Having worked for 5 News since the start, Foster has had Source Fours in his lighting rig all along, but this is the first time he has used them as key lights. Previously, they have been back lighting the set and used to project the Channel 5 logo. For the revamped rig, Foster specified a total of eight Source Fours - four of which are used as key lights on the news presenter and for the guest positions. The rest are back lights as before. "I use the Source Fours as key lights because they produce a flat field without striations and shadows," explained Foster - literally presenting the news reader's face in the best light possible.
Presenter Kirsty Young acknowledges Foster role: "He’s taken 10 years off my face - he must be the best LD in the business." As well as being Channel 5's lighting director, Foster also enjoys the privilege of being Young’s personal lighting director. When she took a two-year break to work for ITV News, he set up the lighting for that studio as well.
In addition to the Source Four profiles, Foster is now also using two 750W Source Four PARNels as dressing lamps, where he wanted a powerful source of light without incurring a very high wattage. Lighting rental company White Light, with whom Foster has enjoyed a long-standing relationship, supplied the entire lighting rig.
(Ruth Rossington)
