Helios Location Light Pre-Vis

The greatest challenge faced ny photographers and cinematographers when shooting on location is predicting where the sun, moon or stars might be at any given moment, to create the best visual effect. It's a time critical process, to be in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time.

It might be predicting where the sun will set behind a wide shot of Manhattan on a particular day...
It might be planning when to shoot the moon so it perfectly backlights the ocean...
It might be to schedule where the Milky Way might be at its brightest at the edge of the Sahara Desert...

Helios is the one tool you need to plan in any of these situations.

Included in Helios are a number of tools suitable for different situations:

Live View
This allows you to see a camera overlay showing where the sun might appear through a window. Just frame up the shot you want to do, and observe where the sun might be at any time, on any day in the future.

Street View
The position of the sun on any future day is mapped over the 360º images in Google Street View. Virtual Stand-Ins of people, animals & vehicles can be placed to view how the sun or moon might light them.

MapView
This is graphic representation of the position and height of the sun on a top-down map. Great when planning multiple shots in a specific location throughout a shooting day.

3D Landscape View
Using modeled 3D landscapes, the path and character of the sun can be visualized during the course of a day. Again, Virtual -Stand-Ins can be used to help visualize how light might make subject look different at various times during the day.

3D Building View
Using the same tools as 3D Landscape view, this is for use in urban settings, where building throw shadows, depending on where the sun might be at any given time.

Underwater View
Helps predict the way light reacts when shooting beneath the waves.

From our users....


Craig Wrobleski CSC
Cinematographer
FUBAR, A Man in Full, Matlock,The Umbrella Academy, Fargo, Legion, In the Tall Grass, X-Files

“Both Artemis Pro and Helios Pro have become indispensable tools for me. Artemis is the most effective way to find common compositional ground with directors and camera operators, and is especially great for large format cameras like the Alexa 65 and the LF. Helios Pro is invaluable for scouting and scheduling the day to chase the light and capture it. The new features in Helios Pro mean you can be in a meeting and show everyone how the light will travel in a 3D rendering of an exterior location on the exact day we plan to shoot. I can’t imagine working without these tools.”

Robert McLachlan ASC, CSC
Cinematographer/Director
American Gigolo, 1923, Yellowstone, Landman,Ray Donovan, The Affair, Game of Thrones, Westworld

“On Game of Thrones we often scouted locations months in advance...it was critical in the down to the minute schedule planning we made for the Dance of Dragons sequence...with Helios you’re way ahead of the game in both prep and on set.”

Oliver Curtis BSC
Cinematographer
Urban Myths, Hamlet Within, A Little Life, ,The Wedding Date, Death at a Funeral, Owning Mahowny, Vanity Fair

"Helios has become an indispensable tool in my work... With the addition of AR in Helios Pro the level of preparedness for all departments is that much higher. With today’s budgets and schedules this level of information accuracy is invaluable.”

Gary Varney
Gaffer
Eternals, The King's Man, Wicked,The Deep Blue Sea, Sexy Beast / Gaffer 2nd Unit Jack Ryan, Kick Ass, American Assassin

“Helios just blows you away. To have the ability to overlay 3D models of people, buildings or vehicles to see just how the light falls on them throughout the day is incredible. I highly recommend Helios."

Mairzee Almas
Director
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Jessica Jones, Y: The Last Man, The Sandman,iZombie, Guilt, 12 Monkeys, The Last Ship, Smallville

"I use both Artemis and Helios when scouting and find them both invaluable tools for prep."

New to Helios Pro are a number of advances that are invaluable when doing night photography.

The new Milky Way section gives you three different ways of visualizing the stars at any location, including maps showing light pollution and where the densest clusters of start will be.