Battery powered 'strobes'

There will always be difference of opinion regarding what gear to use, but I feel like I've seen a number of threads lately from people asking what lighting gear to buy (for starters). These threads always go back and forth with various members suggesting what they think is best - studio strobes, Speedlites, 3rd party speedlights, etc...

Anyhow, I was browsing through my Google+ news feed this morning and I saw a post by the Strobist, David Hobby who was linking to someone else's (Greg Heisler) blog. First, here is the article: http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …series-yasser-arafat.html

Check out the video of Mr. Heisler discussing the experience: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=aeWNNsiGH58

It's got to be fun when you can start a video with the line, "Time called me to photograph Yasser Arafat..."

It appears that this video is sponsored by Profoto... and I'll certainly be the first to admit that I don't know their product line at all. However, there is a line in the video where he is discussing security and states, "all the batteries were pulled out of the strobes" which perked my ears. I have no idea if he was referring to a Profoto product or a speedlight setup - I don't think he ever says what gear was specifically used. Nonetheless, at the end of the day it seems that it's not about the gear... it really is just about the light...

The term "strobe" is a misnomer for everything we're commonly using, in the studio and out. "Strobe" refers to "stroboscope," which is the rapidly flashing light you might have seen in discoteques back in the 70s or used for motion studies.

So all these references to "strobe" for other kinds of electronic flash are simply wrong. If you're using a word wrong, it doesn't much matter how you're using it wrong--it can mean anything you want it to mean.

Profoto makes some power packs that are battery powered. I'm not familiar with their product line, but I think he mentions one of those packs in the video clip.

RDKirk wrote in post #15605183
The term "strobe" is a misnomer for everything we're commonly using, in the studio and out. "Strobe" refers to "stroboscope," which is the rapidly flashing light you might have seen in discoteques back in the 70s or used for motion studies.

So all these references to "strobe" for other kinds of electronic flash are simply wrong. If you're using a word wrong, it doesn't much matter how you're using it wrong--it can mean anything you want it to mean.

Definition of strobe from Oxford Online Dictionary (http://oxforddictionar​ies.com)

noun
1 a stroboscope.
•
a stroboscopic lamp: [as modifier]: strobe lights

2 North American an electronic flash for a camera.


Definition of strobe from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

1: stroboscope
2: a device that utilizes a flashtube for high-speed illumination (as in photography)
3: flashtube

dmward wrote in post #15605247
Profoto makes some power packs that are battery powered. I'm not familiar with their product line, but I think he mentions one of those packs in the video clip.

Yes, the Profoto AcuteB series packs are battery powered as are the Pro-B series packs.

PacAce wrote in post #15605350
Definition of strobe from Oxford Online Dictionary (http://oxforddictionar​ies.com)

noun
1 a stroboscope.
•
a stroboscopic lamp: [as modifier]: strobe lights

2 North American an electronic flash for a camera.

Definition of strobe from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

1: stroboscope
2: a device that utilizes a flashtube for high-speed illumination (as in photography)
3: flashtube

Dictionaries provide common usage, not necessarily accurate meanings. Common usage is frequently misleading if not erroneous.

Using "cow" to mean "a domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age" works fine for an office assistant in Manhattan, but someone working a dairy farm or a cattle range had better doggoned well know usage #1.

Since we work with this stuff, we should be using definition #1.

PacAce wrote in post #15605350
Definition of strobe from Oxford Online Dictionary (http://oxforddictionar​ies.com)

noun
1 a stroboscope.
•
a stroboscopic lamp: [as modifier]: strobe lights

2 North American an electronic flash for a camera.


Definition of strobe from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

1: stroboscope
2: a device that utilizes a flashtube for high-speed illumination (as in photography)
3: flashtube

Linguists will tell us that languages evolve, and incorrect usages can, over time, become accepted definitions.

Still, I tend to resist this because the process tends to create confusion, especially in international communications. I try to be a purist like RDKirk. And I have a recurring nightmare that it will someday become acceptable to use an apostrophe before the ending "s" in plural words.

So I will try to quit using the term "studio strobe." But I wish we had simple, one-word terms to easily differentiate between studio flash units and hotshoe flash units. This is difficult since studio flash units are increasingly used outside the studio, and hotshoe flash units are increasingly used off the hotshoe.

@RDKird and Curtis N: My 580EX, in HSS mode, fires a rapid series of flashes. It can do this in Multi mode also. Therefore, according to your definition of "strobe", my 580EX is a strobe, no? My Broncolor Scoro can also fire a series of flash bursts. So that would also qualify the Scoro as a strobe, no?

You forgot the DOF Preview button effect.
I think the Multi mode of some flash units makes them function like a strobe. You win on a technicality.

The greater question is, what is the best term to use? I notice that Paul C. Buff uses the term "flash,", not "strobe" to refer to all of his lights. I also don't recall the term "strobe" in the 580EX II instruction manual.

Curtis N wrote in post #15605608
Linguists will tell us that languages evolve, and incorrect usages can, over time, become accepted definitions.

Still, I tend to resist this because the process tends to create confusion, especially in international communications. I try to be a purist like RDKirk. And I have a recurring nightmare that it will someday become acceptable to use an apostrophe before the ending "s" in plural words.

So I will try to quit using the term "studio strobe." But I wish we had simple, one-word terms to easily differentiate between studio flash units and hotshoe flash units. This is difficult since studio flash units are increasingly used outside the studio, and hotshoe flash units are increasingly used off the hotshoe.

Normally I ignore it, but this particular thread is specifically about what appeared to the OP to be an incorrect use of the word "strobe."

Inasmuch as the word is liberally used in the wrong way all the time, it doesn't much matter how it's used wrong.

RDKirk wrote in post #15605183
The term "strobe" is a misnomer for everything we're commonly using, in the studio and out. "Strobe" refers to "stroboscope," which is the rapidly flashing light you might have seen in discoteques back in the 70s or used for motion studies.

So all these references to "strobe" for other kinds of electronic flash are simply wrong. If you're using a word wrong, it doesn't much matter how you're using it wrong--it can mean anything you want it to mean.

You may want to go back and look at your history on the subject again, and the root words in question. The original stroboscopes were actually constant lights, with a rotating interrupter, and it is this rotating mechanism that gives us the name for the device.

They were also used to turn a constant light into a brief single flash...

So, we now have two different classes of devices (plus those capable of doing both) with no actual connection to the root word for both, and yet only one of them 'valid'?

Who the hell cares what word the OP used?

Flash. Strobe. Brighty McGee......I mean seriously who the hell cares? Is this thread about what word is to be used when talking about flashes??? No!

I mean for gods sake one of the largest photo retailers in the world (B&H) calls studio flashes "strobe lighting" so seriously who cares?!?!

To the OP, thank you for the links.

gremlin75 wrote in post #15606392
Who the hell cares what word the OP used?

Flash. Strobe. Brighty McGee......I mean seriously who the hell cares? Is this thread about what word is to be used when talking about flashes??? No!

I mean for gods sake one of the largest photo retailers in the world (B&H) calls studio flashes "strobe lighting" so seriously who cares?!?!

To the OP, thank you for the links.

Apparently the OP cared. Yes, this thread is about how the word is used.

Heh, the point of my OP wasn't to dispute the terminology or definition of the word 'strobe' at all, that's just where it went on it's own. I think most of us generally know what we are referring to when we use the various terminology - meh, whatever...

When I read through the posts that I mentioned, I always see recommendations of studio strobes (usually because they have more power) or speedlights (because they are small and easily portable). This is the difference of opinion which I referred to that will always occur... everyone has different opinions about what gear to start with, what works best for them, etc. The point was really more to emphasize the latter statement I made, which is that it's really just about the light... and trying to back that up via a photographer who was asked to photograph a well know political leader, for Time, and he went with a simple, single, battery powered light source. This isn't right or wrong... it's just what was used. It was about the experience, the light, the subject, and the image... not the gear.

I wasn't trying to start any sort of debate... I just wanted to share the links and possibly create some discussion... nothing more

RDKirk wrote in post #15606435
Apparently the OP cared. Yes, this thread is about how the word is used.

Really? Humm, I guess I fail to see how since the OP asked nothing about terminology.

In fact I don't see any questions at all or any statement about terminolgy. All I see is a thread started to share a couple links because there have been quite a few question about gear....("difference of opinion regarding what gear :what lighting gear to buy: I don't think he ever says what gear was specifically used: not about the gear... it really is just about the light...")

Edit: never mind the OP beat me too it.

drvnbysound wrote in post #15606526
I just wanted to share the links and possibly create some discussion... nothing more

You're right all, all it's about is light. Photography is an art based around light. Doesn't matter if its natural light or artificial light. What it's really about is what kind of light and how much of it you need. To that point, that's when gear really starts to matter. Do you need a lot or a little. That's when gear really matters.