Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Need Advice about Studio Lighting PLEASE???? :)
Page 1 of 3 next> last>>
Jan 2, 2012 15:51:22   #
jazzysam Loc: Knoxville Tn
 
Hey Guys ... I missed several replies while gone for the New Year Holiday.... I DO APPRECIATE ALL/EVERYONE'S HELP ! I LOVE this column and have been watching, reading every forum everyday since Sept 2010 ! I just got brave enough to join . I always had a camera in my hand & have had several people encourage me to do more ... so I am slowly but surely " jumping in " ! For my external flash I ended up with the Canon 580 EX II...so wish me luck ... I have 1 more Christmas gift to receive and I am going to get a Studio Light Kit. I don't know whether to get continuous/strobe etc ...and I am now really unsure what I need since I got the Canon 580.In case I want to use this in with what kit I would purchase . I have made some space in my basement for now, but I plan by Spring to clear out a spare bedroom but want to play in the base ment during cold weather . My budget is about blown but will be around the 300-350 at the most ! I will take all help and advice !!! LOL MAYBE, just Maybe 1 day I can " run with the BIG Dogs " as they say !!! BUt I need the advice ....THANKS Jazzy a new photo pup

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 16:18:17   #
Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
 
Hey Josh,
I'm a newbie and have been looking at the beauty dish. I shoot with a Nikon D90 where would you recommend I start? There are so many choices. Do these attatch directly to my flash? (I have an SB900)

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 16:44:33   #
PhotoJosh Loc: Brighton, UK
 
I actually looked around on eBay and amazon trying to find the perfect combination, and I ended up buying a fairly cheap one, which is always a compromise because they're never as good quality as they should be. The size I went for was 40 inches and that seems to be just right for me. They attach to the base of a flash unit, and you position them to stick through the hole in the back. If I were you, I would buy the best one I could afford (so that you're not buying it twice) and a solid lighting stand to go with it. While you're at it, get a couple sand bags for the base so that they don't blow over and hit the ground with all that extra weight.

Reply
 
 
Jan 2, 2012 16:44:33   #
PhotoJosh Loc: Brighton, UK
 
I actually looked around on eBay and amazon trying to find the perfect combination, and I ended up buying a fairly cheap one, which is always a compromise because they're never as good quality as they should be. The size I went for was 40 inches and that seems to be just right for me. They attach to the base of a flash unit, and you position them to stick through the hole in the back. If I were you, I would buy the best one I could afford (so that you're not buying it twice) and a solid lighting stand to go with it. While you're at it, get a couple sand bags for the base so that they don't blow over and hit the ground with all that extra weight.

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 16:50:03   #
Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
 
Thanks Josh, I appreciate your insights, you are indeed a positive contributor to this forum and speaking for us newbies we can use all the help we can get.

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 17:20:10   #
CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver
 
This is one of those questions that will get all kinds of answers - some - maybe most - of them correct. It all depends on what the respondents shoot.

I would suggest one umbrella and one reflector. You will need a light stand and an umbrella adapter. Get the convertible umbrella so you can use it to shoot into or take off the black cover and shoot through.

You might want a second stand to hold the reflector.

Use the umbrella as your main light and the reflector for fill.

Trust me on this: learn to use ONE light before moving on to two or three or five. Every light you add increases the complexity and does not make it easier.

Get a book on portrait lighting there are a TON out there. Study the various lighting styles - broad, short, split, butterfly. All can be done with one light and that reflector.

I am sure you will get many other suggestions. Pick one.

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 17:36:55   #
jazzysam Loc: Knoxville Tn
 
Thank-you Josh !!! I appreciate it. I will click on your links & cheeck them out !! I am sooo excited ...

Reply
 
 
Jan 2, 2012 17:41:23   #
jazzysam Loc: Knoxville Tn
 
Hi Captain !
I know there is a lot to soak up. But I APPRECIATE ALL Help & Advice ! I have been looking on several of the websites ... and there is sooo much to choose from ! And I couldn't seem to decide which is better for a newbie on the lighting ... continuous or strobe ...

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 17:47:02   #
CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver
 
jazzyam wrote:
Hi Captain !
I know there is a lot to soak up. But I APPRECIATE ALL Help & Advice ! I have been looking on several of the websites ... and there is sooo much to choose from ! And I couldn't seem to decide which is better for a newbie on the lighting ... continuous or strobe ...


Well, it is your choice, but strobes (Canon or Nikon Speedlights) are more powerful than continuous, far easier to modulate the power, easier to transport, have access to the TTL flash system, have access to an increasing number of really cool light modifiers - small to medium softboxes (rectangular, strips, octas) beauty dishes, bounce devices.

Continuous is cheaper. Can let you see the lighting effect before you fire the camera.

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 18:29:47   #
jbirdmo Loc: Soon to be Chicago
 
jazzyam wrote:
Hey Guys ... I missed several replies while gone for the New Year Holiday.... I DO APPRECIATE ALL/EVERYONE'S HELP ! I LOVE this column and have been watching, reading every forum everyday since Sept 2010 ! I just got brave enough to join . I always had a camera in my hand & have had several people encourage me to do more ... so I am slowly but surely " jumping in " ! For my external flash I ended up with the Canon 580 EX II...so wish me luck ... I have 1 more Christmas gift to receive and I am going to get a Studio Light Kit. I don't know whether to get continuous/strobe etc ...and I am now really unsure what I need since I got the Canon 580.In case I want to use this in with what kit I would purchase . I have made some space in my basement for now, but I plan by Spring to clear out a spare bedroom but want to play in the base ment during cold weather . My budget is about blown but will be around the 300-350 at the most ! I will take all help and advice !!! LOL MAYBE, just Maybe 1 day I can " run with the BIG Dogs " as they say !!! BUt I need the advice ....THANKS Jazzy a new photo pup
Hey Guys ... I missed several replies while gone f... (show quote)


Jazzy,
Since you already have a flash, I would suggest staying with flash instead of continuous lighting. You can use all kinds of things for continuous lighting, including lamps and window light, and just going outside. It's much harder to come up with flash units if that's the look your going for.
As Captain said however, put some money into light modifiers and stands for the flash you have already. Learn to use that one light before you start adding in a whole bunch of lights. It's more about how you use the light that you have, not how many. You should be able to pick up a decent stand, umbrella/flash holder, and a medium shoot through umbrella for under $100.
This was shot using one 580 EX II and the setup described above.

http://judevickery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20110616-IMG_2992.jpg

I hope that helps!

---Jude

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 19:58:17   #
jazzysam Loc: Knoxville Tn
 
Thanks Captain & JUde !!! Makes good common sense to me ...I LOVE the pic Jude ! Gosh guys you really don't know how much I appreciate the help ...this is something I have always wanted to pursue but never really had an opportunity to do till now ....

Reply
 
 
Jan 2, 2012 20:42:38   #
jbirdmo Loc: Soon to be Chicago
 
jazzyam wrote:
Thanks Captain & JUde !!! Makes good common sense to me ...I LOVE the pic Jude ! Gosh guys you really don't know how much I appreciate the help ...this is something I have always wanted to pursue but never really had an opportunity to do till now ....


You're more than welcome Jazzy! I can't speak for Captain C but if you have any questions, just let me know.

---Jude

Reply
Jan 2, 2012 20:54:31   #
CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver
 
jbirdmo wrote:
jazzyam wrote:
Thanks Captain & JUde !!! Makes good common sense to me ...I LOVE the pic Jude ! Gosh guys you really don't know how much I appreciate the help ...this is something I have always wanted to pursue but never really had an opportunity to do till now ....


You're more than welcome Jazzy! I can't speak for Captain C but if you have any questions, just let me know.

---Jude


Naw - ask Jude!

Kidding.

Reply
Jan 3, 2012 06:00:14   #
anotherview Loc: California
 
Flash photography presents a big subject, and requires its own learning curve.

For now, work with the gear you have, instead of spending money which may cause you to get ahead of yourself.

Try this Web site for using your 580EX II on-camera: http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

The bounced flash techniques produced a breakthrough in my understanding of flash lighting. Right away I got the most flattering light on my subjects. I never looked back.

BTW: Studio photography differs from other approaches to photography. The photographer gains complete control over the lighting.

If you do decide to go this direction now, you would do well to buy yourself a convertible umbrella, which will allow you to remove the black backing to shoot through the umbrella as well. A 42-inch umbrella will do to start.

Buy a simple lightstand along with a swivel bracket to mount the umbrella.

You will need to trigger the flash unit when its on the lightstand. For about $23, you can get a simple manual trigger: CowboyStudio NPT-04, 4 Channel Wireless Hot Shoe Flash Trigger Receiver. Amazon sells it: http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-NPT-04-Channel-Wireless-Receiver/dp/B002W3IXZW/ref=pd_cp_p_0

I use this flash unit trigger. You will have to adjust the flash unit output manually, but it is easy to do on the flash unit.

Yes, a reflector can help to bounce some light back onto the subject. Westcott sells a useful one for about $40: Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector. You could prop it on a chair, or buy the gear to hold it.

You can use many materials for a background. Ha, ha. For a while, I used a red velour blanket from Target. I still use it occasionally.

Good luck.

Potted Vine & Loose Leaves, Madrid
Potted Vine & Loose Leaves, Madrid...

Reply
Jan 3, 2012 07:02:12   #
guy145 Loc: Norridge IL
 
Check out cowboystuido.com

Reply
Page 1 of 3 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.