I've been wrestling with the idea of picking up some studio lighting for the past 8 months. After seeing this thread I just ordered a DigiBee package with B800's and wired remote and heavy duty stands. Can't wait to start experimenting.
I was googling for Alien Bees reviews and this forum post caught my attention. After seeing your setup, and results I must say I'm wiping the drool off my face.
Amazing, absolutely amazing stuff. You're very lucky to get to work with your daughter. Mine's only three and I hope she'll be a cooperative subject with my first attempts at studio work.
I realize just about everyone has already said this, but photographers never tire of complements. That said, JohnE, the shot of Dyanamaria was picture perfect, amazingly awesome, splendiferously spectacular.
Are the black curtains on either side that you like to use there to control spill from the background lights? Does it make much of a difference?
Daschund Woof wrote:
OK, here's where I normally shoot at...
Daschund
Dasch, are those shoot thru umbrellas and are you using them to illuminate the backdrop? After I saw John mention using umbrellas to light his backdrop (earlier on this thread), I called BH to discuss this approach. They said they'd never heard of using umbrellas for the background. I went ahead and ordered two eclipses, but the shafts are too big for my profotos so they're going back. I'd like to hear more about lighting backdrops with umbrellas before I try other umbrellas. Any thoughts on using photek softlighter IIs (which are designed with a 7mm shaft for the profotos)? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=109112&is=REG
It's either those or profoto umbrellas.
Also, can you share your thoughts on barndoors? Somebody suggested that I try barndoors instead of umbrellas to light the backdrop, as well as to provide greater control for any of the lights. I got some cinefoil to do some light control, but the person I spoke with about barndoors was contemptuous when I mentioned cinefoil.
By the way, seeing these pictures of your studio brought back some great memories! I hope you will consider hosting us again. When it gets a bit warmer.
I don't know about Daschund but I use umbrellas to light backgrounds often. You can check out the results on my website www.secondfocus.com scroll over "webBooks" and click on "Studio".
Strobes with barndoors are just another way of doing things. Different lighting, different controls, different looks.
Hi Ian, thanks for responding. I've visited your site before, which I really enjoy. Both the design and photography. After seeing what you and JohnE are doing with umbrellas on the background (and I'm sure these are just one of your tools), I'm going to look further into getting the right umbrellas for my strobes.
Before I commit to umbrellas, though, can you tell me whether umbrellas your preferred method for lighting backgrounds? Or would barndoors be more versatile? I need something in addition to the zoom reflectors, which are creating hot spots, but I can't get everything at once.
Thanks,
Elle
P.S. I may have missed it in this thread but . . . how about a shot of your studio?
Buy the umbrellas. They are cheap, versatile and very useful for so many different types of lighting and shooting, as well as very portable. So you will never regret having them.
I will try to remember to shoot some behind the scenes shots on my shoots this week.
mattbrock wrote:
I realize just about everyone has already said this, but photographers never tire of complements. That said, JohnE, the shot of Dyanamaria was picture perfect, amazingly awesome, splendiferously spectacular.
Are the black curtains on either side that you like to use there to control spill from the background lights? Does it make much of a difference?
Thanks for the compliments Matt... and you're right, we all love the compliments.
As for the black curtains... Yes, they are there to not only control direct spill but also to absorb all of the bounced light from the all white walls and ceiling. I've found, that since putting up the curtains, I have much richer (and less washed out) colors.
JohnE wrote:
John, thanks so much for sharing your shots, both the setups and the final results. I hope you and Cortney get around to doing a book/calendar of these, I think you'd find a bunch of buyers (I'd want my copy autographed, of course). I love the Vargas-style shots.
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