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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Why I HATE Umbrella Lighting...
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Showing posts 26 - 50 of 104, (reverse)
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 07/19/2009 12:31:46 PM · #26
Originally posted by idnic:
Ben, every day you copy your blog entry here and add links to it. Seems to me, you aren't trying to help this community so much as you are trying to toot your own horn and drive traffic to your blog via this site's large user base. That bothers me. But now you blatantly bash newer photographers who are starting out with the very piece of equipment everyone starts out using when learning to light. That describes many of the users on this site.



I agree. I often wondered abut that - no challenges entered, no votes cast, only 3 comments made, no portfolio images (not a member so you don't have one), yet an endless parade of links back to your blog. So my wonderment comes from the fact that you DO NOT support or participate in this community other than to get traffic to your blog and now you insult a fair percentage of this community, yet you want this community to support you and your blog.

I have a sore spot on my head from scratching...do I have fleas?

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 12:32:07.
 07/19/2009 12:43:10 PM · #27
I'm itching over the spam button....

Originally posted by CEJ:
So my wonderment comes from the fact that you DO NOT support or participate in this community other than to get traffic to your blog and now you insult a fair percentage of this community, yet you want this community to support you and your blog.
07/19/2009 12:52:26 PM · #28
Benji, do you think your aversion to umbrella lighting has anything to do with your niche of photography? Very few people are out shooting for fashion mags. That genre probably aims at different goals than your typical portrait photog. Everything is dramatic and over-the-top for an intended effect. The model is merely a prop and the photo becomes much more about either the clothes or the work of art (ie. the photo) as a whole. This is not the aim when we shoot loved ones or clients at weddings or formal portraits. The aim here is reversed. The photo, the lighting, the clothes all play a supporting role to bringing out the person.

Anyway, I can understand your feeling and I think you are probably right. If someone showed up for a fashion mag shoot with what we would consider "standard lighting", well, I'm not sure what would happen. But you probably want to ratchet back the passion by realizing that you are involved in a highly specialized niche.

As far as trying to drive traffic to his site, I've thought that was a purpose in his posts as well. BUT, aren't we all doing that? Cindi has a link to her site in her signature. I have a link to the gallery on my profile page. While we know Cindi isn't here for the expressed purpose of drumming up business, it's a secondary effect. The stuff Benji has posted on his blog IS interesting and DOES reveal a behind-the-scenes look at an industry where I have seen very little behind-the-scenes stuff. He's obviously talented and I don't mind him choosing DPC to share his efforts. He doesn't benefit directly from us visiting his site because we aren't magazine editors and we can't buy anything. He may be rising in the Google rankings, but whatever. He IS responding on this thread and participating in it.

I'd love to see some challenge entries though... :)

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 12:58:52.
 07/19/2009 12:55:11 PM · #29
Stop complaining everyone, he's has 25 years experience in the trade. People buy starter kits to start with, that means they donĂ¢€™t intend to stick with them once there skill have surpassed them.
He has provided links and information on alternatives from his perspective and opinion.
If he is using this site to direct traffic to his blog, so? Its all relevant stuff and if you donĂ¢€™t want to know about a certain thing donĂ¢€™t follow the link.

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 12:56:42.
 07/19/2009 12:58:17 PM · #30
I think most will agree that your photographs are great and for the sounds of it appears you have made it in the world of fashion photography, so, what could possible be your intention in coming to this site not with a cordial 'hey guys look at my stuff, if you like what I do ask me questions and I will be happy to educate you on what I know' but rather with some sort of difficult to describe attitude?

Your original post is insulting to Walmart, Ford Pinto (former) owners, accountants, Holiday Inns and most importantly to all of those trying to learn about photography and lighting without access to big budgets or agency models. Maybe there is no specific motivation but just your style of interacting or, as others have suggested, perhaps you just want to attract people to your blog by posting a provocative thread, either way, you end up coming accross like a bit of an ass hole which in the end makes it more difficult to appreciate your work. From what you've done here and from reading through your blog it seems you cannot get enough of yourself and are ever-desperate for people's attention. Get a shrink pal.

07/19/2009 01:04:37 PM · #31
Hell, if I had known you could get lighting at Wal-Mart, I could have saved hundreds on my studio lighting..damn it, these threads always come too late.....
 07/19/2009 01:10:28 PM · #32
My umbrella hit me in the head on my last photoshoot.
 07/19/2009 01:18:08 PM · #33
Originally posted by DrAchoo:

As far as trying to drive traffic to his site, I've thought that was a purpose in his posts as well. BUT, aren't we all doing that? ............
I'd love to see some challenge entries though... :)


I think more that the doing it, it is the way you go about doing it...........yeah, I'd like to see some challenge entries too, but do you think he is the kind of guy that will 'lower' himself to this level? I don't think so, the portrait challenge would be a perfect opportunity for him to surprise me/us. Any bets?
07/19/2009 01:22:07 PM · #34
But what if it's raining?

I think we need to take his Pentax away. Gives us low-end equipment guys a bad rep...

07/19/2009 01:25:09 PM · #35
I have seen this sort of crap many times before and wondered why DPC gods and the angels didn't see such posts as spam.
 07/19/2009 01:45:04 PM · #36
Originally posted by BJamy:
My umbrella hit me in the head on my last photoshoot.


This is the best post in the thread! :-)
 07/19/2009 02:12:40 PM · #37
Originally posted by liberty:
Hell, if I had known you could get lighting at Wal-Mart, I could have saved hundreds on my studio lighting..damn it, these threads always come too late.....

You can. Head to the automotove department and pick up a couple of these refelctors for $9:

I have a couple made from shiny mylar. The fold up easily and actually look like they are intended for photography. I also have a large mylar emergency blanket that was $3 in the camping dept. I'm still working on the umberella, though, but I'll figure something out for about $20.

Ben, I have enjoyed your posts, they are usually useful, but like with the others, your manner of participation here has left me scratching my head. I didn't realize you were trying to drive your blog traffic (duh), but the posts did strike me as a daily article, or sometimes an effort to stir up a usable discussion on a subject.

As a blog post, aimed at professionals, I can see your point in posting such an opinion on cheap lighting, but as a contribution to a site with a lot of beginners and amateurs, this particular post did indeed come off badly. What I can use is help with lighting that I can implement on the cheap. An inexpensive umbrella kit is certainly a future purchase for me.

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 14:32:34.
 07/19/2009 02:15:20 PM · #38
I agree - nothing wrong with umbrellas when used properly - this was taken last week and the umbrellas worked fantastically - pity it rained all day!

07/19/2009 02:18:14 PM · #39
All I am suggesting is, if there is a rule break it and in photography it is not illegal.

Experiment, experiment and experiment more.
 07/19/2009 02:29:16 PM · #40
Originally posted by benjikan:
All I am suggesting is, if there is a rule break it and in photography it is not illegal.

Experiment, experiment and experiment more.


Sorry, thats not the way I (and obviously many others read it).
 07/19/2009 02:45:02 PM · #41
Originally posted by idnic:
Ben, every day you copy your blog entry here and add links to it. Seems to me, you aren't trying to help this community so much as you are trying to toot your own horn and drive traffic to your blog via this site's large user base. That bothers me.


I agree completely.

One does wonder, and most of the posts get little or no response here, either. This one mostly has the "fed up with these posts" sorts of responses.

The "report this post as spam" link is there. Dunno what threshold it auto-triggers at. My click didn't get it there....
 07/19/2009 02:46:54 PM · #42
Originally posted by benjikan:
All I am suggesting is, if there is a rule break it and in photography it is not illegal.

Experiment, experiment and experiment more.


When and where did you say that?
 07/19/2009 02:49:22 PM · #43
I will reiterate...All I want everyone to do is not rely on what people say is where one should begin when purchasing a lighting kit. I like many did not know any better when I started and purchased the standard kit and until that all changed my professional standing was static.

This post is NOT meant to be insulting, it is meant to shift your paradigm slightly, no more no less.
 07/19/2009 03:02:12 PM · #44
I love you. Happy?
 07/19/2009 03:24:54 PM · #45
IMO, this is a perfect example of why we scare some of the best talent away from this site. How is this different than Joey L selling his processing CD on this site? The nice thing here is that he is sticking around to engage into the conversation. Good for you Ben, keep them coming!

I too am no a huge fan of Umbrella's, especially in a non-studio setting. I think they are a pain in the butt from a logistic standpoint and generally offer utilitarian results. They do serve a purpose, without a doubt, but offer little to the creative result.

I look at umbrella's like I would a 20 year old mare. Very predictable and safe. Ride a mustang and you now have to think. It is during those "thinking" moments when some of the most memorable experiences are created.

I think it would be great if Ben would throw a few shots into challenges. It would serve us well to have this experience available to us. After reading some of this close minded garbage in this thread, I doubt he will.

Yeah where is Joey anyhow? I see we offer him an inspiring environment as well. ;-)

Chill out folks nobody is gonna play with you toys, its okay to share.
07/19/2009 03:47:06 PM · #46
I hope Ben enters a challenge and wipes the floor with all of you. Then he would be ROFLHAO.

I was going to comment on this post a while back - having seen Ben`s comments on here commenting on all and sundry (and the blatent advertising of his brothers colums and his blog etc) then not entering challenges. His work is obviously of a very high commercial grade quality, but I thought it would be nice to see if he could walk-the-walk as well as talk-the-talk, I still think it would be.

But I have noticed quite a venomous undertone to some of the replies here and it does seem to be turning into a witch-hunt - now I know I am not squeaky clean when it comes to burning the witches - but I think in this instance I will hold fire. Yes I admit Ben`s posts can generally be perceived as pretty snotty and come across as holier-than-thou, but I wouldn't pitch him into the Prof_fate pigeon hole just yet.

So Ben, rise up to the challenge mate and get an entry into a challenge and lets see you stand up and be counted. Good luck!

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 15:48:18.
 07/19/2009 03:53:46 PM · #47
Originally posted by Simms:
.......So Ben, rise up to the challenge mate and get an entry into a challenge and lets see you stand up and be counted. Good luck!


nice try Mark, I say he doesn't bite.
 07/19/2009 03:59:12 PM · #48
Originally posted by senor_kasper:
Originally posted by Simms:
.......So Ben, rise up to the challenge mate and get an entry into a challenge and lets see you stand up and be counted. Good luck!


nice try Mark, I say he doesn't bite.


You dont catch fish by placing turd on the hook now do you?
 07/19/2009 04:10:41 PM · #49
Originally posted by benjikan:
I will reiterate...All I want everyone to do is not rely on what people say is where one should begin when purchasing a lighting kit. I like many did not know any better when I started and purchased the standard kit and until that all changed my professional standing was static.

This post is NOT meant to be insulting, it is meant to shift your paradigm slightly, no more no less.


I read nothing in your opening post that in any way showed a real interest in the beginning photographer's lighting ensemble. In follow up posts, you answer questions with diagrams that are confusing to a beginning photographer and use such terms as snoot and barn doors. I am not a beginning photographer. I use natural window light and a white poster board reflector. I've never used flash or any other professional lighting. I don't consider my images to be horrible, but of course that is my opinion. I do have an interest in using advanced lighting techniques, but I, like many others, do not have the cash to purchase a full fledged system nor the need to do so.

If you have alternate advice that is cost efficient, by all means, share it. Otherwise, I think I'll stick with a book I just purchased - Light Science & Magic - An Introduction to Photographic Lighting...

Message edited by author 2009-07-19 16:13:11.
 07/19/2009 04:16:10 PM · #50
Cool. Many hits and some favs too.
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