Using Softboxes/Octaboxes/Beauty Dish

[RiKaN HaVoK]

Good Day All,

I been having a hard time figuring out which one works for what and how exactly to use them. I'm just starting out in Photography and actually lights.

Right now my set up is 2 AB800 with 1 430EXII - Most likely I will buy 1 or to more AB's but not sure if 800 or 1600.

I also have two umbrellas 1 translucent and the other one with gold and translucent plus 1 giant foldable sofbox and 1 giant octabox.

Right now I think the 1 giant foldable SB is just to big so I was wondering if it is and if not how should I use it when shooting single models also what would be the ideal use of the 1 octabox.

If I can find help I'll probably sell the giant and buy me to large and place them top and bottom of camera and a bare or with umbrella ab and the back aimed at the hair ....

I hope I made sense and I didn't loose anyone ..

Just to recap all I want to know what is which one use for and if the equipment I have is to big for what I'm doing .. which is on location shoots ...

If there's a tutorial on this please let me know .. thanks in advance ...

[DerekW]

What are you shooting? 1 person 2 people, 25 people, cars?
The giant boxes might be difficult to move around, but would work.
Umbrellas are the old standby, so they will work. Beauty dishes seem to be the rave now, and don't act like a parachute when the wind blows.

I doubt I'd use anything bigger than a small to medium softbox for location stuff, unless you have a bunch of helpers.

Look at the strobist guys, they use mainly bare falash and umbrella's and get remarkable shots. I did most of a whole day outside workshop where most of the time it was a reflector and a base speedlight, some people got darn near magazine worthy shots.
It's easy to over think the add-on's when you start. If you don't have the experience with them, just stick to the very basics.

[redbutt]

I would suggest you start with a single light (a B-800 is plenty) and 1 modifier and 1 reflector. See what that does...experiment with placement, power, etc, and note the results. If you can't get what you want, change ONLY the modifier, and repeat all the setups to see what you get.

No single modifier is really "the right one" for a given shot. You need to think about what it is your trying to accomplish and then select a modifier that will do that for you. The only way to know what your modifiers will do is to use them one at a time.