Your preferred on location setup

[lockedillusions]

Im sure this is going on complete personal preference here but would love to hear your thoughts.

What do you prefer for you on location shooting?

Alien Bees or other studio lighting with battery pack Or
OFC such as 580ex ect?

I currently have 2 ab 800s with soft boxes for studio use but traded out my vagabond and am contemplating buying another.

But ive also contemplated making more investment into a OCF like setup.

[Daniel W.]

I use a collapsible disc reflector for about 80% of my work. When you start doing flash, you have to worry about adding the color temperature of another source of light, the shape and falloff, lah lah lah. My style falls more towards shooting with a thin DOF, (2.8 and lower), adding flash just complicates that. Rather than add light, I'd rather work with it, move it, etc.

However, when I do use flash, I use a Sunpak potato masher head with a Sto-Fen on it, inside a Chimera Softbox with the first interior baffle removed. I'm already diffusing the light with the Interior Sto-Fen (in addition to moving it around the softbox), I like the look of the light with just the front panel. I'll also bring along a small envelope of mostly CTO gels of varying degrees, and a few wild colors too.

[tukaniray]

I have been recently taking my 800ABs out with my vagabond.

And depending on the subject, I will bring along some softboxes, a dish, triggers and/or bounce card.

Use to use my Speedlights, but find I like the lighting control and light output of the ABs for my subjects.

-Ray-

[danchez]

reflector, speedlight + stand

[S-Man]

Hmm, my preference depends on the situation. I like the power and flexibility of the AB/Vagabond setup, but it's not very practical to lug around in some situations.
I prefer to use it outside when I have the time and space to set it up. I really like using a boomed Beauty Dish outdoor, it makes for a really cool look, but this setup can be really unwieldy. Carrying that whole setup in hand plus camera and lenses on my back is no easy task.
Otherwise I'll use a couple of 580's and/or 430's.

[texxter]

It depends on the distance between the car and the location. The closer the location is to the car, the more likely I will use big equipment

[The Philos]

Originally Posted by texxter

It depends on the distance between the car and the location. The closer the location is to the car, the more likely I will use big equipment

Exactly.

[danchez]

going to be adding this real soon so I can take my AB's out to play.

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by danchez

going to be adding this real soon so I can take my AB's out to play.

Yeah I saw that too...

Looks pretty nice. I will hang onto the Vagabond for a bit until I know how the life on these holds up. Nice to know you can just grab a motorcycle battery to give the Vagabond new life!

[danchez]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Yeah I saw that too...

Looks pretty nice. I will hang onto the Vagabond for a bit until I know how the life on these holds up. Nice to know you can just grab a motorcycle battery to give the Vagabond new life!

yeah, but 3.5lbs compared to Vag's 18.5lbs....

[scottalanphoto]

so far i just use my vivitar 285 and an umbrella.. would like to get a vegabond for my ab 800's though...

[Tom]

Originally Posted by danchez

yeah, but 3.5lbs compared to Vag's 18.5lbs....

18.5 Vag. That's a heavy Vag.



What I carry around depends totally on what I am shooting. If I gotta carry the big guns, I do. If I can get away with the speedlights (I have 6 speedlights) then I do that.

[apollo.11]

just got a cheetah qbox 24. we'll see how that works out.

[apollo.11]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

I use a collapsible disc reflector for about 80% of my work. When you start doing flash, you have to worry about adding the color temperature of another source of light, the shape and falloff, lah lah lah. My style falls more towards shooting with a thin DOF, (2.8 and lower), adding flash just complicates that. Rather than add light, I'd rather work with it, move it, etc.

So how do you keep your reflector held up, a stand or an assistant?

[Daniel W.]

Usually an assistant is best so I can give active directions to work with the wind or if the clouds move. They're also there to make the client a little more comfortable, adjust hairs and wardrobe (most of my clients are females, and my regular assistant is also female).