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08/02/2004 04:26:13 AM · #1 |
So I picked up some studio strobes, played around with them a bit tonight. Sorry, couldn't find any hot models to volunteer just yet so you'll have to stare at my ugly mug. What do you think?
 
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08/02/2004 05:06:02 AM · #2 |
Hi-ho..
More details please.. brand/model(s), how many stops adjustment? soft-boxes? Umbrellas? radio remote / cabled master & optical slave / IR trigger? :-).
The four pic's look good, although the light is a little hard for my liking, is it bounced/diffused in those shots?
The colour is good in the two colour ones, are you using a flash meter, or 'TLAR' (That looks about right) metering? I've got an old minolta flash meter, but I've stopped mucking around with it and I've gone to TLAR.
I'm quite keen on flash/strobe photography, although I'm using a mish-mash of gear, I'm starting to get the results I want. It's a much easier way to go than hot lights IMHO.
Cheers, Chris H. |
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08/02/2004 05:15:42 AM · #3 |
They are cheapo Britek PS-200H strobes, they put out 120WS of light each and have built-in modeling lights. They were mounted on stands with 32" white umbrellas. One light was set to half power and the other full power. I still need to get a flash meter; for now I am just kinda playing around using the digi and trial and error. :)
I was shooting with my 105mm macro from about 7-9 feet away at f9.5 on iso400 with a 1/180 shutter speed.
Anyway, any tips on how to (better) place the strobes and maybe some posing suggestions or websites with good information would be much appreciated.
Message edited by author 2004-08-02 05:57:17. |
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08/02/2004 06:10:08 AM · #4 |
'Urro,
Play around with the distance from the umbrella to the model. At some distances you'll find you get quite hard light, depending on the position of the strobe relative to the brolly, and the distance from the brolly to the model.
I use 48" umbrellas (Home painted silver jobs), and for portraits I've found that having them as close as possible without the handle showing up in frame is best for the key light, for the fill light anything goes as long as it's bright enough to fill the shadow.
My profile shot was taken with a single flash into a brolley just out of frame on the right, and a bit of white card on the left when I was trying out a new flash.
Bigger ver: here.
(yes I know the eyes are a bit odd, I went a little silly in the editing)
And this shot: here was taken with the brolly on the left, and a bounced nikon sb-24. A hanimex TZ855 slave is off to the right straight on (no bounce/diffuser) about 3 stops lighter to fill the shadow.
My approach has been to read a bunch of info on the web (google is your friend) and look a lots and lots of other peoples photography. www.photo.net is a great source of inspiration, as are many of the other photo sites around the net, this one included. I've got a folder of 200+ portraits from all around the web that I flick through occasionally, looking for style and lighting. Whenever I look at a portrait I think to myself 'how was that lit?'.
Even if it isn't your thing, look at 'fine art' nudes. It seems that many of the 'fine art' (sic) photographers have a much better feeling for light than straight portrait snappers.
Once you're done looking, find a style of photo you like, and try to replicate it with the gear you've got.
As for the flash meter, personally I'd go with the TLAR method. The major advantage of digital is being able to see what you shot straight away. A good flash meter will cost more than you'll get out of it unless you're looking at going professional. I had my flash meter from the film days, but I found it was just silly messing about with it on the digital.
Have fun, and keep us all posted... |
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08/02/2004 03:34:08 PM · #5 |
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look at some peoples' work, maybe even see if I can't find any decent books at the library.
My backdrop was pretty ghetto, I plan on grabbing some muslin or white/black sheets or something at Walmart and either buying or making a stand. I also plan on buying a little shop light with a relfector for illuminating the backdrop and eliminating the shadow. |
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08/02/2004 06:08:30 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by VisiBlanco:
My backdrop was pretty ghetto, I plan on grabbing some muslin or white/black sheets or something at Walmart and either buying or making a stand. I also plan on buying a little shop light with a relfector for illuminating the backdrop and eliminating the shadow. |
I picked up some good backdrop fabric at a fabric sale a while ago, got a half roll of heavy black cotton, and some stretchy tan coloured imitation velvet. The stretch velvet is great as it dosn't hold creases.
I've read quite a few times about using muslin, but not looked into it, must do that next time I'm in town.. There arn't any fabric shops where I live, as I'm in a rural area. |
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