Some studio lighting advice

[freefallu]

Hi,

I have at the moment two x 500 bowens Gemenis and a smallish softbox and umbrella thats either reflected or shoot trough ( you can put on or take off a cover. )

I will be working in an area thats about 4meters wide ( back ) by 10 meters (long) and 2.5 -3 meters high.

One thing I want is a 1.8m softbox but im not sure as to what to do next and wondered if anybody was putting the following to good use:
Grids on flashhead reflectors
Grids on softbox
Accent Lights ( Barn doors )
Beauty dish.


How do you light your background ? Shoot through or softbox ? Is it practical to light a whole Back with one light or do i need two lights for this?


I intend to buy 2/3 more flash heads and had intended on bowens , but assuming for example Elinchromes could be fired on " cell " just like the Bowens Id be happy to mix brands. If you have any experience of the value of the above items id love to hear from you. I wont be using AB kit as i dont want to import it into Europe for several reasons.

[Wilt]

One thing I want is a 1.8m softbox but im not sure as to what to do next and wondered if anybody was putting the following to good use:

Grids on flashhead reflectors
Grids on softbox
Accent Lights ( Barn doors )
Beauty dish.

Grids on reflectors, I have used.

Grids on softboxes...I seriously question the theory of this! The light is somewhat omnidirectional coming off the face of the softbox, so the grids are not going to collimate the light again very much, I wouldn't think. Not having grid option for my softbox, and not taking lots of time to build a homemade grid for it to do a carefully controlled test, there might be some advantage I am simply not grasping!

I have used barndoors...simply a gobo on the light, rather than a gobo on a stand!

Beauty dish...no direct experience. And as a portraiture tool, I think ring lights are valueless. They are fine on models where you want to keep the viewer attention on the clothes and not distract with too attractive a face!

How do you light your background ? Shoot through or softbox ? Is it practical to light a whole Back with one light or do i need two lights for this?

I have use reflectors, in front and shoothru, I have used snoots, and I have used grids, for when I want more intensity at the background for separation from the subject tones. And I have used nothing at all except for the light from the softboxes, when I want less intensity at the background for separation from the subject tones.

[freefallu]

Wilt thanks for the info, its valuable input as i decide what bits to add to the collection to play with.