Just wanted to start a lighting thread. I am curious what different people use for flash/multi flash, studio lights, etc. Experiences with this equipment may also be helpful. Myself I am using a Nikon SB50DX flash and I feel I am ready to try a simple, low powered, set up. I am considering 2 Alien Bee 400's and 1 Alien Bee 800 with various umbrellas, a light box, and a few grids(as opposed to a snoot). This should offer some versatility with portraits and object lighting.

For what little "studio" lighting I do, I use two (sometimes three) Novatron studio strobes powered by a small (don't recall exactly what power - less than 1000) Speedatron (Speedotron...?) power pack - with umbrellas. the umbrellas I use have a removable black outer fabric, so they can be used as flags as well. For metering, I use a Minolta Auto Flash meter. (Jeez - I haven't blown the dust off of that system for YEARS!) For field work, I like to manipulate available light - with flags and reflectors. the best reflectors I have come across (primarily for macro work) is a piece of 8x10 plexiglass coated with (and I can't recall the name of the stuff) adhesive-backed reflective foil. I carry two of them, one silver and one gold (warms up shots take under heavy forest canopes or in early light). I coat both sides of the plex, one side with a smooth covering of the reflective material, the other side I wad up the material (before removing the backing) and then apply it - creates a slightly more diffused light. Then I carry a smal (super-cheap) tripod and a homemade clamp to place the reflectors in the field.

Hmmm. Sunlight (Manufactered by God I think, but not entirely sure), no-nonsense energy saving bulbs - hanging from the ceiling and with a switch conveniently placed near the door, and a Dixons 177 flash unit - with NiMH batteries in, it recharges in about a second and is pretty powerful. For reflectors I use those Windscreen (Windshield to you foreigners) shades that are silver on one side and a thin white foam on the back. Also available in gold. I've got 2 sizes, the ones that fit right across the windscreen (whatever) and the smaller ones about that size for side windows. Oh, yeah - they really broke the bank. The big ones were 1 ($1.30?) and the smaller ones the same - for 2..... I know, the Cheapskates Revenge, but hey - they're light, flexible, and do the job pretty well. (",)

Never really used lights that much. Long time ago, bounced a flash off of a white umbrella; literally a white rain umbrella. Worked pretty well, but without a flash meter sort of unpredictable. I have on the way a Canon 540EZ, (can get good deals on e-bay, as this is not compatible with the new digitals). Plan on getting one of those $20 slave triggers for my old smaller flash, for a portable two light setup. Don't think I'll be able to meter both flashes through the camera, but if I use the weaker, manual, one for fill, should be OK... I've been noticing some photos in the Gallery from folks who really seem to know how to use lighting. We have a tutorial in the Resource Area, but could use some more pointers...

I MYSELF HAVE A TON OF LIGHING EQUIPMENT THAT I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO USE. THESE NEW BRITEK STROBES AND SOFTBOXES HAVE SO MANY SETTINGS ITS LIKE TRYING TO DO CHINEASE ALGIBRA BACKWARDS AND UPSIDE DOWN. I JUST GO FOR TRIAL AND ERROR UNTILL I GET A SETTING THAT I LIKE AND THEN I RECORD IT DOWN. I AM DEVELOUPING MY STYLE SINCE I HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM SHOOTING "T&A" FOR NOW... FOR ME IT'S KIND OF COMMON SENSE OF PLACING THE LIGHTS WHERE I THINK I NEED BRIGHTNESS BUT AS YOU CAN SEE WITH WHAT I AM WRITING YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE MY TIPS! MOSTLY EVERY STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHER I SPEAK TO SAYS ALL YOU REALLY NEED IS TWO STROBES AND ONE SOFTBOX AND MAYBE 4 UNBRELLAS GOLD/SILVER AND 2 WHITES... I SWEAR IF IT WAS'NT FOR DIGITAL I WOULD BE BROKE. I FILL MY 1 GIG MICRO-DRIVE AT 16MB PICTURES AND ONLY GET LIKE 40 GOOD SHOTS OUT OF 612!

Bioserge left the Caps Lock button on again... hehehehe ;-) I go for available light. As for indoor lighting, I hardly ever manipulate 'em and I only know the basic shyte. (*

OOPS! I ment oops!

Bio why did you stop T&A? OK. I use ambient and those hated halogen work lamps mostly. Alternating between a clip on ~100watt and a 250 - 500 watt light. Of course I attempt to do the best with my EV settings and the built in flash. Bsteph

I just was getting to many "HATTERS" but what can you say when they have excisted from the beging of time. I just also wanted to see if it was true that scattered ass garnered more hits... guess what? sex sells but cats still get more hits! I guess it's about one "PUSSY CAT" over the other... :O)

At the moment with no true studio to work in....I use natural light and a tripod. I'm planning on picking up one or two reflectors. Adorama makes some sort of changeable one. I do have a flash unit for the Nikon....uh..let me check....an SB-27. I haven't used it once...I just really do not like the way flash looks.....so I don't even bother...but I bought it just in case. I do think this could be a really interesting thread though.....as I would like to learn a bit about what each type of lighting is good for and such.. My question would be what is a strobe? Is it a flash unit or an always on unit?

"Strobe" is just another word for re-useable flash, (stroboscope). As opposed to the non-reusable flashbulbs they largely replaced. Very short flash duration, so can "stop motion." For scientific work, or 70's disco, can flash repeated times for funky motion effects. Remember flashbulbs? Particularly the big 25B guys. Light up a football field, making everyone look like deer in the headlights. After image for minutes. It's not the flash as such that "looks bad," but that the flash is generally mounted very near the camera. The single point source of light, positioned that way, does not bring out textures or shapes well. And the subject is often washed out, with black backgrounds. Taking the flash off camera is better, but still has harsh shadows. Flash mounted on the camera is good, however, as a "fill" light to reduce harsh shadows in bright sunlight. Under dim conditions, where the flash has to be the main light, it is generally best to "bounce" the light off of some reflector. This softens the shadows from the point source. Wedding photographers use these big mechanical arm things to hold their flash off the camera, pointing at reflectors, or big difuser thingies. In a studio setup flash is (generally?) the preferred lighting as it is far brighter, with less heat, than continuous lighting. The color balance is also close to daylight. Here multiple units can be synced together, bounced off umbrellas, etc. It's usually necessary to have small "modeling lights" attached to the flash heads in order to preview the results. In the olden days, it was difficult to calculate the correct exposure with flash; needed to precisely know the distance or have an expensive flash meter. Now, most flashes, and some cameras having dedicated flashes, have the metering built in.

strobes are just big ole flash units with different settings, the ones you see on photo studios attached to umbrellas. the following link will answer all your quesions and where to buy at the best prices. it explains it all in simple terms. it is a great 'lil sorurce of information: http://myphotohome.com/e/pty.html

I was actually thinking of getting a continuous light set up when I'm ready.... does anyone know what the advantages/disadvantages would be?

There's a new guy, jlv, in the Gallery who seems to really know what he is doing with lighting. Also, bioserge seems to know what he is talking about. Maybe they could be sweet-talked into a tutorial? Guess it depends, 'Chelle, on exactly what type of photos you're trying for. You get such nice results with your vegetables... Bet you would have fun with some "tent" lighting.

NOOoOoOOoO! WAAAaaay! Not me! thank you MISHA, I'm blushing but I think "jlv" is way more qualified than I am for this. I think since he is shooting on location he uses lots of reflectors and white stretch blankets.

Would seem to me as bioserge said that he uses lots of natural lighting with reflectors.... and uhh....bioserge has openly admitted to not knowing what he was doing. I did take a peek at that site bioserge, didn't help me much but that's ok....I've got time to learn these things. :~)

sowwy. :(