Ballon Light
Created on : December 11, 2023 17:15
Denotation
Balloon lights (also known as lighting balloons) are a form of luminaire that is primarily used for illumination in the film industry, night highway construction, incident management, and public security applications such as police checkpoints. These luminaires are usually made up of one or more high-intensity lights encased in a translucent fabric balloon. The balloon serves as a diffuser, softening and dispersing the light.
Definition
A particular kind of luminaire, balloon lights (also known as lighting balloons) are used largely for illumination in the motion picture industry, night highway construction, incident management, and public security applications like police checkpoints. A translucent fabric balloon surrounds one or more of these luminaires' high-intensity bulbs in most cases. The light is diffused and spread out by the balloon. Sometimes the inside surface of the upper section of the balloon is reflective to focus more light downward. While some commercial devices include an interior wire frame like an umbrella to expand the balloon, others employ a blower. In essence, the gadget is a Westernized version of a Japanese paper lantern.
On October 26, 1924, the lighting balloon received its first patent in Germany (patent #427894). Several patents were granted up to the 1990s, although Western nations almost ever used the application. The business Airstar has significantly revolutionized the lighting balloon sector.
History
The balloon light was developed in 1994 by Pierre Chabert and Benoit Beylier, the creator of the French firm Airstar, located in Grenoble (Isère). It was a self-supporting spacelight hanging within a helium-filled balloon. It is perfect for indoor or outdoor settings where rigging is a challenge. Mission: Impossible, directed by Brian De Palma, with Stephen H. Burum serving as film director of photography and Laurie Shane serving as gaffer, was one of the first films ever illuminated with this type of setup. It was created for the 'embassy' interior, which was filmed in Prague's Natural History Museum, Národn Muzeum, and Václavské námest 68. Then one of the next big movies was Titanic, directed by James Cameron. Later they were used in the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the lighting set for Pirates of the Caribbean, Rang De Basanti, Sivaji, Avatar, Singapore Grand Prix and the Vancouver Olympics.