I made my guest room into a small studio. I've been shooting mostly newborns. They are fairly easy to light- as a matter of fact many times I use natural light. However, I have an upcoming maternity shoot and a 15 month old shoot. I have 2 soft boxes with very hot bulbs in them -- 500 watts each. Like i said they get HOT. Great for newborns, not so good for maternity. I was looking for some fluorescent bulbs to replace them at Lowes and noticed the highest wattage I could find was equivelent to like 200 watts. any idea where I can get and what wattage bulbs that won't be so hot? Also, I'm still confused on where to place my two soft boxes. I tried using one as a hair light with my black background and it blows out the back/side of subject's head. Should I just place them at 45 degrees angles, one closer to subject than other?
Pepper
Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
Check with Adorama or B & H Photo they both list their phone numbers on their web sites and both have very good customer service. I'm sure either would be able to help you. You may want to have the model of soft boxes you have handy with max wattage ratings. BTW you won't be looking at the same kind of pricing you find at Lowes, photography lighting is more of a specialty item and will be refected in the pricing.
MWAC
Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy
can you link to the bulbs you are using, I have 85 Watt fluorescent bulbs and they do not get too hot.
You are more interested in lumen out put rather than wattage of the bulbs. See
http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=13878&Ref=Mogul+(E39)&RefId=4294967101
There they have 100 Watt cfl equal to 500 watt incandescent bulbs. That is just one reference do a search for Compact Fluorescents and self educate.
MWAC
Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy
I see you live in Lutz. I lived in Tampa until I was drafted 59 years ago. When I was discharged I got a job in Orlando. I wonder if you know a guy that I used to work with named Stanley Nalls ? He used to live in Lutz.
I should have directed my question to dpullum. Sorry for the confusion. Wilbur
No, I moved here a few years ago, lived in Fruit land Park (Leesburg). Indeed, compared to the first time I visited Tampa, the size has become huge,, I recall when Jim Walter Homes building was getting near Tampa, you could see it in the distance!! Now JWH is gone and the area well within tampa...
We visited Tampa four years ago, almost got lost. It had been thirty-five years since we left. Thanks for your answer. wilbur
Rangerfan wrote:
I made my guest room into a small studio. I've been shooting mostly newborns. They are fairly easy to light- as a matter of fact many times I use natural light. However, I have an upcoming maternity shoot and a 15 month old shoot. I have 2 soft boxes with very hot bulbs in them -- 500 watts each. Like i said they get HOT. Great for newborns, not so good for maternity. I was looking for some fluorescent bulbs to replace them at Lowes and noticed the highest wattage I could find was equivelent to like 200 watts. any idea where I can get and what wattage bulbs that won't be so hot? Also, I'm still confused on where to place my two soft boxes. I tried using one as a hair light with my black background and it blows out the back/side of subject's head. Should I just place them at 45 degrees angles, one closer to subject than other?
I made my guest room into a small studio. I've be... (
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First of all, take note of what dpullum said about lumens vs. wattage. Also, you may find out along the way that some lighting equipment companies are using multiple lamps inside the same reflector to achieve more lumens (more light).
Good link, kept in my bookmarks.
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