Help: Rim / Backlight

[Michael O]

I have an AB800 and an umbrella, I want to get a Beauty Dish and a second light for rim / back light. What do you think it would be the best second light?

Portrait use in studio and outdoors.

[gonzogolf]

Another AB800. You can make do with speedlights if you have to but if you are going to buy another light powerful enough to compete with the ab800 for a hairlight all of your options are at least half the cost of a second AB. Might as well start building the kit.

[Benji]

The kicker light looks best when it is about 1/2 stop under the fill light, and the fill light is usually about two stops under the main light, so you don't need a super powerful light. I use a 200 WS light at lowest power in a 16 inch parabolic reflector with the barn doors pinched down to get that slight hint of edge lighting like below.

Mater photographer Don Blair used to call this light a "garlic" light because just like overusing garlic will destroy an otherwise good recipe, so will overusing a kicker light ruin an otherwise good portrait.

Benji

[Michael O]

Thanks guys, I am considering another AB800 but because I plan on shooting outdoors also, I was thinking of getting a 550 or 580 flash due to the fact that it may be easier to carry. Any thoughts?

[gonzogolf]

If you dont have a 550, or 580 to use on camera for those things like kids birthdays and events where its a hassle to work with off camera lights by all means get one. For off camera work they certainly are easier to carry. But given what they cost (as much or more than a Bee) and the fact that you are already carrying 1 AB800, lights, modifiers, stands; whats the difference between carrying another bee instead of a speedlite given the extra flexibility?

[Wilt]

Speedlight for any studio portraiture is shooting blind, as it has not modelling light.

The kicker light looks best when it is about 1/2 stop under the fill light, and the fill light is usually about two stops under the main light, so you don't need a super powerful light.

I'd like to modify Benji's reply slightly...
"The kicker light looks best when it is about 1/2 stop under the fill light, and the fill light is usually about two stops under the main light when you want to use relatively contrastly light ratio (5:1), so you don't need a super powerful light. Of course if fill light is less contrasty, at -1EV under the main light (3:1), you need a bit more powerful light. It all depends upon your desired main:fill ratio for the power of the kicker.

[Michael O]

Thanks Wilt: "Speedlight for any studio portraiture is shooting blind, as it has not modelling light." that did it. Another AB it is. :)

[AxxisPhoto]

Get a second B800 with a 40° honeycomb grid.

[Wilt]

Thanks Wilt: "Speedlight for any studio portraiture is shooting blind, as it has not modelling light." that did it. Another AB it is. :)


Wise move. It does not take a huge amount of intelligence to look at the choice this way...


580EXII speedlight, $400 and firing blind and limited variety of modifiers
AB1600 monolight, $360 with modelling light and lots of light modifiers..."which do I rather have?"

:cool: