My first "studio"

redtippmann · Jul 21, 2009

Yea I got the notion of needing like at least 5 strobes from one of McNally's videos. But I will check the flickr group out!

JerryPH · Jul 21, 2009

musicaleCA said:
KmH said:

Indeed. Duct tape snoots FTW! (My snoots are all covered in duct tape on the outside...same for my cardboard grids. )

Click to expand...

Mine too, and they are made from... cereal boxes.
Add some black plastic straws from the local Harvey's Hamburger joint, and you have some really effective grid spots too!

KmH · Jul 22, 2009

JerryPH said:
KmH said:

Shooting in studio gives the advantage of having total control of the light. You have a lot of uncontrolled light there, but like you said, it's all you got. It's been said that, "necessity is the mother of invention".

Click to expand...

Why can one not have total control over the light outside? Granted, to be able to shoot in mid day sun AND control or overpower it takes powerful lighting... but it is possible and then no more difficult than shooting in a studio.

In fact, I find the constraints of shooting in a single room that always looks the same (no matter how many people you shoot)... boring and limiting.

Give me a simple alley way and I will be there all day taking shots in so many different ways and angles that you will think I was in 10 different locations, then I can move 1 street down or to the park across the street and do it all again!

The only factor there for me, is that I do not enjoy shooting in the rain. Some people do, and I know my camera could take it, this is just a personal choice for me.

Yep, you can overpower sunlight but you can't turn sunlight up or down or move it the other side of the frame.

In his situation, there in the sunroom, he'd do just as well outside using a building's shadow or overhead foliage out on location, as you suggest. I intimated as much but hoped he'd come to that conclusion on his own so he would 'own the idea'.

redtippmann'

There are alternatives to Nikon speedlights for strobist, off camera, location light. Check out a Vivitar 285HV ($90), Jerry uses 1 or 2 of those too I think.

JerryPH · Jul 22, 2009

KmH said:
There are alternatives to Nikon speedlights for strobist, off camera, location light. Check out a Vivitar 285HV ($90), Jerry uses 1 or 2 of those too I think.

I bought one out of curiosity... it was a good purchase, the thing is a real workhorse of a flash. For the money, it is the best battery powered speedlight out there. Other speedlights may off you offer you more... more power, more settings, more compatibility for TTL, but they also cost a lot more.

Dmitri · Jul 22, 2009

Re: buying flash vs the studio cowboy kit (which I have also been eyeballing):
With the 90$ flash you get a flash.
With the kit (abt $90) you get 3 continous lights, 3 stands (one mini) and two umbrellas.

Not sure how the flash is a better deal. I understand what you're saying about location shooting, but you would still need a stand, umbrella, etc. to make any sort of pro looking portraits or scenes.

redtippmann · Jul 22, 2009

I'll look into that vivitar. But I wos wondering how to trigger the flash. I know u could use a pc cord but I would like to go wireless. But I only see ones for $200. And I don't think I would use umbrellas with a flash, just a difuser. So thanks for the continued advice!

Edit: /\ the post above is also what I was thinking. /\

KmH · Jul 22, 2009

The bigger the light source the softer the shadows.

Umbrellas make your little speedlight seemway big. Convertable umbrellas can be used to reflect light from a flash or with the backing off in shoot-through mode for diffussion.

redtippmann · Jul 22, 2009

sounds good. but the main question is how to trigger the flash. I have little experience with flashes so I dont know where to start.

JerryPH · Jul 22, 2009

Dmitri said:
Re: buying flash vs the studio cowboy kit (which I have also been eyeballing):
With the 90$ flash you get a flash.
With the kit (abt $90) you get 3 continous lights, 3 stands (one mini) and two umbrellas.

Not sure how the flash is a better deal. I understand what you're saying about location shooting,

Its a question of useability... not money. You can do only ONE thing with single on lights... one speedlight on a stand with umbrella does the same thing.. plus... plus... plus.

A shoot through AND bounce umbrella is $14.
A light stand is $23.
A swivel mount is $16
A wireless trigger receiver and transmitter are $30

With this and your flash, you have:

1. A lightsource that is stronger than those 3 constant on lights put together! This means I can shoot in brighter conditions than the 3 lights combined.

2. It means you can shoot without tripping over wires AND you can be further away from the flash than the length of sync cord wire (which is about $25 for a 15 foot cord). As a matter of fact, if you have some minor solding skills, you can add a piece of wire to the V2s units and shoot from well over 350 feet away!:

HERE is how to modify the V2s to go to over 300 feet.

3. You can shoot outdoors as well as indoors.

4. You can shoot in places that don't have an electrical plug (try dragging the constant on to the local skate board park!).

5. The biggie... you can buy a speedlight now and get a head start... or you can waste your money on constant on lighting, hit the limits within 30 days and then start saving for speedlights later ANYWAY. Either way... sooner or later, you will be using speedlights, that I can guarantee you, becuase this is what 99% of photographers use today... every think there are reasons for that?

PS: Ever wonder why they call it a cowboy kit? I think I do... it is becuase they love taking you for a ride.

Dmitri · Jul 22, 2009

KmH said:
Umbrellas make your little speedlight seem way big.

Is that only for a speedlight or does it work with anything?

I mean, should I get an umbrella for my bedroom?

JerryPH · Jul 22, 2009

You guys are asking some of the most basic of questions!! Ever consider spending 2 hours at the strobist site and reading Lighting 101? There are answers there for you to questions you have not even asked yet!

STROBIST LIGHTING 101 LINK

BTW, an umbrella doesn't "make your little speedlight seem way big", it increases the APPARENT SIZE of the light and it also diffuses the light making it softer.

What you need in your bedroom... is that a question you should even ask on a photo forum? LOL!.

I use umbrellas all the time, indoors, outdoors, bedrooms and where ever else I want diffused light. It is not a question of WHERE... it is a question of the effects you WANT to achieve.

redtippmann · Jul 22, 2009

thanks for helping us strobist newbs.

but I think I now know what I need, cant wait to be able to control light outside! Thanks again!

RyanLilly · Jul 22, 2009

Jerry has the right plan. Add a piece of poster board, and maybe steal that silver reflector from your cars windshield, and you have a great one light setup that is very versatile. I have a couple Vivitar 285hv, and use the Cactus V2s triggers with the mods that Jerry linked to, and they are great. You will grow out of that constant light kit very fast, they are not very bright, you will need a bunch of extension cords and power strips, and the frustration will take all the fun out of it. You will never outgrow a Vivitar 285HV, it will always be a useful item to have; in fact I always carry one, because you never know when its going to come in handy.