Amazing thread on studio lighting

[markperez]

Some may have seen it but I wanted to post this so other could see how people setup their studio lighting

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/144181

[Capt. Ray]

Thanks for that link Mark.

[Abel]

very cool link...

i love checking out other peoples setups in order to get ideas and inspiration!

i really need some good studio lights for the house... hehee.

Alien Bees will prolly be my choice..

[mattchow]

Originally Posted by Abel

very cool link...

i love checking out other peoples setups in order to get ideas and inspiration!

i really need some good studio lights for the house... hehee.

Alien Bees will prolly be my choice..

how much are the alien bees? i was looking at the adorama setup since it was *really* cheap.

[Abel]

well the alien bees are not the cheapest out there thats for sure. but they do seem to be very popular and are quite a bit better than regular entry level lights etc..

http://www.alienbees.com/

[lydiapenn]

thank you so much for posting this. i've been trying to learn about studio lighting lately, and this really helps. ^_^

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

Definitely would go strobe vs. hot lights... especially if you're looking to set up in the house. And Alien Bee's are an excellent choice.

[markperez]

Silly question probably but do the strobes use special type bulbs?

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

Strobes are essentially large flash units. They use a flash tube for a "bulb." The advantage is a much more intense (stronger) light that is color balanced to film. You also don't have the heat that hot lights (bulbs) create so the room doesn't heat up (especially in Texas summers!) and nobody gets burned by touching a light accidentally. They're less of a fire hazard, use less electricity overall, they last a lot longer than photo flood bulbs, and provide a much more even lighting on the subject. Since digital does allow for white balance, it's not as huge an issue as it is with film. With film you need to use what are expensive bulbs rated at the right temperature to balance with daylight film, or buy special tungsten balanced film. Alien Bee's, and most better strobe systems, also allow for adjusting the intensity of flash, much as you do with the dedicated flash unit you use on the hotshoe of your camera. With a strobe system, you plug directly to your camera to trigger the lights, or can trigger them with a camera mounted flash (most strobe systems have slaves built in).

This photo was shot in my friend's living room using 3 Alien Bee strobes. One in a softbox, one bounced with umbrella, and one as a hairlight directional to the background, which was seemless paper (this final image has had the background knocked out and replaced). Note the lack of shadows, especially around the eyes, glasses, and nose. This can be more difficult to achieve with hotlights and requires more frequent adjustments on the direction or barndoors.

[markperez]

ok with all the advice you are giving me I am going to expect that you are going to charge me at some point.

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

LOL. Austin Models & Talent has been providing free services to the model, acting, and photography community for several years. Information is fun to share and pass around if it helps others achieve success in their goals and whereby those goals are legitimate, mainstream, and beneficial to us all.

If you are ever in Austin, make sure you attend one of our free shoots. In Dallas, when/if we ever pull a big shoot together (personally, I hate the thought of the long drive there myself), I know several actual television and film celebrities who reside there and who will be happy to come out and let people photograph them just for fun, and at no cost. Perhaps you can help (here's the part where I ask for something back!) organize some DFW area photographers together so there's enough photographers to support such a shoot?

(Photo: Pirate's of the Caribbean?)

[markperez]

I think I can give that a shot

[sbug_adam]

wow, now thats cool!!! great link!

ADam