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12/19/2005 07:20:38 AM · #1 |
I̢۪m going to be purchasing a new lighting system in the very near future and want to make sure I get all my light modifier bases covered up front. I don̢۪t want to wish I had gotten something else after 2 photoshoots. I̢۪m very partial to Soft Boxes, I like square catch lights and the soft lighting but cost wise, Brolly Boxes/umbrella softs are a much better price. I also know that I will shoot a lot of high key and want to get the best setup for the most backdrop coverage.
Any opinions about the most diverse setup would be appreciated.
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12/19/2005 08:27:50 AM · #2 |
Don't forget a background stand, and of course snoots, grids and a flashmeter. Some gels to color the BG lights woudl be a plus too/
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12/19/2005 08:34:17 AM · #3 |
Mel! I just found your PM (sorry, it got confused with a barrage of them I got this weekend). This is better/faster way to answer your question:
I got the Alien Bee 2 light set when I first started, they come with umbrellas, a reflective and a shoot through, I added one softbox to that set and that did me just fine for over 2 years. I have now added one more light and a background reflector (also from Alien Bees). My basic set includes the shoot through umbrella on fill light, softbox on key light and the background hoood on the bg light :)
Hope that helps and feel free to PM anytime, sorry that last one got overlooked. I'll do better next time! :) |
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12/19/2005 09:06:26 AM · #4 |
A set of barn doors can be very handy to control light spill, espeically to keep it off the BG, or if used on the BG light to keep it off the subject. One set seems to be all you need.
If you go glamour then a grid would be handy. Snoots seem to be more of a luxury item, something you add once you get to 4 or 5 lights.
If you're doing high key get at least one large softbox and maybe teh AB1600 to use in it - i mean a 48 to 60" softbox.
I am leaning towards an octabox cause i don't like squarish catchlights.
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12/19/2005 09:17:31 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
A set of barn doors can be very handy to control light spill, espeically to keep it off the BG, or if used on the BG light to keep it off the subject. One set seems to be all you need.
If you go glamour then a grid would be handy. Snoots seem to be more of a luxury item, something you add once you get to 4 or 5 lights.
If you're doing high key get at least one large softbox and maybe teh AB1600 to use in it - i mean a 48 to 60" softbox.
I am leaning towards an octabox cause i don't like squarish catchlights. |
I used snoots and grids all the time doing product work. they are great for putting fill in just that one spot. Never had much use for barn doors though, I always just made scrims from matboard scraps.
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12/19/2005 09:23:31 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Beach_mel:
I̢۪m going to be purchasing a new lighting system in the very near future and want to make sure I get all my light modifier bases covered up front. I don̢۪t want to wish I had gotten something else after 2 photoshoots. |
You're already getting decent advise on lights and modifiers and I assume you'll get some more but let me just butt in here for a sec and say - there's no way. You can't possibly know up front what you are going to want let alone need once you get an idea in your head. There are way too many combinations of lighting to prequalify what types of shots you are going to shoot based on the light. If there's one thing we say in our studio it's "ya know what we need?" ALL the time. It's just never 'complete' like that - I talk to some long time pros who say "when I get..." all the time. lol It's part of the fun - just don't expect to never need another modifier no matter what the good folk here tell ya to get. :)
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12/19/2005 09:26:32 AM · #7 |
Yeah, I'm gonna go with the softboxes first. That starts you off with light on your subject and a little control. Grids are next for more refined lighting. After these two modifier types I'd add some gels and if you use Alien Bees you might want to spring for their gel holders. I usually just tape the darned things but its not the best way as the tape can end up melting at just the wrong time & the gel falls so that you have to reset it. The little bulldog clips AB includes are worthless for me. Add a snoot or two (and the AB mainframe mount) once you have enough lights (maybe 1's enough for you) and you want more directional control. Barndoors fall way down the list and I just don't use umbrellas at all but that's me.
I'd also suggest putting some money into PocketWizard PLUSes if you have any extra.
Kev |
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