A followspot, sometimes known as a spotlight, is a powerful stage light which can be controlled by a human spotlight operator to "follow" actors around the stage. Stage lighting instruments are used in Stage lighting to illuminate theatrical productions rock Concerts The Spotlight Operator, Followspot Operator or a Spot Op is a Theatrical technician or more defined as Lighting technician who operates specialized Followspots are commonly used in concerts, musical theatre and opera to highlight the stars of a performance, but might find use in a drama to briefly focus the audience's attention on a hand-motion or a prop (such as in a murder mystery or thriller). Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto They are also used in sports venues, as well as many other applications. Followspots are usually located in the overhead catwalks or rear of house in the theatre. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one
Most followspots use arc lamps or the more powerful xenon arc lamps to produce a bright, white light. A xenon arc lamp is an artificial light source Powered by Electricity, it uses Ionized Xenon gas to produce a bright white light that closely Carbon arc lamp spots were common until the 1990s, using the arc between carbon rods as their light source. These follow spots required special installations that include high volume ventilation due to the hazardous fumes produced by the carbon arc. The current generation, xenon, has extremely high internal pressure in the lamp and thus has its own safety concerns. Xenon (ˈzɛnɒn or) is a Chemical element represented by the symbol Xe.
An example of a well known followspot is the Super Trouper by Strong Entertainment Lighting or the Altspot line by Altman Lighting. Super Trouper is the registered trademark of a series of follow spotlights manufactured by Strong Entertainment Lighting of Omaha (formerly Strong Electric Corporation of Toledo
Characteristics of a typical follow spot include:
- A strong light source, often a high-intensity discharge lamp with a high colour temperature
- A lens train which can be manually focused
- A manual device to change the intensity of the beam, especially when an HID source which can not be electronically dimmed is used
- An "iris" to adjust the size of the spot/angle of the beam
- A color magazine or "boomerang" consisting of several gel frames which can be swung in front of the beam
- Some sort of physical sight to assist in aiming is sometimes added onto the lamp by the operator. A High-intensity discharge (HID lamp is a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between Tungsten Electrodes Color temperature is a characteristic of Visible light that has important applications in lighting photography videography publishing and other fields A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate Axial symmetry which transmits and refracts Light, converging or diverging A color magazine is a fixture attached to a Follow spot that places different color filters in the path of the beam See also Photographic filter A color gel or color filter ( UK colour gel or colour filter) or a lighting gel "Sights" redirects here For the rock band see The Sights.
Some followspots can be fitted with colourchangers to colour the beam, and/or gobo holders to create a variety of effects. A color magazine is a fixture attached to a Follow spot that places different color filters in the path of the beam gobo is a template or pattern cut into a circular plate used to create Patterns of projected Light. Most followspots can be fitted with colour gels. See also Photographic filter A color gel or color filter ( UK colour gel or colour filter) or a lighting gel
Gallery
 A followspot |
 The optics of a followspot |
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