Speedlights, Honl Modifiers and a little self portrait experience

[HFMarshburnJR]

Decided to play small ball tonight with some Honl Photo Accessories and a couple of SB900 speedlights. Key light has the Traveller 8 mini softbox at camera right and the light behind me has a Honl 1/8" Grid installed. Rear light is at full power, and the key was set at either 1/8 or 1/16 (I forget).

Shot in Manual Mode on Nikon D3 w/ 85mm F1.4 lens at F8 and 1/250th

I love the Honl tools - They are easy to use and the little softbox gives out a very nice light for this kind of shot. You can get more info on them at

Honl Photo Home Page

C&C always welcome.

Keep the faith.

HFM

[digidawg87]

Great job! Have you tried feathering the light? Use just the right "edge" of your softbox so that the light falls off toward your ear.

[HFMarshburnJR]

Originally Posted by digidawg87

Great job! Have you tried feathering the light? Use just the right "edge" of your softbox so that the light falls off toward your ear.

Donny -

Thanks for looking. If you are referring to the backlight, I noticed that. It was kind of hard to correct and catch while I was working by myself, but if I go to print with this set-up in the future, I will certainly do that. Good catch!

It is as fun to play around with the small modifiers as it is with the larger ones.

HFM

[digidawg87]

Not really. Turn your main light camera left so that your only using the very right edge of the light on the subject. This will cause a fall off or feathering of the subject's left side.

[DoublyDan]

Cool work.
Yeah i was practicing the other day with my two flashes and found that the light speads in areas I dont want. I am expecting this with the addition of two extra gobos (15 each) by the end of the week!

Amazon also has all of these items mentioned but with the addition of a carrying bag. i already have a bag that I keep my off camera light modifiers in so I went this route and saved $25...

How do you like your softbox? I have the Lumiquest 2 (recommended by the Stobist) and am liking it so far...

I just looked back at your image, and because I was looking at the light I didn't see your expression the first time...You look like you were caught off guard...

[HFMarshburnJR]

@Donny - Thanks for clarifying. I will try that another time. That was not the look I was going for this time, but I can see where it might be more pleasing. This time around I wanted the ear on camera left to be in shadow...just didn't count on the backlight being out of position.

@Dan - Thanks. I actually have what is in that kit and more. I have bought a large selection of the Honl filters as well as a speed strap for every flash I own. I leave the straps on the flashes so it is very quick to set up. The filters are designed very sturdy with a velcro strip on the top and bottom edge for quick installation. I used the softbox for these headshots and for a full gamut of shots (from headshot to full length) with my 9 year old daughter this past weekend. I can see using it in a lot of situations. It folds flat, so it is very easy to transport. All of the equipment shown in the kit in your link, plus the extra Honl gear I have described all fits into their bag, which is approx. 9x12x2 when fully packed in my bag. It is a very portable setup. As far as the expression goes...I was pushing the button on the remote shutter release, so it would have been hard to be surprised. I just look that way...such is my lot in life!

Keep the faith.

HFM