Recommended directly from Alien Bee's

[newgenphoto]

I submitted a request online regarding shotting automobiles in a studio. This is what they recomemnded....what do you honestly think?

"Hey Jasen,

Thanks for your interest in AlienBees! When shooting cars, you are going to want several big light sources. I would recommend that you look at getting 3 B1600s, 2 OB47 large Octaboxes, and 1 U60SW silver/white umbrella. If your room is white, then you could bounce the light off the walls and ceiling, so that you don't have reflections of the lights in the car. The key, though is have lots of diffused and bounced light. Hope this helps!

Thanks,
Celia
AlienBees"

[SkipD]

They are perfectly correct - large diffused light sources are what you would want to use.

You could even shoot the light through a large surface (like a bedsheet, but maybe made of rip-stop nylon) that you could make up from stock bought at a fabric store. That would help to prevent the actual source of the light being reflected in the car's paint and chrome.

[lkorell]

Glare and reflections are going to be your biggest challenges. Everything you can do to eliminate or minimize those two things will give you much better results. Alien Bees is usually very straight up when giving lighting advice. Yes, it's their business to sell lighting gear but they also want you to use it well so you'll be happy with the results from the gear you bought.

[chtgrubbs]

If I were shooting cars I would want something like this:lol:
http://www.chimeralighting.com/products/f2overhead.cfm

[newgenphoto]

If I were shooting cars I would want something like this:lol:
http://www.chimeralighting.com/products/f2overhead.cfm

That is SWEET!! I didn't see prices though. That would be pretty cool to mount on a ceiling. You could use it whenever you want.

I also ordered this book today - Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers - I was told by Alien Bees that it would explain everything in vivid detail on correct lighting. I can't wait. The other thing that I was excited about is that she told me that I can just take one of the lights sync cords and plug it directly into my 20D and the others will just automatically slave off the one I have plugged in. I may have found my new niche here. Weddings are great and I make enough so that my wife can stay home and be with our children, but, this just sounds way to fun!!

Jasen