I should have my 86" silver by Monday next week. Would be my first time trying out any modifier this big so should be interesting trying out various things.
roanjohnnyc wrote:
Paul - HOw are the beauty dish going??
The beauty dish is ready shipping by air from China in about one week. I am doing a series of documentation and mannequin shots this week. Same for PLM.
I reworked the BD mold to get it how I wanted. IMHO it is fantastic in all regards, I'll post results as soon as I have them.
I have also reworked the molds for 11" high output and 8 1/2" high output three times and expect pre-production samples in about 10 days.
shoebox9 wrote:
If you mean both with front difuser panels, then the obvious advantages are weight (ie when used up high), outdoor location speed, and being able to treat the PLM's as disposables, if there is damage during a location shoot.
Don't think the light will be the same though. Did you notice a couple of pages back, that the "with PLM" pic had the reflection of the PLM, complete with (dark) strobe, in the middle of the subject's forehead? This is typical of brolly boxes, as opposed to SB's where the strobe is inside or at the back.
If your subject's skin is partially like a mirror (more apparent with contolled studio lighting) then the type of modifer you use makes a big difference to the reflection patterns on their face/forehead. ...Show more →
I guess what I am more thinking of is using the PLM as a large light source, to light the "scene" maybe a whole car or a laneway, and then use a 2nd light on the model.
So the dark spot would not be an issue. It is just a matter of if the PLM would add a power advantage over the EL without the diffuser.
Paul, I haven't had a chance to test what you stated above about increasing the output 3/4f by bringing the strobe 3-4 inches further away from the umbrella's edge, but is that now the recommended position for maximum output? And will the PLM reflector still reduce the output, making bare-bulb the ideal configuration for outdoor use?
shoebox9 wrote:
If you mean both with front difuser panels, then the obvious advantages are weight (ie when used up high), outdoor location speed, and being able to treat the PLM's as disposables, if there is damage during a location shoot.
Don't think the light will be the same though. Did you notice a couple of pages back, that the "with PLM" pic had the reflection of the PLM, complete with (dark) strobe, in the middle of the subject's forehead? This is typical of brolly boxes, as opposed to SB's where the strobe is inside or at the back.
If your subject's skin is partially like a mirror (more apparent with contolled studio lighting) then the type of modifer you use makes a big difference to the reflection patterns on their face/forehead. ...Show more →
I haven't seen any posted pic with "dark forehead". Can you point to examples where you feel you see this?
If you want softbox style lighting (lower contrast, wider angle of coverage, etc.) using the front diffuser will do this. Or use the white PLM with black cover.
el_hoppy wrote:
I guess what I am more thinking of is using the PLM as a large light source, to light the "scene" maybe a whole car or a laneway, and then use a 2nd light on the model.
So the dark spot would not be an issue. It is just a matter of if the PLM would add a power advantage over the EL without the diffuser.
There is no dark center when the PLM is focused with the tube slightly forward. Even when focused to a wider angle, the dark center is very broad, feathered and slight (about 3/10f) and not easily discernible in photos.
bacilonur wrote:
Paul, I haven't had a chance to test what you stated above about increasing the output 3/4f by bringing the strobe 3-4 inches further away from the umbrella's edge, but is that now the recommended position for maximum output? And will the PLM reflector still reduce the output, making bare-bulb the ideal configuration for outdoor use?
The 7" PLM reflector doesn't drop the output significantly - perhaps 1/10f. Shooting bare bulb is fine and results in a bit of spill straight out to the sides - not visible in typical use.
Have a close look at the forehead of the subject in the above image. He doesn't have a skin blemish in the area above his nose, that's the reflection pattern- marred by the strobe in the middle of it.
This is typical of all brollyboxes, especially when used in a dark environment (ie a studio) but also often apparent when used close up as a strong primary light source outside. You won't see it with SB's/Octa's because their very center isn't dark.
I would also say that is a shadow due to the shape of his brow, additionally, this is primarily side light so any dark sport should be on his temple, not the middle of his forehead.
The more I see the more likely I am to buy a silver one, I just need to see more real work samples.
I was experimenting last night during a shoot for a new band in the making: about a forty minute session set up on the fly at a drive through /walk up taco stand. Some of the frames have been color balanced others not. we were pretty much just playing around. Still you can see the light quality
In some of the frames you can see a reflection in the plate glass window in the background of the two lights used. Both were Elinchrom Quadra heads. The one on the right, the A channel (67% or total energy) , was the main light: I used a 42 inch white PLM on it. The B channel head (33% of total power) was used as a fill light with a 40" Photek Goodlighter II with the diffuser used.
The blurs are due to me dragging the shutter between 0.3 and 1/15th second.
Camera: EOS-1Ds Mark 3 with Canon 24mm TS-E II and 17mm TS-E lenses.
Littlebike wrote:
I would also say that is a shadow due to the shape of his brow, additionally, this is primarily side light so any dark sport should be on his temple, not the middle of his forehead.
The more I see the more likely I am to buy a silver one, I just need to see more real work samples.
None of these perceived flaws have anything to due with the slightly dark center of the PLM. This darkening is only about 3/10f and would be about three feet wide and feathered. It's probably in these shots but not discernible.
My mannequin is in. We are dressing her with some metalized fabrics and big round beads so you can see the difference in specularity between the various modifiers we will be shooting with.
Paul Buff wrote:
My mannequin is in. We are dressing her with some metalized fabrics and big round beads so you can see the difference in specularity between the various modifiers we will be shooting with.
Paul Buff wrote:
None of these perceived flaws have anything to due with the slightly dark center of the PLM. This darkening is only about 3/10f and would be about three feet wide and feathered. It's probably in these shots but not discernible.
I am pretty much ignoring most of everything most people are saying. I have wanted a HUGE FREAKING UMBRELLA for a while but price has kept me away. I dig the idea of silver.
I am looking forward to more samples of the silver without a diffusion panel.
Paul, the only criticisms I have of PCB stuff has more to do with your tone on this board than anything. I mentioned this a few pages back so there is no need to rehash this.
E-Vener wrote:
Looks like a slight indentation between his brows to me. Also reasonably contrasty lighting. Can you post a zoomed in area of his forehead?
I shot this with a quadra, mounted in a similar fashion as you did E-Vener. So, the light was as dead center as it will probably ever get with a conventional strobe head (vs ring flash). Light was maybe 3 feet from me with diffusion on front.
