Ring Lights

[jackieclayton]

I know i've been absent for awhile... maternity leave ended and my new life as a working mom leaves me hardly any time for photography, much less TPF

I did however sign up for the Kelby Training a few weeks ago... thought I'd give it a try since I can watch a little here and now, and I really enjoy it! I recently watched one of Joe McNally's training on lighting and he showed a segment on ring lights and I'm interested in learning more on them (the pictures he showed weren't that great... i'm sorry Joe, I'm a big fan of yours but I hated the pictures you took with them, it had a cheap porno feel to it). He said they were very popular now in fashion photography and stuff, but I wanted to know if anyone would mind sharing any pics they have taken with a ring light? I'd like to know if its either Joe's pictures I didn't like or perhaps I just don't like that style of lighting?!

Thanks!!!

 

[Village Idiot]

It's a very flat lighting, but you can get some cool effects and dedicated ring lights like the Alien Bees ABR800 can be used for fill or as an additional off camera mono light.

I was messing with mine last night using a fish eye lens and got some very...interesting shots...

Unfortunately after taking my 50" TV back to the retailer for the burn in that occured before I bought it, I went to open my notebook that I do most of my editing on and the screen is failing to turn on. So, I coudn't upload those photos...

Here's a random one from when I first got it.

 

[Big Mike]

From what I hear via the grapevine, ring lights are something that people see, like, buy...but then soon tire of. As mentioned, it's a very flat light which can tend to get boring...and there really aren't a lot of different things you can do with a ring light.

There are many DIY tutorials on how to make a cheap ring light. There are even some fairly simple ring lights that work by directing & bouncing the light from an on-camera speedlite. It might be worth trying one of these cheaper options first. If you really like it, then you can think about getting a bigger/better ring light.

 

[gsgary]

NSFW
http://gsgary.smugmug.com/People/Tina-page-3-shoot/Image00038/545307600_Vwomh-L.jpg

http://gsgary.smugmug.com/People/Tina-page-3-shoot/Image00034/545307480_DoiKh-L.jpg

http://gsgary.smugmug.com/People/Tina-page-3-shoot/Image00030/545307364_yqyxP-L.jpg

 

[Village Idiot]

From what I hear via the grapevine, ring lights are something that people see, like, buy...but then soon tire of.

That's what the grapevine said about my fish eye, but I was shooting through my ring light with my fish eye last night.

Like I posted, the ABR800 can be used like an additional monolight. They even make a type of soft box for it and it comes with the necessary equipment to mount it on a light stand.