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09/12/2008 12:00:34 PM · #1 |
Hi all!
I have a shoot in a couple of weeks and I need some advice on lighting.
The shoot will take place in a bowling alley (so I'll need to light up a pretty large space--about a 30 x 30 foot area--you won't be seeing the whole alley in any shot). I have a $2,000 budget for lighting and, of course, the less I spend, the more I get to keep. There will likely be 3 - 6 people in each shot.
I see 3 options:
1. Rent a professional lighting system such as Profoto
2. Buy a decently nice system, like an Alien Bees one
3. Buy several more Nikon Speedlights (and stands/umbrellas/accessories) to use with the wireless controller and other 4 Speedlights I already have
I've never done a shoot of this size (literally), so I'm not quite sure what is the best option. I have a continuous lighting system that I use in my home studio, but I know they won't work for this. For on-location work, I've always used my Speedlights, but don't know if they would suffice.
Any insights/advice would be really greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance! |
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09/12/2008 12:14:30 PM · #2 |
I light up some pretty large areas with AB800's. To give you an idea.
This is a Junior college gym. The lights are on the upper balcony with a 7 inch reflector no diffuser. Ambient in this gym is 3200ISO 1.8 and 1/320th. That shot with the AB strobes is 500ISO 1/320th and F4. I dont think lighting up a 30X30 area would be that tough. The hardest part would be metering and setting them up so they would have even lighting and proper exposure where you need it.
Matt
My advise is AB strobes and their new Cybersync system.
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09/12/2008 12:16:11 PM · #3 |
I am by no means a proffesional (yet), but whenever I do anything involving lighting I am a big fan of the speedlights. Trigger them with some pocket wizards and you've got a really great and versitile set up! So I would recommend supplementing your current speedlights with however many more you need for the situation and getting the stands umbrellas/softboxes etc that you need (oh and the wizards hehe). Figure it this way, Joe McNally can do some sick stuff with just speed lights you can too! :) Hope that helps and make sure to practice in the area if you can to get an idea of what your exact needs are!
Evan |
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09/12/2008 01:22:59 PM · #4 |
If I were in your shoes, I'd get several more Speedlights (plus stands, brackets, etc.). The Strobist had an article at one point about lighting a gym with several and it worked just fine. I'd think that with 6-8 you'd be set. And they're far easier to haul around, set up, and work with (IMO).
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09/12/2008 02:17:08 PM · #5 |
So, we have 2 for the Speedlights and 1 for the ABs (very nice shot BTW Matt. Thanks for sharing!)
Anyone else care to venture an opinion?
I'd like to get as much insight as possible, since I honestly don't know what's best, and once I choose an option, I don't think there's any going back. |
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09/12/2008 03:32:34 PM · #6 |
I think you should figure out what you want your shot to look like first before you start figuring out what tools you need.
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