Wow thanks guys. I've been working part time since I was 15 and have been putting all of my money towards new gear. All of the gear I've purchased myself, and have a new lens on the way! 135 f2!
This thread has taken me days to read, and it was enjoyable to contemplate ideas while waiting for my AB's to arrive. They came today, and I am really jazzed about the entire kit. The reistats are accurate, and work at all settings. The color is consistant throughout the range...no red shift like the White Lightnings and Bogens at work. They recycle fast...oh enough gushing. I used the living room as my studio.
Here is the setup http://www.s93081652.onlinehome.us./Share/Pix/setup.jpg
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I dialed in the exposurer using the my D2X's LCD & histogram - and here is what came out..
My wife.. http://www.s93081652.onlinehome.us./Share/Pix/Barbie-rz.jpg
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My youngest son... http://www.s93081652.onlinehome.us./Share/Pix/Sammie-rz.jpg
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Short version: After reading this entire thread several times (and too many lighting books), I bought my first studio setup (see full list below). I'm psyched! Thanks for all the help!
Long version: I'm a 20-year old student at Williams College and started shooting a year and a half ago. My parents are both amateur photographers and my sister is a photojournalist for the Globe, so it's in my blood. Once I started it instantly eclipsed all my other hobbies and became my main passion. It's my main (read "only") source of income now, and I'm thinking of doing it full time after graduation! So far it's paid off all my gear (including this), which is awesome.
I also have fallen in love with this site. It's a gold mine of information, great deals (95% of my current gear is from the buy/sell forum), and best of all, amazing people! Thank you for being part of this great site!
It gets really cold in NW Mass. about now, so all my photography is moving indoors. So, I decided to get a studio setup! Even better is that my college has a huge photo/video studio (20' ceilings, black walls, seamless paper racks, the works) but no lights! They said I can use it all I want. I went with AlienBees, largely due to their quality and prices, but mainly due to their awesome personality and "bee" theme. That's just too cool to pass up.
Here's what I bought:
#2001 $5.95 1 Bulldog Clips (Set of 12)
B400 $224.95 2 AlienBees B400-Deep Space Black
B800 $279.95 1 AlienBees B800-Mello Yello
CRK42 $69.95 1 5-in-1 Reflector Kit
WLC $174.95 1 Travel Case
ABSHIRTL $10.00 1 The Bee Shirt - Large
CF6 $21.95 1 Set of 6 Color Gels
LG4X $99.95 1 Four-Channel Wired Remote
LMBD4 $48.95 1 LiteMod Barndoors
LS3050 $39.95 2 10-foot General Purpose Stand
LS3900 $69.95 1 13-foot Heavy Duty Stand
LSB48 $49.95 1 Stand Carrying Bag
LSCA25MM $39.95 2 Set of 3 Casters
RBH2566 $29.95 1 Reflector Kit Mounting Arm
SB3240 $109.95 1 Large Softbox (with LGSR)
U48SW $29.95 1 48‰ Silver/White Umbrella
U48TWB $29.95 1 48‰ Shoot-Thru Umbrella
What's amazing is that after their discount (15% since I bought 3 lights) and the 10% student discount, the total was only around $1,400 shipped! I was really impressed by their bottom line. (UPDATE: The 10% student discount doesn't work with the accessory discount when buying lights, so the total was more around $1550).
Let me know what you think of my setup, and if there are any major things I should buy in the future or things that I totally wasted money on. I'll be getting the mainframe adaptor and honeycombs sometime in the future.
I am in TOTAL AWE of the Santa pics. The sleeping santa is quite possibly the BEST I've ever seen, and the last one is a very close second. I hope one day I'll be able to capture pictures of this level.
I'm new to Studio Light, well not even... haven't tried it yet. I have a question, how much would it cost me to start out I want stuff that are going to produce quality images, (and I know, its the person behind the camera). But looking into really getting into Studio Lighting. I would need everything except for the camera.
I have a 20D, 75-200L f/4, 50 1.8, kit.... looking into buying a Tamron 28-75 Di.
I thought it only fitting after all the help I got from this ONE thread, that I post some results. I bought a custom package from AB (800+2x400), the octobox, ebay stands, boom, medium and small softboxes, a roll of savage seamless paper and two wooden curtain rod supports mounted discretely near the ceiling in the living room. I built two large reflector stands from PVC that take black fabric and white foam board and scored a $100 deal on a new Sekonic L-358 on ebay.
Did my first model shoot this week and here are a couple shots (with complete post processing).
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are you talking about the setup on the first page? hehe. a 20 dollar walmart triopod is a small price to pay for the amount of money that one can get paid by a big company like Absolut.
Hi Laura,
Love these shots. Can you give a little explanation on how you kept the Christmas tree lights as they are without being overblown by the Santa light and the other light? Much thanks.
135 f2!
I want stuff that are going to produce quality images, (and I know, its the person behind the camera). But looking into really getting into Studio Lighting. I would need everything except for the camera. 
