I have a fish fryer and lots of lights but am not familiar with a "fish fryer" light. What does it look like and what type of lighting does it produce. I don't have one, but might want one to light the next "One pound fish... " video
The term might be a colloquialism, but I've only seen this light referred to as a Fish Fryer. If it has another name, it would make my search for one easier! The light quality is even. The biggest advantage is that you can mount multiple strobes in the bank.
A common term is "light bank", e.g. Bron's Cumulight. Btw, mounting two sources is also possible by using a Chimera 3030M: www.chimeralighting.com/Products/Parts-and-Lighting-Grip/Lighting-Grip
Thanks, Peter. Light bank is a term I know. Unfortunately, I can't afford a Broncolor Cumulite or Hazy.
That's why I'm looking for this older light.
I think one of the advantages to the light I posted is the scooped housing. I think the strobes would mount with the flash tube facing the rear of the housing, and the light is scooped around to the front. Gives a really even light source with no hotspots. Unlike front mounted soft boxes.
Photogenic made a light bank lovingly referred to as the "hog trough".
Most photographers used it unimaginatively as a fill light behind the camera. It gave gorgeous light as a main, turned perpendicular to the subject. The wraparound and falloff was exquisite, it gave a great ratio for color negative film with no other source.
Are you familiar with Peter Gowland? He was a CA glamour shooter who created a "Gowlandflex" 4x5 twin lens reflex camera, huge rolling camera stands, etc. What you picture resembles his camera stands so it might be one of his creations. I recall seeing a web site maybe five years ago where he said he was retiring and selling off his studio gear.
Thanks, I checked Google images and his actual site. Wow, what a tinkerer and technician that guy was. Unfortunately, I didn't see it anywhere.
Doug, thanks, I did a Google search for the trough and it came up as the Photogenic Skylight in one of your older FM posts, haha
Ellis Vener also recommended a Lucifero Window Light, which has a dreamy light to it, too. He's looking into a few local ones by him for me. See what the asking price is.
Skarkowtsky wrote:
Any ideas who made that light bank?
All I know of are/were custom made, of metal or fibre glass. As they are somehow replaced by the large variety of (light weight) textil softboxes there's likely no demand anymore.
The mentioned Aladino / Lucifero comes to my mind as well if it's about linear tubes . Profoto offer them called StillightXL / XXL. (aluminium housing), made by Bacht / Germany. Very expensive.
If it were me, I'd tinker a box in the desired shape, add a frame with "white diffusion" foil to the front and place Aladinos inside (in fact, a copy of the Window light). They are still available, either used
www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310547639342&item=310547639342
or, similar, from Elinchrom:
www.elinchrom.com/product/Digital-RE.html#content
I saw a similar concept in a "light tent" that used essentially three (left, top, right) of these that were fiberglass scoops with a white diffusion panel. It was a dinosaur piece, but "Oh my." I could only imagine the possibilities. It was in a fabric outlet warehouse (go figure).
In the realm of tinkering ... I'm wondering if a pool manufacturer (I've got one nearby) could produce something similar as a one off.
Skarkowtsky wrote:
Interesting. Thank you, Peter. Do you think the tube on eBay could be rewired for Speedotron by a qualified tech?
Yes, absolutely no problem. I'm not sure if replacement tubes are still readily available...maybe that a call to e.g. Flashclinic NY would clear this up.
Have you asked Lens & Repro? We have a custom built thing (built for Dick Frank) that looks like it is bigger than that one. He had two made - I could ask him what happened to to it. You could come and have a look at the remaining one at our studio in TriBeCa if you want. It takes four Speedo heads and is currently hooked up to three 2401 packs. It used to have an Ascor head in it until the Ascor power supply went on the fritz.
"I think one of the advantages to the light I posted is the scooped housing. I think the strobes would mount with the flash tube facing the rear of the housing, and the light is scooped around to the front."
With hardboxes you never really can tell what they look like inside. Some years ago i've seen one on ebay with 4 flashtubes, each 1m long, while my Multiblitz is basically a square beauty-dish.
On the other hand, building a Luzifero copy should be a piece of cake and cheap too. Sheet aluminium costs next to nothing, at least compared to the 2nd hand prices you pay for a Hazy in the states.
