Day 559 of 365 More.
I hate flash photograohy. I think I’ve mentioned that before. I know I’ve said it on the podcast. 9,999,999 out of 10,000,000, I’d rather use my good old fashioned hot lights.
The problem is , it’s really hard to take my entire studio with me wherever I go, so I decided it was time I started working on getting better at using strobes.
I recently bought a new flash unit, and at Stephen Poff’s suggestion I also got a Gary Fong Lightsphere to diffuse the lights.
I’m acutally rather pleased wit it. I still prefer my hot lughts though.
I much prefer natural lighting if it can be had. I need to get some sort of light set up in here, granted I am broke and very limited space, so, lighting on a budget should be interesting to say the least.
yeah my hotlights aren’t as much light as I’d like, but the texture of light is so much softer and warmer than my strobes.
This shot came out really well!
I’m scared of my flash. I never know when/how to use it so I just never do, even on my film camera. I’d rather drag out 7 lamps than use my flash.
This turned out good! You’ve got me so that I never use my flash either! It just looks so harsh, but as dark as my house is, I probably SHOULD use it in here.
—
Seen in my contacts’ photos. (?)
Interesting composition and use of black and withe composition
Rated 2 Alarm from 3 Alarm Photo
I also struggle to use strobes….although I struggle to use a camera properly….lol. I think this is great, it’s definately a skill worth investing time in.
LOL… I hated them too. Fought it for the LONGEST time. But seriously, in the long run they keep your talent cooler (not to mention you… hot lights seriously heat up a room quick) and they give you a lot quicker shutter speed and an actual choice over your aperture as opposed to the constant you usually have to work with using hot lights (unless you’re scrimming or have a large room to move lights back and forth).
On another note, we’ve been using Kino-Flo Flourescents a lot lately (it’s what my side of the podcast are lit with) and they are really nice. The come in banks of 2 or 4 and you contol light output by just turning off some of the bulbs. Also, they are very cool and won’t make your talent sweat and come in daylight or tungsten balanced bulbs.
But in the end, it doesn’t matter what you use… your results are what matter. And you don’t seem to have a problem with that :-).
Rated 1.5 Alarm from 3 Alarm Photo
—
Seen in 3 Alarm Photo [Post 1 Grade Three to the Right] (?)
@adayinthelife: there are a lot of cheap solutions you can use for adequate results until you have the money to get something better. I suggest home depot shop lights. They cost maybe $12, and you can clamp them wherever you need.
@SaylaMarz: I actually have about 3000 watts worth of hot lights set up, so, as long as I’m in my studio, I can usually get whatever lighting I need. But I need to be able to get better lighting on the road, so that’s why I bought the new flash. The lightsphere does a good job of diffusing it. It’s still not tungsten, but it’s something.
@like_shipwrecks: It’s not so much that I’m scared of mine. I just don’t like it as much. I’m like you. I’d rather use a dozen lamps given the opportunity. That’s just not always an option though.
@lrayholly: yeah, I think its funny looking at your or Jameel’s pics because they’re so obviously influenced by the way I light things. Flashes aren’t really "wrong" per se, they’re just not the way I like to do things. I like the hot light look so much more.
@FireFox2007: thanks. I actually added this to 3 alarm on accident, and have since removed it, but I appreciate the comment.
@disco~stu: that’s pretty much my feeling. If I ever do another wedding or something, it’ll be nice to have the option.
@Stephen Poff: the heat doesn’t really bother me. Especially since my models are usually half naked anyway. But, even with good white balancing and color correction, I just feel like I get a much softer, warmer glow with tungsten. Much more approaching golden hour lighting. Also, I am actually really really bad at not blinking when strobes go off. Tungsten saves that problem.
@DarkYES: thanks.
I would like to use lights vice a flash. Or just shoot with good light. But my ghetto lighting setup will do for now
Thanks for that suggestion. 🙂
This turned out really nice – it doesn’t have the harshness that a flash often gives…..
@Mikey aka DaSkinnyBlackMan: long as you know how to work it you’re fine. And you’ve been good so far.
@pinkgypsysoul: it does… thank you.
@adayinthelife: you’re welcome
@Babs1696: yeah, that’s the lightsphere doing its job. It’s pretty cool