Not so studio lighting help

[grphx]

After doing my first shoot with my friend Paige, I decided I'm going to get into people photography. She said I could take pictures of her anytime I wanted, as long as our schedules didn't clash, so I'm going to take her offer up. I like to use natural light, because I have to in sports events and car photography(my main type of photography I do).

Anybody have any times on setting up a cheap set in someone's apartment? We first used her living room,a nd this neat looking chair thing for her to lay out on, but I needed some more dynamic lighting, so we went to her bedroom, turned on her walkin closet's light and shut the door slightly. That gave some strong "studio looking" lighting, but this was near the time I had to leave(getting late and had a 40min drive back home).

Can you think of any other ways I can change up someone's own apartment or find some good light sources in the typical apartment/house? Stuff I used in the shoot was pulling her chair thing almost under a ceiling light(I was using like 1/8second shutter speeds!) and using that walkin closet lighting.

[Longwatcher]

I can't help much, except to say I can set up two AB400's on stands with one softbox and an umbrella for the other, plugged into a Vagabond battery in less then 10 minutes including checking light meter settings. I think I actually did it in less then 5 minutes as I had a 15 minute window to set up lights, take a few shots and get them out of the way again and I did it within 15 minutes (although the cables were not exactly neat on the way out).

I did cheat a little in that the octobox softbox was already together and I just dragged it from the car to where I was setting up the light. And the AB400's were already on the stands (with the protective cover on, but I don't count this one as cheating.

And since it was pretty quick all three times I did this for my last studio lighting assignment I think it is pretty consistent.

This is the only one of those three on line though (as an example)
http://www.longwatcher.com/images/20061210_StudioLighting201/Comic%20Girl.jpg

[cgratti]

maybe some 500W halogen lights, thats going to be hot but 2 of them from the hardware store might give better results.

or buy strobes.

[Phil Light]

maybe some 500W halogen lights, thats going to be hot but 2 of them from the hardware store might give better results...

I think this is a good idea. I got some pretty nice results in the past using two cheap ($12) halogen lights from the hardware store. I just had to work with the white balance a little.

Actually, for an apartment, maybe look for 300W halogens. I did mine in a garage at the time.

Or maybe one halogen and some white foamboard to bounce? ...Funny, now all of a sudden, I want to try this. :)

[cdifoto]

I think this is a good idea. I got some pretty nice results in the past using two cheap ($12) halogen lights from the hardware store. I just had to work with the white balance a little.

Actually, for an apartment, maybe look for 300W halogens. I did mine in a garage at the time.

I think it's a bad idea. Knock one over and the whole place could go up in flames. Do you really wanna risk burning the place down just to save $200-$400 on a strobe head?

If you want to simulate a large window light, get a studio strobe and a giant softbox. You can work with just one of those and a reflector...or even without a reflector depending what you want to do. It's nowhere near as expensive as a whole studio getup, and one light is easy to put up and tear down.

[Phil Light]

I think it's a bad idea. Knock one over and the whole place could go up in flames. Do you really wanna risk burning the place down just to save $200-$400 on a strobe head?

I understand what you're saying, I'm sure there could be a risk, but the lights I used were designed as indoor work lights. They were equipped with what seemed to me to be adequate safety features.

I assumed that budget for these things might be a concern. I know very well what it's like to have to decide whether you would rather have good equipment, or eat. :)

[cdifoto]

I understand what you're saying, I'm sure there could be a risk, but the lights I used were designed as indoor work lights. They were equipped with what seemed to me to be adequate safety features.

I assumed that budget for these things might be a concern. I know very well what it's like to have to decide whether you would rather have good equipment, or eat. :)
Pffft....ramen is cheap. Chicken flavor ain't so bad. :)

[Phil Light]

Pffft....ramen is cheap. Chicken flavor ain't so bad. :)

:lol: :lol: :lol:
You are absolutely correct!!! Ramen for a month in order to buy a new toy? - A no-brainer!

[TMR Design]

Pffft....ramen is cheap. Chicken flavor ain't so bad. :)

When times were hard I used to live on Ramen. If I did that now I could have a lot more equipment.

In all seriousness, as much as I have my wishlist and want gear, gear and more gear, I've also had times where 'making due' with what I had produced more creativity and inventiveness. Not to say I am not creative or inventive if I am not in gear buying mode, but there's something to be said for taking what you have, sometimes very simple, or cheap, and working with it. I did that a lot with lights and diffusers before I bought a Speedlite or AB strobes.

This is my DIY diffuser panel and a set of halogen work lights (2 x 500W). In total I spent about $50 and it let me learn and get a feel for things as I figured out what my needs were going to be and what the best upgrades would be.
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[cdifoto]

When times were hard I used to live on Ramen. If I did that now I could have a lot more equipment.

In all seriousness, as much as I have my wishlist and want gear, gear and more gear, I've also had times where 'making due' with what I had produced more creativity and inventiveness. Not to say I am not creative or inventive if I am not in gear buying mode, but there's something to be said for taking what you have, sometimes very simple, or cheap, and working with it. I did that a lot with lights and diffusers before I bought a Speedlite or AB strobes.

This is my DIY diffuser panel and a set of halogen work lights (2 x 500W). In total I spent about $50 and it let me learn and get a feel for things as I figured out what my needs were going to be and what the best upgrades would be.
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There is nothing wrong with being inventive. But a fire hazard is not something I will create in the spirit of saving a few hundred dollars. What's $300 when you have several thousand in cameras and lenses? It's pocket change really when you also consider the peace of mind you get. Knock that light of yours over and that backdrop would likely go up quick!

[TMR Design]

There is nothing wrong with being inventive. But a fire hazard is not something I will create in the spirit of saving a few hundred dollars. What's $300 when you have several thousand in cameras and lenses? It's pocket change really when you also consider the peace of mind you get. Knock that light of yours over and that backdrop would likely go up quick!


Of course I agree with you but I was careful, I didn't knock anything over and here I am. I also just set that up for the picture and never had the light fixture anywhere near the backdrop. The grills were on when they were in use. Those lights weren't even on to take that picture. I shot it quickly using direct flash.

I'm not advising anyone to be unsafe but myself and many many others have used those lights and others in DIY lighting and like with anything else we do, we must have our wits about us, be aware of equipment, surroundings and potential hazards.

[cdifoto]

Of course I agree with you but I was careful, I didn't knock anything over and here I am. I also just set that up for the picture and never had the light fixture anywhere near the backdrop. The grills were on when they were in use. Those lights weren't even on to take that picture. I shot it quickly using direct flash.

I'm not advising anyone to be unsafe but myself and many many others have used those lights and others in DIY lighting and like with anything else we do, we must have our wits about us, be aware of equipment, surroundings and potential hazards.

Yeah...just don't use it for portraits, weddings, etc because you have no control over others' actions. That's where it gets really unsafe. You don't know who else might trip over the cord, bump into it, etc.

[TMR Design]

Agreed!

[Tim S]

You might consider this:

http://www.briteklight.com/p40colikit.html

Flourescent Cool Lights seem like a safer alternative to hot halogens.

Just my two cents worth!

[TMR Design]

Great solution. I didn't even know cool lights were being made. How do they compare to strobes in terms of power output?

[Tim S]

They are continous lighting, different wattage setups are available. I haven't used them but am thinking about getting some.