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FORUMS General Gear Talk Flash and Studio Lighting 
Thread started 31 Jan 2011 (Monday) 07:36
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Help with setup and usage.

 
bphillips330
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Location: ohio
     
Jan 31, 2011 07:36 |  #1

I just acquired a pretty good studio setup for my house off of craigslist. I got a set of hensel pro500 flashes. I big roll of seamless grey paper, a very large octobox, and a medium size softbox. I also purchased a sekonic l-358 at a recent photo convention in KY. Now i am trying to figure everything out. I feel I have a pretty good understanding of off camera flash. Just never used it. I have a 580 exII I have been using. Been reading up on a bunch of stuff and watching you tube videos, and some of the stickies on here.

Here is a test pic i took. Had large octobox camera right at a 45 to my son slightly higher then him. Had the other softbox camera left at a 45 slightly higher also. My son on chair roughly 2 feet off backdrop (limited room where i set this up) and strobes 3-5 feet away .

I Metered octobox and it read f8.03 at iso 100. When i took the pic, it seemed a little hot so i put camera at f9 and seemed not so bright. I was using a large silver reflector at first. Set up other strobe to camera left and set it so it read two fstops lower for a 2 to one ratio ( i think that) It looks ok i think? please critique. Give tips hints.

I was also thinking of setting my 580 exII on a light stand behind and above backdrop as a hair light? Or should i put one hensel as a hair light and reflector on camera left, strobe on camera right. And 580 exII behind son aiming at backdrop? I know the 580 exII does not have any where near the power as the hensels..... What is the best way to incorporate this strobe?




  
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butugly
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Jan 31, 2011 07:44 |  #2

you might have to post the photo up first ;),take a shot of your set up as well makes it easier to see if its set up right.




  
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bphillips330
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Jan 31, 2011 07:47 |  #3

ooops... forgot to add pic.


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bphillips330
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Jan 31, 2011 07:57 |  #4

pics of setup


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windpig
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Jan 31, 2011 07:59 |  #5

Generally, IMHO,

I would learn one light at a time starting with the key light, then adding a reflector or fill. Hair and kickers, etc. are final touches, but you need to have the basic lighting down first.

Try a set up with the smaller box only and see if you can get the modeling of the face you want, then add the larger as fill as close to camera axis as possible, it should evenly illuminate the subject and will look flat if shot with it only, it's there to lift the shadows.
Experiment by moving the key in tight and moving it further away. Tighter gives you softer shadow edges but the side of the face that is closest to the light will be noticeably brighter than the farther side. Moving the light further will work in the opposite.

There is nothing like trying many, many set ups to see what you like.

There is lots of info on the web, start searching and consider buying a book.

Meter both light sources with the dome down and set the light output for the ratio you want, then meter with the dome up aimed at the camera for your final exposure.

Your time with lighting will be well worth it.


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butugly
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Jan 31, 2011 08:00 |  #6

Not that I am any good at studio lights yet (still building my studio)I would put him on a stool rather than a chair this will get rid of any unwanted glare like from the back of the chair,and try this shot again.the highloghts in his eyes should be in the 5 or 10 past position rather than 15 or 20 past position.so it the box should be up a bit higher.
Or you could get him to kneel on the chair arms folded on the back of the chair this would get him away from the backdrop a little.But keep shooting someone will be along in a minute to give some proper advise ;).




  
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bphillips330
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Jan 31, 2011 13:37 |  #7

Thanks for the info. Stool is a good idea. I need props. I have so much junk in my house that i can reuse. My wife has yards of fabric from when she made stuff. I could proboly use that.




  
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Help with setup and usage.
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