Basic portrait lighting for fun
Charles Pezeshki
I've been thinking about making a minimum investment in studio lighting so
that I can take photos of family and friends with my MF gear. I figure I
need a backdrop and 2 lights. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, but
I'd like to get decent results. I don't need the super-pro stuff, just the
basics. I know that one can really get carried away, just looking at the
catalogs.
Any suggestions on a very basic set-up, with particular brands?
Thanks
kevin_i
and a bunch of variable-brightness household lamps that you can move
around. The nice thing is that you can see pretty much where the
shadows fall and what you will get on film (visualizing with strobes
and weak modeling lights isn't always easy... hence the value of a
Polaroid back for proofing). This would be sufficient for black and
white photography where color balance isn't an issue.
But... since you're probably talking about buying strobes... for the
the budget minded hobbyist, the Photographer's Warehouse
(1-800-521-4311) sells a bunch of monolight kits that are fairly
decent. A single PG3001 monolight is $120 for 100ws, a modeling
light, and a built in slave. Their $499 "Essential Lighting Kit"
includes three lights, three stands, two umbrellas, and a set of
barndoors. I have one of their similar kits that I bought for home
use about 8 years ago, and for ocassional use it fits the bill.
Unless you already have one, you'll also need a flashmeter. Adorama
sells a cheap one for $79.95 but it only has red LEDs at full-stop
levels. If two LEDs light up, then it's supposed to be a half-stop
reading. I have one, and it was okay for color negative film... but I
quickly retired it in favor for a still-low-end Sekonic L-308 which is
much nicer and more versatile.
Tip: If you can't afford to buy your own flash meter but know someone
who would let you borrow one for a day or two... Attach a string to
your flash head and take a bunch of flash readings at different
distances from the flash, marking the string as you go. That way you
can just hold the string towards your subject and quickly know what
aperture to use. Crude... but it works to a degree. Just be sure
that you can keep the flash head/reflector/softbox/etc. set up pretty
much constant... changing how the flash fires into a reflector or
diffuser will slightly change the amount of light reaching your
subject.
For a budget backdrop, you can take a sheet or a large roll of paper
and do whatever you want with it. I once made a background stand out
of PVC piping that was strong and very portable... otherwise I hung a
pole between two hooks in my garage ceiling and threw whatever
background I wanted over the pole... then pulled out the monolights
for a makeshift studio to take pictures of family and friends.
Despite the crudeness of a "studio" setup, I think you'll find that
decent technique can turn out some great photographs. Good luck!
(^_^)
-Kevin
Charles Pezeshki <peze...@mme.wsu.edu> wrote in message news:<B7D0FA78.11443%peze...@mme.wsu.edu>...
Christopher Bush
Vivitar 285HV's, but did pop for a Minolta Autometer IV (about $229 at
B&H?). The results were very good, and that meter is super-easy and
accurate. I did wish for a modeling light, though. I since have been using
a White Lightning UZ-2400, which costs about $600 without stand and other
stuff. This is CHEAP for a 1000ws monolight, but still alot of cash. I
still use the Vivitars extensively for fill-in and location, but in the
studio the White Lightning is a dream. They make other models in the UZ
series starting around $400 I believe. If this is above the minimum
investment point, look at the Vivitars or other high-powered portables.
They are quality units that can be used for other things as well. There are
some monolights out there in the super-cheap price range that offer all the
bells and whistles at a very low price, which makes me suspicious. Not
saying they are definitely all bad, just to be careful. White Lightnings
are the cheapest of the "mainstream" of monolights as they are only sold
direct from the manufacturer.
--
Christopher Bush
http://www.christopherbush.com
"Charles Pezeshki" <peze...@mme.wsu.edu> wrote in message
news:B7D0FA78.11443%peze...@mme.wsu.edu...
Paul Brannon
"specials" to get a link to their page showing different packages at greater
savings than buying "a-la-carte". They also look like they're still
offering their overstock sale prices on some of the UltraZaps. I have two
UltraZap 1600's and one 800 as suggested in the location package. They're
very portable and easy to use.
Brenda
"Christopher Bush" <cb...@dialupnet.com> wrote in message
news:3baca...@news.starnetinc.com...
k8do
backdrop can be an old bedsheet, or for a darker background, an army
blanket.... If you must have artificial lighting, a pair of photofllood
bulbs in aluminum reflectors (check the farm store for flood lamps designed
to hold warming bulbs for raising chickens)
Cheers ... Denny
"Charles Pezeshki" <peze...@mme.wsu.edu> wrote in message
news:B7D0FA78.11443%peze...@mme.wsu.edu...
k8do
Infinitely variable light output over a 6 F-stop range... The modeling lamp
will track the flash level... Built in flash detector so it will work as a
remote and fire when the flash on the camera goes off... It spoils you to
be able to walk around have the main strobe go off everytime the camera
fires, without a tangle of wires...
I also got their light stand and umbrella... Good quality and recommended
by me...
"Christopher Bush" <cb...@dialupnet.com> wrote in message
news:3baca...@news.starnetinc.com...
Charles Pezeshki
Thanks for all the good responses. I'll check out the White Lightning
stuff.
Chuck
--
CaMeRa1234
I invested in a Novatron 2 lite outfit w/2 stands, 2 umbrellas, a 400 watt
second power pack, and a nice hard shell case for all for about $800.00.
I'm sure some "pro's" might scoff at Novatron, but for about 10 years now this
set up has done very well for me. One reason for the inexpense is some parts
are plastic rather than metal, and the flash tubes have to be replaced by a
technican rather than have them just pop out like others should they burn out.
Hope this helps.
Randy