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Aug 27, 2012 07:46:01   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
Thank you.
marty wild wrote:
brilliant shot
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Aug 26, 2012 21:42:28   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
OK, since I've talked to you all last I bought a light meter and made my own beauty dish. Here is the combination of both.
CaptainC wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey
Festina Lente wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get?
Sure!! That part is easy!
Get at least two Einsteins with all accessories, plus 2 light stands and large umbrella diffusers. I'll even let you borrow mine. The Einsteins are the best out there IMO.
See: http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php

But unless you first learn the basics using what you equipment have, you will just be wasting some really great equipment (and a couple grand).

Master one light, then slowly add lights one by one. Practice with ad hoc diffusers, they can dramatically affect the quality of light. Try various reflectors also (cheap and effective for several different looks).

Then post the images(s) you like best along with a diagram of your light setup in order to get the most useful suggestions from the most experienced UHHers.
We all benefit from that!!

If you do this, you will have learned far more than you can by reading this banter (CaptainC's suggestions exempted).

Heck, do it right and you may even get CaptainC to sing like Barry White. That's something we would all appreciate! :roll:
quote=toptrainer OK thank you for the history les... (show quote)
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey ... (show quote)


Let's ignore for the moment that we could add a separation light for her hair against the dark background. This does come across as underexposed, but if shot raw would be very correctable.

This is really nice for a one-light portrait and I can easily accept the merging of her hair into the background as an artistic choice.

I think the light is well-positioned off to camera right, but maybe a bit too low. In a classic lighting style, that nose shadow would fall down very close (or even touching) the right corner of her mouth. It is called loop lighting or closed loop lighting respectively.

I want to know your light source. Umbrella? Shoot through umbrella? softbox? It is hard to make suggestions without knowing the DETAILS.

I would like to see exactly the same image shot with your light source really close to the subject. Close as in JUST outside the frame. That would make the light a bit softer.
quote=toptrainer OK, here is a picture of my wife... (show quote)

BTW, my son is not mad, I told him to look like that.

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Aug 12, 2012 16:39:08   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
I live in wellington Florida, and yes it is still there. The whole area is really built up now.
Festina Lente wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
Hey guys, I'm the poor, want to improve my photography..... I'll take it :-)
In all seriousness, an 86" umbrella takes up a bare minimum of 9ft of head space (especially when you want the center of it higher than your model's head).

Plus you really need a good powerfull light to diffuse enough light that broadly.
So we need to add a decent monoblock strobe. (Alien Bees are great, but Einstein's are better and easier to use.)

But one is never enough, you will need at least two strobes and a smaller light diffuser. Maybe even a beauty dish. But you only want one catchlight in your subject's eyes, so enter a...

Then we need a wireless trigger, cable, and let's not dare forget that pesty little lightmeter CaptanC keeps bringing up... It just never ends.

Renting a well equiped studio for an hour or so is so much cheaper, fatser, and easier (there is no set-up or packing involved).

So how about lunch at the Banana Boat on East Ocean Avenue? (I assume it is still there and doing well....? Used to be a good place to eat with a good view.)
quote=toptrainer Hey guys, I'm the poor, want to ... (show quote)
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Aug 12, 2012 00:06:08   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
Hey guys, I'm the poor, want to improve my photography..... I'll take it :-)
Festina Lente wrote:
CaptainC wrote:

That PLM belongs to a studio I rent occasionally and I am embarrassed to admit I have no idea. I just LOVE it!

I purchased the 86" white PLM from Paul Buff with a black front spill kill fabric cover for about $70.
The basic 86" white PLM umbrella alone costs about $40 and yields such a softer-than-a-diffused-window controllable light.
They work beautifully with the Alien Bees and Einsteins.

Captain, unless you do not have the room, you deserve to have one of these!!
In appreciation for all the invaluable help you have so generously offered here on UHH, I'll even have one shipped to you.
quote=CaptainC br That PLM belongs to a studio ... (show quote)
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Aug 10, 2012 16:21:39   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
Ok, I know you needed more info but as photography, typing is not my strong point. I started with a black backdrop and my wife in a fairly large room in my house with high vaulted ceilings. I used a 16 inch umbrella black outside, silver inside. a 5500 lumes light bulb and placed it about a foot away from her head just above her and slightly to the back of her on camera left. The flash is a 4300ex ii shot through an umbrella placed about 2 feet away from her on camera right set at manual and 1/2 - 1/4 power. That was placed about face level. I told you the settings of the camera, and I think that is all you need to know. Thank you, and sorry for my lack of knowledge but, that is why this forum is here.
CaptainC wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
ok, f/6.3 1/250s iso 100 28-135@100mm I used flash at camera right and a light behind her camera left.
CaptainC wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey
Festina Lente wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get?
Sure!! That part is easy!
Get at least two Einsteins with all accessories, plus 2 light stands and large umbrella diffusers. I'll even let you borrow mine. The Einsteins are the best out there IMO.
See: http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php

But unless you first learn the basics using what you equipment have, you will just be wasting some really great equipment (and a couple grand).

Master one light, then slowly add lights one by one. Practice with ad hoc diffusers, they can dramatically affect the quality of light. Try various reflectors also (cheap and effective for several different looks).

Then post the images(s) you like best along with a diagram of your light setup in order to get the most useful suggestions from the most experienced UHHers.
We all benefit from that!!

If you do this, you will have learned far more than you can by reading this banter (CaptainC's suggestions exempted).

Heck, do it right and you may even get CaptainC to sing like Barry White. That's something we would all appreciate! :roll:
quote=toptrainer OK thank you for the history les... (show quote)
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey ... (show quote)


Let's ignore for the moment that we could add a separation light for her hair against the dark background. This does come across as underexposed, but if shot raw would be very correctable.

This is really nice for a one-light portrait and I can easily accept the merging of her hair into the background as an artistic choice.

I think the light is well-positioned off to camera right, but maybe a bit too low. In a classic lighting style, that nose shadow would fall down very close (or even touching) the right corner of her mouth. It is called loop lighting or closed loop lighting respectively.

I want to know your light source. Umbrella? Shoot through umbrella? softbox? It is hard to make suggestions without knowing the DETAILS.

I would like to see exactly the same image shot with your light source really close to the subject. Close as in JUST outside the frame. That would make the light a bit softer.
quote=toptrainer OK, here is a picture of my wife... (show quote)
ok, f/6.3 1/250s iso 100 28-135@100mm I used flash... (show quote)


Is the flash bare? into an umbrella? The camera left light is not doing a thing, so that needs to be turned up - or moved closer.

You are mixing a flash and a "light." Is the flash in manual or TTL? What brand is the flash? Where is this light aimed?

I'm sorry, the problem is you don't know enough to even know what information we need to help you. It is like pulling teeth. I asked for details. I need to know what modifiers you are using, how close is the light? Can you control the light output?

I know you cannot afford a meter, but that is what you need. Until then, you are flailing without the tools you need. It looks like your flash is way more powerful than this light you refer to. How you can balance those without a meter is by using one at a time and seeing what exposure you need to get a decent image.

If mixing continuous and flash you have a problem of the shutter and aperture affecting the continuous light, but ONLY aperture affecting the flash.
quote=toptrainer ok, f/6.3 1/250s iso 100 28-135@... (show quote)
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Aug 9, 2012 22:22:03   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
ok, f/6.3 1/250s iso 100 28-135@100mm I used flash at camera right and a light behind her camera left.
CaptainC wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey
Festina Lente wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get?
Sure!! That part is easy!
Get at least two Einsteins with all accessories, plus 2 light stands and large umbrella diffusers. I'll even let you borrow mine. The Einsteins are the best out there IMO.
See: http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php

But unless you first learn the basics using what you equipment have, you will just be wasting some really great equipment (and a couple grand).

Master one light, then slowly add lights one by one. Practice with ad hoc diffusers, they can dramatically affect the quality of light. Try various reflectors also (cheap and effective for several different looks).

Then post the images(s) you like best along with a diagram of your light setup in order to get the most useful suggestions from the most experienced UHHers.
We all benefit from that!!

If you do this, you will have learned far more than you can by reading this banter (CaptainC's suggestions exempted).

Heck, do it right and you may even get CaptainC to sing like Barry White. That's something we would all appreciate! :roll:
quote=toptrainer OK thank you for the history les... (show quote)
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey ... (show quote)


Let's ignore for the moment that we could add a separation light for her hair against the dark background. This does come across as underexposed, but if shot raw would be very correctable.

This is really nice for a one-light portrait and I can easily accept the merging of her hair into the background as an artistic choice.

I think the light is well-positioned off to camera right, but maybe a bit too low. In a classic lighting style, that nose shadow would fall down very close (or even touching) the right corner of her mouth. It is called loop lighting or closed loop lighting respectively.

I want to know your light source. Umbrella? Shoot through umbrella? softbox? It is hard to make suggestions without knowing the DETAILS.

I would like to see exactly the same image shot with your light source really close to the subject. Close as in JUST outside the frame. That would make the light a bit softer.
quote=toptrainer OK, here is a picture of my wife... (show quote)
Go to
Aug 9, 2012 21:08:10   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
OK, here is a picture of my wife. with a lokey
Festina Lente wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get?
Sure!! That part is easy!
Get at least two Einsteins with all accessories, plus 2 light stands and large umbrella diffusers. I'll even let you borrow mine. The Einsteins are the best out there IMO.
See: http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php

But unless you first learn the basics using what you equipment have, you will just be wasting some really great equipment (and a couple grand).

Master one light, then slowly add lights one by one. Practice with ad hoc diffusers, they can dramatically affect the quality of light. Try various reflectors also (cheap and effective for several different looks).

Then post the images(s) you like best along with a diagram of your light setup in order to get the most useful suggestions from the most experienced UHHers.
We all benefit from that!!

If you do this, you will have learned far more than you can by reading this banter (CaptainC's suggestions exempted).

Heck, do it right and you may even get CaptainC to sing like Barry White. That's something we would all appreciate! :roll:
quote=toptrainer OK thank you for the history les... (show quote)


Go to
Aug 8, 2012 22:04:56   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
I wish I could, that's the one thing I can't afford right now.
jeffsutain wrote:
You need to buy a light meter witch will tell you how to set your camera setting
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Aug 7, 2012 16:42:10   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
Thank you
MS wrote:
CaptainC wrote:
OK - full explanations at the start would help. You said you HAD a flash, not that you were USING a flash and where it was placed.

First - mixing flash and continuous is possible, of course, but not a great idea, IMO. If you want to use the Canon eTTL (a decent system for getting good exposure) then you MUST NOT use any continuous lights as those will interfere with the eTTL system.
I have said this before on this forum MANY times: if you want to do studio lighting, get an incident light meter - one that is also a flash meter. You can fuss around shooting and moving lights, shoot/move/shoot/move, or you can meter the lighting and get what you want with the first shot. Or at least REALLY close.
There are TONS of books on lighting available from Amherst Media. Look that up, and buy some. That will be far more helpful than asking questions on a forum. Then after you take some images, you can post some here.

To answer your specific question - I have no idea what light to buy.
OK - full explanations at the start would help. Yo... (show quote)


Like your pictures. Very nice
quote=CaptainC OK - full explanations at the star... (show quote)
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Aug 7, 2012 16:41:43   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
Thank you
MS wrote:
CaptainC wrote:
OK - full explanations at the start would help. You said you HAD a flash, not that you were USING a flash and where it was placed.

First - mixing flash and continuous is possible, of course, but not a great idea, IMO. If you want to use the Canon eTTL (a decent system for getting good exposure) then you MUST NOT use any continuous lights as those will interfere with the eTTL system.
I have said this before on this forum MANY times: if you want to do studio lighting, get an incident light meter - one that is also a flash meter. You can fuss around shooting and moving lights, shoot/move/shoot/move, or you can meter the lighting and get what you want with the first shot. Or at least REALLY close.
There are TONS of books on lighting available from Amherst Media. Look that up, and buy some. That will be far more helpful than asking questions on a forum. Then after you take some images, you can post some here.

To answer your specific question - I have no idea what light to buy.
OK - full explanations at the start would help. Yo... (show quote)


Like your pictures. Very nice
quote=CaptainC OK - full explanations at the star... (show quote)
Go to
Aug 7, 2012 11:12:12   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
What I had was a flash on the right side of that picture and a light in the left
CaptainC wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
The problems is with the first picture i had the light close to her shadowy side and it did not light her.
CaptainC wrote:
Based on what I have seen, you do NOT need more light. Just bump the ISO to 200 for the equivalent of twice the light. Or to 400 for 4X the light. With today's cameras, 400ISO should still give you a noise-free image.
Bonus - it is free!


If the lights are the same power, and you have the light that you do on the camera right side, but the light at camera left did not light her enough, then the light was too far away.

It sounds like these lights are just bulbs with no output control - a tough way to light since you have to move lights to vary exposure, but moving the lights also changes the quality of the light.
quote=toptrainer The problems is with the first p... (show quote)
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Aug 7, 2012 10:59:20   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
The problems is with the first picture i had the light close to her shadowy side and it did not light her.
CaptainC wrote:
Based on what I have seen, you do NOT need more light. Just bump the ISO to 200 for the equivalent of twice the light. Or to 400 for 4X the light. With today's cameras, 400ISO should still give you a noise-free image.
Bonus - it is free!
Go to
Aug 7, 2012 10:54:52   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
So you just use flash, 2 should do the trick yes?
GoofyNewfie wrote:
toptrainer wrote:
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get.


Sorry for the off topic detour ( but I really did hear Barry White- guest voice on the Simpsons as I wrote it)
I don't use continous light, but it seems to be the current trend. Be interesting to hear the recommendations
Go to
Aug 7, 2012 10:36:40   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get.
dpullum wrote:
GoofyNewfie wrote:
I think I hear Barry White.

and CaptainC for "Well...not THAT low."

Interesting isn't it that we all remember Barry White (1944 - 2003) for his ultra low voice. We have all heard of the horse whisperer; well little known is that Barry White was an Elephant whisperer. Barry White having a huge barrel like chest, resonating like elephants, surly went as low as 12 Hz more than 3 octaves below a typical man's voice. Long live his romantic music.

Back to the subject, it is threads like this one that are such great exchanges of practical wisdom of photographic how-to. I will copy down this one and add to my archive in doc file under... Photo light. Thank you TopTrainer for asking and the rest for your contributions of knowhow.
quote=GoofyNewfie I think I hear Barry White. /q... (show quote)
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Aug 7, 2012 10:36:25   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
At Home Photo Studio
OK thank you for the history lesson :-) but, I still need to know what light to buy. Does anybody know what I should get.
dpullum wrote:
GoofyNewfie wrote:
I think I hear Barry White.

and CaptainC for "Well...not THAT low."

Interesting isn't it that we all remember Barry White (1944 - 2003) for his ultra low voice. We have all heard of the horse whisperer; well little known is that Barry White was an Elephant whisperer. Barry White having a huge barrel like chest, resonating like elephants, surly went as low as 12 Hz more than 3 octaves below a typical man's voice. Long live his romantic music.

Back to the subject, it is threads like this one that are such great exchanges of practical wisdom of photographic how-to. I will copy down this one and add to my archive in doc file under... Photo light. Thank you TopTrainer for asking and the rest for your contributions of knowhow.
quote=GoofyNewfie I think I hear Barry White. /q... (show quote)
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