Why spend money on Profoto vs Alien Bees?

M Powered wrote in post #5627279
That shot was done in another studio that was lit by.... yup you guessed it, NOT Alien Bee. Its some generic brand strobe unit with a large softbox. Fill was a gelled 580EXII bounced into oblivion.

Yes the catch light was obviously photoshoped, didn't spend a great deal of time making an authentic one; hell didn't even spend a great deal of time on that image. Lets not talk about Make up

Oh... another studio... with "another generic" light... and photoshopped catchlights as a ring light.

Something tells me my initial guess was right.

You still didn't post your allegedly original image... Is it because you didn't photoshop the catchlights?

cdifoto wrote in post #5627326
Every great image I've ever seen was photoshopped or darkroomed in some way. His point is...you can't really tell when all's said and done.

Word...

Hey M -
Wow! Sounds like somebody had their cornflakes pissed on this morning for breakfast. I'd like to play along if you don't mind. I don't use Bee's or their modifiers but don't have a problem with anyone that does.

Anyway - I'm staring into those incredible eyes, and can't help noticing the catchlight in them. Was this possibly shot with a 17" beauty dish just to the right-side of the camera, rather than a ringflash? The softness of light falloff and subtle shadows leads me away from it being a ringflash. Most ringflash shots I've seen have a more intense light edge and unique shadowing effects.

Beyond that - there seems to be a 2nd light source located towards the right of the image but I'd guess it's a soft reflector. Then you worked with contrast and saturation (desaturation) as part of your post processing, possibly multiplying your red channel.

Just a guess. I'm confident M will share his setup in due time, if others want to play along. But the original question is can I tell if this was shot with a "cheap" light or a Broncolor/Profoto $1k light? Nope - I can't. But then I'm one of those guys that think this is a nice image of a beautiful girl ...so I must be another cheap ass photographer using low priced 400w/s studio lights that knows nothing about fill ratios.

Hahah! I'm late to the party and 4 posts were added while I was pecking away on my keyboard. Movin' on now.

I use Genesis 400's for my lighting. Guess that makes "M Powered" look like a high-roller with his gear.

Double Negative wrote in post #5627236
Just realized I never answered this; apologies. I'm not sure anymore offhand, but I was investigating SBs and of course checked out AB (since I have AB800s) and the picture clearly did not show anything inside - baffles or diffusers.

i went back & looked at their website, and shame on them for not mentioning it. I can't speak for the Medium or Giant softbox, but would assume they have the interior diffusion panel as well. Can't speak for the octabox either. Maybe worth a phone call if you're still looking.

Other than that, this thread has turned into a pissing contest about gear. Everybody seems to be one sided.

A photographer will use whatever it takes to get the shot... if they can do it with an AB400, great. If they need a full Profoto location kit, so be it. You'll know when you've outgrown certain gear... until then, use the hell out of it and have fun. PLEASE HAVE FUN

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5627356
Oh... another studio... with "another generic" light... and photoshopped catchlights as a ring light.

Something tells me my initial guess was right.

You still didn't post your allegedly original image... Is it because you didn't photoshop the catchlights?

Yea, I don't want to post the original because I don't have the photoshoped "ringlight"

Your initial guess was that I used a cheap bee ringlight, which I state no ring light was used... so how can you be right in your assumption? You also said I inverted the image in post to make it more interesting; to which I disclosed the shot was taken with the model upside down.

So yea... your right LOL

Hey, Jakpot - I agree whole-heartedly with your last statement. Not sure why so many turn their noses up at Alien Bees. I've seen a number of photographs taken with them that were exactly what the Photog' intended to capture, so that spells success in my book.

Okay,

Lets try this again.

There was 4 lights used in this shot. guess what and where

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M Powered wrote in post #5627548
Yea, I don't want to post the original because I don't have the photoshoped "ringlight"

Your initial guess was that I used a cheap bee ringlight, which I state no ring light was used... so how can you be right in your assumption? You also said I inverted the image in post to make it more interesting; to which I disclosed the shot was taken with the model upside down.

So yea... your right LOL

Ok, I don't get it.

Did you photoshop the catchlights or not?

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5627574
Ok, I don't get it.

Did you photoshop the catchlights or not?

Yes sir!

M Powered wrote in post #5627570
Okay,

Lets try this again.

There was 4 lights used in this shot. guess what and where

One on top of the camera, one to the left and one to the right. Either shoot through umbrellas or octaboxes.

M Powered wrote in post #5627590
Yes sir!

So, can I ask you to post the "original" version where you didn't photoshop the catchlights?

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5627591
One on top of the camera, one to the left and one to the right. Either shoot through umbrellas or octaboxes.

Wow, much closer!

Octodome was positioned to my left, 3 580EXII's with colored gels were all aimed at the wall behind me and one at the ceiling.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5627596
So, can I ask you to post the "original" version where you didn't photoshop the catchlights?

No sir!

Model is somewhat picky about her pictures, I'm sure she wouldn't want non edited pictures of her floating around without her consent

M Powered wrote in post #5627641
No sir!

Model is somewhat picky about her pictures, I'm sure she wouldn't want non edited pictures of her floating around without her consent

Oh, please. lol