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09/17/2003 01:32:54 AM · #1 |
After much research, thought, and hesitation, I finally ordered some studio strobes tonight. I got two Alien Bees 800 strobes with stands, umbrellas, barn doors, reflectors, and a brolley box (umbrella shaped soft box). I'm excited about trying them out, but have never used strobes before. Anyone know of a good tutorial or book for portrait lighting?
Thanks,
JD Anderson
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09/17/2003 02:15:41 AM · #2 |
Welcome to the group my friend. You have made a fine fine decision.
First off I would like to turn your attention to the book by Bill Hurter
Called the "Portrait Photographers Handbook" by Amherst Media there are many lighting diagrams in there and they go over stuff that you will need to know.
Trust me this is the one I can not live without.
Welcome once again to the Club friend. I will be intrested to see what your thoughts are. Please share frequently. :-)
John
Message edited by author 2003-09-17 02:16:58. |
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09/17/2003 02:25:03 AM · #3 |
Hi John!
I just went to your profile to PM or email you! I noticed your recent activity included this thread... Thanks for commenting.
Here is what I bought:
B800 Studio Flash-Yello (2 of them)
CB1 Single Light Carrying Bag (2 of them)
CRK42 Five in One Reflector Kit
FT10MM FT10MM Replacement Flashtube
LMBD4 LiteMod Barndoors
LS3050 10' General Purpose Stand (2 of them)
U48SW 48â Silver/White Umbrella
U48TWB 48â Shoot-Thru Umbrella
UB32 Brolly Box (umbrella shaped soft box)
I can't wait to get this stuff and try it out! Unfortunately, I am completely ignorant in the ways of portrait lighting, and anything to do with professional lighting products. I will have a lot to learn.
Is a light meter necessary, or do you use trial and error to dial in exposure?
Once I get this equipment and start playing with it, I may drive you nuts with questions!! LOL Right now, I really don't know what to ask...
Thanks for the input, and I'll check out that book.
JD Anderson
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09/17/2003 11:12:58 AM · #4 |
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09/17/2003 11:23:23 AM · #5 |
hey JD. congrats on your new purchase.
btw, why the starbucks in the sig? :)
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
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09/17/2003 11:53:37 AM · #6 |
Hi Kollin,
To most, Starbucks is just a corporate identity, kind of the McDonald's of coffee. I spent 12 years drinking nasty coffee on submarines in the Navy, and expensive coffee was something I didn't know about, and probably would have thought to be stupid. When I got out of the Navy, I moved to Colorado Springs without ever visiting, no job, nothing... So many people asked me why I came here, for what appeared to be absolutely no reason.
It is all because my wife had bought a photo of James Dean drinking coffee in a coffee shop! (Sounds weird, I know). My wife was born and raised in Colorado Springs, but spent most of her adult life in LA, Beverly Hills, Chicago, and Denver (she has degrees in Industrial Design and Fine Art). She moved back to Colorado Springs in early '95 and got a job at Starbucks while looking for other jobs. She wound up buying an obscure portrait of James Dean drinking coffee...
My name is James Dean Anderson II and I wound up in Colorado Springs in August '95. My background was technical (Electronics Technician, and Reactor Operator/Engineering Watch Supervisor in the Nuclear Power field). I went to a Starbucks on a Friday night when I first arrived, thinking it was a local bar. I was surprised that it turned out to be a coffee shop... I had never seen a coffee shop before. Seemed kind of stupid to pay $3 to $5 for a coffee. I ended up getting an iced mocha and talked to the girls working there for awhile. They were very funny and I had a great time goofing around there for awhile. They gave me an application (knowing I had just moved there and didn't have a job). I filled it out as a joke (said Juan Valdez was my cousin... stuff like that). Well, they hired me and I thought it would be a great place to meet some people, being new to town.
I started work the following week and worked a shift with this girl named Tracy, who turned out to be very artistic, liked big cities, and just a little off kilter, which I liked. Most of the guys there were 'afraid' of her because she was very strong-willed, very opinionated, and she intimidated a lot of people. She had a boyfriend, but, but I got her to go out with me (as friends) anyway. We bought a house eight months later, got married eight months after that, and now we have three awesome little boys! Tracy still works at Starbucks (she is a manager now). I found a job as a Project Manager for a consulting group that services the semiconductor industry.
If I hadn't stopped in at Starbucks (mistaking it for a bar), my life would be very different now. I have an awesome family, an awesome wife, and it's all because I accidentally stopped at a place called Starbucks. Tracy thinks it was bacause of the James Dean photo, and a higher power intervening for us... I believe in the higher power, but I'm not too sure about the picture!
How's that for a really long story for a very simple question????
JD
Originally posted by magnetic9999:
hey JD. congrats on your new purchase.
btw, why the starbucks in the sig? :)
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
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09/17/2003 11:59:19 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
Hi Kollin,
To most, Starbucks is just a corporate identity, kind of the McDonald's of coffee. I spent 12 years drinking nasty coffee on submarines in the Navy, and expensive coffee was something I didn't know about, and probably would have thought to be stupid. When I got out of the Navy, I moved to Colorado Springs without ever visiting, no job, nothing... So many people asked me why I came here, for what appeared to be absolutely no reason.
It is all because my wife had bought a photo of James Dean drinking coffee in a coffee shop! (Sounds weird, I know). My wife was born and raised in Colorado Springs, but spent most of her adult life in LA, Beverly Hills, Chicago, and Denver (she has degrees in Industrial Design and Fine Art). She moved back to Colorado Springs in early '95 and got a job at Starbucks while looking for other jobs. She wound up buying an obscure portrait of James Dean drinking coffee...
My name is James Dean Anderson II and I wound up in Colorado Springs in August '95. My background was technical (Electronics Technician, and Reactor Operator/Engineering Watch Supervisor in the Nuclear Power field). I went to a Starbucks on a Friday night when I first arrived, thinking it was a local bar. I was surprised that it turned out to be a coffee shop... I had never seen a coffee shop before. Seemed kind of stupid to pay $3 to $5 for a coffee. I ended up getting an iced mocha and talked to the girls working there for awhile. They were very funny and I had a great time goofing around there for awhile. They gave me an application (knowing I had just moved there and didn't have a job). I filled it out as a joke (said Juan Valdez was my cousin... stuff like that). Well, they hired me and I thought it would be a great place to meet some people, being new to town.
I started work the following week and worked a shift with this girl named Tracy, who turned out to be very artistic, liked big cities, and just a little off kilter, which I liked. Most of the guys there were 'afraid' of her because she was very strong-willed, very opinionated, and she intimidated a lot of people. She had a boyfriend, but, but I got her to go out with me (as friends) anyway. We bought a house eight months later, got married eight months after that, and now we have three awesome little boys! Tracy still works at Starbucks (she is a manager now). I found a job as a Project Manager for a consulting group that services the semiconductor industry.
If I hadn't stopped in at Starbucks (mistaking it for a bar), my life would be very different now. I have an awesome family, an awesome wife, and it's all because I accidentally stopped at a place called Starbucks. Tracy thinks it was bacause of the James Dean photo, and a higher power intervening for us... I believe in the higher power, but I'm not too sure about the picture!
How's that for a really long story for a very simple question????
JD
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Now THAT is a nice story. Dunno what I'm even doing in this thread as I have no interest in strobe lights but I was bored on my day off and I'm glad I dipped in. Isn't this the kind of story that papers usually describe as heartwarming?
:o)
Lovely. |
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09/17/2003 12:00:01 PM · #8 |
| that's a great story, JD! :) |
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09/17/2003 12:00:36 PM · #9 |
:-)
It's ok. I do not think my email is working correct. Have gotten three emails in my inbox in the same amount of days. None from anyone I know. I usually get about 30-40 a day so i think something is wrong. Feel free to IM me through ICQ or AOL IM. If you do not want to do that I have a chat room all to my own and you do not have to sign up for it. Just type in a name and you are there. I however only have one light and all my stuff is done by Trial and Error. You are going to have a blast. Every shot you take your going to want to see what it looks like so you can tweak it. When I shoot in my studio I use the lowest power setting and that is more light than I need. I then make adjustments to my apperture and my shutter to suit the amount of light.
You think your addicted now. Wait till you get these babys. Did you get the 2'X 3' soft box. Wait. I just noticed you got an OctoBox Good deal. You going to love the honey combs that come with these light. Man you are serious. It is going to be like two years before you have to replace those flashe tubes. You spent a shat load of money. My Gosh.
I would have gotten a Snoot. I was just looking and it does not say that the light comes with a HoneyComb. :-( I just started using mine and boy is that a great way to keep the light off the background when you want to.
I look forward to hear from you. Welcome to the Hive. bzzzzzzzzzzzz
John (TurboTech)
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09/17/2003 12:06:47 PM · #10 |
Awwww! That was a very sweet story. It is nice to know a little more about you! Thanks for sharing!
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09/17/2003 12:15:44 PM · #11 |
Hi John...
I went to Amazon and ordered this book, plus Creative Techniques for Photographing Children, Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography, and Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers. I thought I would just shotgun and cover various aspects of portrait photography.
So you like the grids, huh? I considered buying some, even had them in the shopping cart. I took them out, though. I wanted to start with the umbrellas, the Octobox, and to play with the barn doors. I almost bought a third light to use as a background light or hair light. I didn't want to shell out more moey than I already had. I'm thinking about getting a 'continuous on' light for that (at least for now). I can get a stand, fixture, and reflector (like a funnel) for a quartz light for about $50 at Adorama. They also make a quartz light (600w I think) that can be focused to a tight spotlight for $89. I may give that a try and if I find it to be super helpful, I'll eventually add another Bee for that purpose.
I'll post some shots once I get going...
Thanks for the input.
JD
Originally posted by Turbotech:
Welcome to the group my friend. You have made a fine fine decision.
First off I would like to turn your attention to the book by Bill Hurter
Called the "Portrait Photographers Handbook" by Amherst Media there are many lighting diagrams in there and they go over stuff that you will need to know.
Trust me this is the one I can not live without.
Welcome once again to the Club friend. I will be intrested to see what your thoughts are. Please share frequently. :-)
John |
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