Went out today for a formal portrait session and tested out the new 64" PCB PLM silver umbrella. I thought I would share some of the results here.

Granted this is not the People's Forum, some of my fellow wedding photographers had shown some interest in what these diffusers can do, so I'm posting these here. Moreover, these can easily be shot as bridals. Lastly, I don't know anyone on the People's Forum.

Here goes...

1

she's hot

/people forum critique

Nice! I need to get one of the smaller PLMs...as much as I love the big huge 86", well, it's just too big and huge sometimes.

7, 8 and 9 have nice expressions

prh

#1 and #9 are probably the better ones.

Her hair looks blue in some pictures and she is wearing the wrong eyeshadow. Translated: She doesn't look like a model, rather someone trying to play dress up.

Also, your cloning in a couple of images is pretty apparent.

those are rocking. Thanks for sharing they look a lot like a beauty dish but not as hard. I would have expected a softer light but I still like the look

Andy Wood wrote:
they look a lot like a beauty dish but not as hard. I would have expected a softer light but I still like the look

Took the words right out of my mouth

It definitely gives off nice light, thanks for posting. To me 1,4 show the best application of this type of modifier, for the rest I think I would want a softer modifier especially with such a shiny dress.

I'm also struggling with connecting the subject with the background, but perhaps that was part of the concept.

Thank you for posting!
I would have expected a much softer light from the PLM, but I like the effect anyway.
How far the PLM was from the subject?

Yea, the light seems a lot like from the PCB beauty dish. I was thinking the same thing about the light needing to be more soft. I want to try out one of the white PLM's. The one thing I REALLY liked is how much easier it is to setup the PLM over the foldable softbox from PCB.

Her hair looks blue in some pictures and she is wearing the wrong eyeshadow. Translated: She doesn't look like a model, rather someone trying to play dress up. Also, your cloning in a couple of images is pretty apparent.
- JazzyMac

I'm also struggling with connecting the subject with the background, but perhaps that was part of the concept.
- McGrattan


This wasn't a paid client shoot nor a professional model shoot. The PLM's came in the other day and I wanted to test it out and practice with it before I show up at a wedding or bridal shoot. So, just picked up a friend and found a nearby location for a quick test shoot. The processing is of a quick-hand nature also.

#5 is great!!! Did you use a boom to get it back on axis?

I just saw them on the PCB website and would like to thank you for sharing

How easily was it set up/torn down?

Do you think you could share a few setup pics, or how cumbersome it was?

With it being parabolic are you able to "zoom" the focus on the light? I want one for the Uber large softbox the shoot thru 84" can offer Thanks for sharing, great set.

Saad Syed wrote:just picked up a friend and found a nearby location for a quick test shoot.

Wow, its nice to have such willing (and beautiful) test subjects. Enjoy the PLM, you've hit the ground running.

These are smoking hot! Great work Saad! Looks like a great buy!

MTBtrials wrote:
#5 is great!!! Did you use a boom to get it back on axis?

I just saw them on the PCB website and would like to thank you for sharing

How easily was it set up/torn down?

Do you think you could share a few setup pics, or how cumbersome it was?

With it being parabolic are you able to "zoom" the focus on the light? I want one for the Uber large softbox the shoot thru 84" can offer Thanks for sharing, great set.

The setup is as easy as opening an umbrella. If it is windy outside you will DEFINITELY need someone holding the light stand in place. I don't think weights will suffice as these things are big and catch a LOT of air.

I was using the 64" and it is actually small enough to be able to effectively face downwards. The 86" might be a little too big to do that with without using a boom arm. I could be wrong.

Setting up the front diffusion panel is much easier than setting up the front diffusion panel of the PCB softbox. I absolutely hate dealing with the front panel on those boxes as I always wind up struggling with them - as dumb as that sounds. The PLM's front panel was delightfully easy. Honestly, if you want softer light, get the white one for location work. The white with the black shell and front diffusion panel will pretty much be like a collapsable softbox on steroids. I'm actually thinking of switching mine to the whites.

I hope that answered all of your questions.

Hey Saad,
Were you using the diffuser on these? The light looks so specular it doesn't look like it... Still haven't had a chance to use my 86" with the diffuser on it yet. I did add a bunch of velcro tabs to help keep it in place...

Scott Clark wrote:
Hey Saad,
Were you using the diffuser on these? The light looks so specular it doesn't look like it... Still haven't had a chance to use my 86" with the diffuser on it yet. I did add a bunch of velcro tabs to help keep it in place...

Most of these had the diffusion panel on it. A couple of them didn't.

Saad Syed wrote:
Scott Clark wrote:
Hey Saad,
Were you using the diffuser on these? The light looks so specular it doesn't look like it... Still haven't had a chance to use my 86" with the diffuser on it yet. I did add a bunch of velcro tabs to help keep it in place...

Most of these had the diffusion panel on it. A couple of them didn't.

Very interesting...I would have expected the highlights to be toned down more. I'll have to do some testing with mine...

nice pics! Was this shot at harris Lake or Jordan lake?

canonet wrote:
nice pics! Was this shot at harris Lake or Jordan lake?

Beaver Dam at Falls Lake =)

Most of these are nice. I particularly like 3 and 5, 5 being the money shot. 9 seems a bit strong, and doesn't really fit the mood. Lighting looks really good though.
Oh, and don't try to play like you have hot friends. I know you don't have any hot friends... so this girl must somehow be related to your wife.

You always run around talking about how hott your hair is and we're friends, so...

JazzyMac wrote:
#1 and #9 are probably the better ones.

Her hair looks blue in some pictures and she is wearing the wrong eyeshadow. Translated: She doesn't look like a model, rather someone trying to play dress up.

Also, your cloning in a couple of images is pretty apparent.




I don't like you. I think you are quite mean-spirited actually. I would prefer you not hang about here any longer.

Anyways - OP, thanks for sharing. It's always nice to see what different types of equipment do for differenty types of shots.

Saad Syed wrote:
You always run around talking about how hott your hair is and we're friends, so...


Bwahahaha

JazzyMac wrote:
Her hair looks blue in some pictures and she is wearing the wrong eyeshadow.

[sarcasm]
Shiiiiiii, there must be something wrong with the monitor on my new laptop!!!!!
[/sarcasm]

(It looks fine to me, in fact, pushing beautiful, if not completely there...)

[sarcasm]
I had better get this checked out quick!!!
[/sarcasm]

and FWIW, #5 is still my fave.