Grammy23 Mar 2020 #6

Those glasses don't do him any favors. BusyBeingBest Mar 2020 #7

Yeah, the glasses are hideous TexasBushwhacker Mar 2020 #12

Well, that's unfortunate. BusyBeingBest Mar 2020 #15

I don't care for the voice much, either. Ilsa Mar 2020 #9

Always had a thing for nerds. MrsCoffee Mar 2020 #10

Pat Boone wannabe? keithbvadu2 Mar 2020 #11

😍 dewsgirl Mar 2020 #28

Well... forgotmylogin Mar 2020 #21

Minus the glasses Tink41 Mar 2020 #8

Starting to look like Michael Caine with those glasses. HarlanPepper Mar 2020 #13

Awl..right, awl..right, awl..right. Laffy Kat Mar 2020 #14

He never looked the same after he starved himself making Dallas Buyers Club. shockey80 Mar 2020 #16

It was a great movie, you are right though. dewsgirl Mar 2020 #27

I have never understood why anyone would want to do Zoom or Face Time. smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #17

Same here 2naSalit Mar 2020 #24

I know, I guess in that situation it would be a different thing entirely. smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #25

I won't be there 2naSalit Mar 2020 #30

Hope you stay well 2naSalit! smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #33

We have conference calls daily for work. Not Zoom just voice underpants Mar 2020 #26

We have a number of conf. calls during the week and use WebEx through Outlook. smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #29

When I see myself on facetime I want to hurl. Greybnk48 Mar 2020 #18

Most people pay no attention to lighting or backgrounds MineralMan Mar 2020 #22

Those are great suggestions! csziggy Mar 2020 #35

Exactly. The pros depend on the studio people to MineralMan Mar 2020 #36

True, and I think the amateurs have more incentive csziggy Mar 2020 #37

Right now, a lot of people are scrambling just to make MineralMan Mar 2020 #40

Yeah - I am glad I don't have to try any of that csziggy Mar 2020 #42

One thing about skping and such, you're on camera so you may not want to do it in your at-home-lay- brush Mar 2020 #31

I'm dying over here Bluethroughu Mar 2020 #32

My one complaint with Matthew is that if he accepts any type of award not_the_one Mar 2020 #34

He always looks like a lounge lizard. DavidDvorkin Mar 2020 #41

He's beginning to look like McTURTLE! Totally Tunsie Mar 2020 #44