My First day on-location with my AB800's

Just got these AB's 2 weeks ago. Finally got a chance to shoot outside in a parking lot today.. Groudned the vagabond in a flower soil pot. Just with some freinds, no specific story or ogal behind these pics. Just messing with lighting. How'd I do?

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I don't think a "flower soil pot" is the best ground. Most flower pots are made of ceramic or plastic materials that would actually insulate the pot from the what you are really after, the ground.

Put that stake in the actual ground, or connect it to something that is metal and already sufficiently in the ground like a metal fence post, metal guide wire for a phone pole, etc,.

Finding a suitable ground in the parking lot might be difficult.

Enjoy! Lon

Hey, I'm still alive to write this post thanks for the heads up though

i dont understand... whats the deal with the flower pot?

vegasboy wrote in post #2942372
i dont understand... whats the deal with the flower pot?

The op was using his AB set-up outdoors and needed to "ground" it. So he took the ground wire/stake and stuck it into a flower pot full of dirt. The system probably worked fine even though it might not have been properly grounded. The ground stake should be stuck into dirt/moist dirt or attached to a metal post that is stuck into the ground such as a fence post.

The are some dangers if the system is not properly grounded... if there is a short in the system, the protective circuit breakers may not trip. Also, if there is any static/electrical charge build up, it will not be bled off automatically... so if you were to grab a hold of one of the lights, and you're standing on wet earth with damp shoes, you'll get shocked.

GeneMan88 wrote in post #2942423
The op was using his AB set-up outdoors and needed to "ground" it.

To be very specific.

The OP was using an DC to AC converter unit (that is also sold by Alien Bee) to power his Alien Bee flash units.

The Alien Bee units require AC Voltage.

This DC to AC device requires a robust ground. So, you have to create your own ground by sticking a grounding rod into the earth (or connect to some convenient alternate like a metal fence post into the earth, etc).

Enjoy! Lon

next time when you don't have a suitable ground just place the vagabond system on top of the grounding rod, per AB instructions.

Here's a "trick" we did when I was in the military, although, I'm not sure how effective it was: Place the ground strap on the ground and drive over it with a car placing the tire directly over the strap pinning it to the ground.

I overall like the lighting, but for my personal taste I would have opened up the aperture a touch more and adjusted the strobes appropriately. The image looks a little lacking in depth to me so getting a little blur to the background would add that depth.

Alternatively if you had additional lights you could lightly light the back of the subject to add separation in.

But just my opinion, with the disclaimer that I don't know if I would have done any better then you.

I don't care about the ground,you are still among the living.How many lights did you use and with what modifiers if any?

Thanks Longwatcher... I defiently feel what you are saying. I just shot the ap to f/11 for clarity reasons... I DID however try a background light but couldnt use it how I wanted it, because my power cord could only go so far (I think it's time to get the boom extension arm + additional 15ft pwr. cord)


Here's my setup Ibkev:
I am very new at this whole lightihng thing... started using strobes only back since Decemeber (550ex's). So this setup probally looks reall funky (a dish & an umbrella) compared to standard procedures:

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For a first try, and being new to it, you did well.

Looking at the position of the lights in your setup, you'll want to expand from the two lights at opposing 45°angles. Not that there is anything wrong with it, it will generally result in predictable results...But that setup is generally, "set-up and blast".

For the urban style you were going after, you might try moving your key (main) to the camera axis (but higher up, pointing 45° down to the subject), and then move your fill to either side to soften any hard shadows.

Stackinchips wrote in post #2944251
Thanks Longwatcher... I defiently feel what you are saying. I just shot the ap to f/11 for clarity reasons... I DID however try a background light but couldnt use it how I wanted it, because my power cord could only go so far (I think it's time to get the boom extension arm + additional 15ft pwr. cord)


Here's my setup Ibkev:
I am very new at this whole lightihng thing... started using strobes only back since Decemeber (550ex's). So this setup probally looks reall funky (a dish & an umbrella) compared to standard procedures:

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I forgot to mention, for the first shot of just the guy, you could then use the third light as a kicker/rim light to add a little seperation that will emphasize some depth of field too. Which is what I am guessing you tried to do based on the flare on the right side in that first shot.

Screamer thanks so much. You clarified a lot of things there. I always read about it and forget.. that you have a MAIN light and a FILL LIGHT. I will defiently try what you said next time..
As far as the kicker.. I tried to get it to shoot as a hair light but my Extension cord was too short. I will bring additional ones for my next shoot. Thanks for the info man.

im really intrested in seeing your next shoot. be sure to post it up!