Sky Replacement

Sky Replacement

Sky replacement is among the most inexpensive and fundamental
extensions that can be made to a shot. It opens
up various possibilities to shoot faster and more cheaply.
Not only do you not have to wait for ideal climate conditions,
you can swap in a different sky or an extended physical
skyline.
Skies are, after all, part of the story—often a subliminal
one, but occasionally a starring element. An interior with
a window could be anywhere, but show a recognizable skyline
outside the window and locals will automatically gauge

the exact neighborhood and city block of that location,
along with the time of day, time of year, weather, outside
temperature, and so on, possibly without ever really paying
conscious attention to it.
You could spend tens (even hundreds) of thousands of
dollars for that view apartment on Central Park East to
fi lm a scene at golden hour (the beautiful “hour” of sunset
that typically lasts about 20 minutes and is missing on an
overcast day). The guerilla method would be to use your
friend’s apartment, light it orange, shoot all day, and add
the sunset view in post. In many cases, the real story is
elsewhere, and the sky is a subliminal (even if beautiful)
backdrop that must serve that story.