Are there any lighting experts in the house?

[janis]

Now that winter is here and most of my shooting is going to be indoors, I am in the market for lighting tutorials, examples of simple lighting setups and that sort of thing, so if any of you have useful links or expertise to share, please do.

[chrisc]

At one time, both Rob and Jiro had setups so you might look at their threads.

Not sure what your budget might be but

www.cowboystudio.com/

is a pretty good place for relatively good lighting stuff at a quite reasonable price. I bought a lot of stuff for my students from them.

Also, Scott kelby has a decent book out "Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it" ISBN 0-321-78661-0 (This is the Canadian ISBN)

Hope this helps...oh and youtube always has stuff

[Stevewebb]

I have the Kelby book and can thoroughly recommend it as an all round introduction to several lighting techniques, as well as the retouching. Well worth the money.

It is something I have on my to do list to do some tutorials with basic lighting set ups but it takes a bit of organising.

Do you have lighting gear already Janis? If you say what kind of resources you have we may be able to suggest some ways to use it.

Also, what sort of thing do you envisage shooting? Still life, people, macro etc ?

[mariehass]

Janis and I are basically on the same wave length.

For me, I have an under-utilized 430 EX ll Speedlite and 2 clamp on painter's lights. I like to dabble in all of the above topics. I have a 42" 5 in one reflector disk.

I don't have any softboxes or any other light bouncing equipment. Set-up space is limited. I will be excited to see your reply to Janis. In the meantime, I will explore Scott Kelby's book and Chris's link.

Thanks. guys. You are always a wealth of ideas.

'Rie

[janis]

Oh, glad to know I am not alone, Marie. My equipment is similar to yours: I have a Nikon SB-700 Speedlight, one Manfrotto nano light stand, a 42-inch 5-in-one reflector, and a black, white and silver umbrella. My set-up space is also limited.

I also have the Nikon R1C1 flash kit (very fancy), which is designed for macro work but the two little SB-R200 flashes can be used off-camera with the Speedlight and all three flashes fired with the SU-800 commander unit.

I don't have any willing human subjects handy, so I will be doing macro and still life work.

Chris, thanks for the cowboy link. Their prices are very reasonable compared to the local stores.

(Btw, did I mention that one of the local retailers just set up shop a block and a half away from me? That makes two camera stores within easy walking distance, as well as the city's only two yarn shops. It is a wonder I am not already bankrupt.)

I especially appreciate all the instructional videos on the cowboy site telling you what all this equipment is for! Very helpful.

[janis]

Bought the Kelby book today. Am going to curl up on the couch with it now.

[Stevewebb]

I hope you get on OK with the book Janis. Sorry I just haven't had tme to post any suggestions for you. (1 de-merit awarded)

[chrisc]

The one trick to all of this is that you don't have to spend a fortune on lights, soft boxes, etc. They are nice but you can fake most of the heavy duty stuff with nice white cloth stretched over a frame of PVC, some foam core board (white and black) and as Rob has shown us numerous times, big pieces of colored paper.

Granted, if it is affordable, strobes are the cat's meow but I've used a well placed Ott Light to the same end a million times (with students). It does create a slightly softer image; it does require longer exposures; it does require more creative shutter/aperture combinations - but hey, only you know what's in your studio and to the end person in the translation, it doesn't matter what you had to shoot with, only what result you got.

[macromeister]

As Chris said, you don't need to spend a fortune to get some decent lights and other props. You can use non-flash lights but they normally give off a lot of heat. Although, I bought a bedside light the other day that has a new LED halogen type bulb that has very low heat output and a bright light. www.simplelighting.co.uk/products/5W-GU10-LED-Bulb-%252d-Cool-White-%252d-Extremely-Bright-%252d-Replaces-50w-Gu10-Halogen-Bulbs.html You could use ordinary lamps but if you are shooting flowers etc, they might wilt under heat.

You can get cheapish studio flash kits for about £350 (whatever that is in overseas money). Mine was about £300 six years ago. It's not very good for portraits as it's only 100W per lamp. But most kits nowadays seem to start at 250W. You don't need a sophisticated set - the money will just be wasted. Here's a couple of shots of my setup. You can see the lights, along with the mesh diffuser (that circular thing), and various bits of card (it's like Blue Peter here!) Do you know about Blue Peter? probably just as well you don't.

[janis]

Nov 17, 2012 6:07:20 GMT @macromeister said:

You can see the lights, along with the mesh diffuser (that circular thing)

Thanks for the photos. It's always great to see people's set-ups.

About that circular thingy. If and when I find mine (I seem to have misplaced it and am thinking I might have left it at the cottage), I would like a stand for it, like the one you have there. Did you have to pay much for that? and would you recommend that model?

and various bits of card (it's like Blue Peter here!) Do you know about Blue Peter? probably just as well you don't.

You mean the Blue Peter that originated "And now for something completely different..."? For a moment there, I thought you were referring to the vase.

[macromeister]

Nov 17, 2012 17:00:16 GMT janis said:

About that circular thingy. If and when I find mine (I seem to have misplaced it and am thinking I might have left it at the cottage), I would like a stand for it, like the one you have there. Did you have to pay much for that? and would you recommend that model?

Mine cost about £30 in a local camera shop. It's this one here www.kenro.co.uk/product/BACKDROPHOLDERS_Group/3/62/Reflector+and+Backdrop+Holders.html Mine is the 2258 model for slightly smaller diameter reflectors. It just has a spring clip either side that clamps onto the steel band that rums around the reflector. The black clamp on it has different diameter holes, so you can attach it to any stand, not just Kenro. Other companies make them. If you find one and are not sure, give me a shout before you buy.

The Kenro is very stable, light, and is well constructed. No problems.

Rob

[macromeister]

Janis

Looking again at the kenro site, I see they are still making light kits. I spoke to them last year and they indicated they were not going to. Must have changed their minds. I got mine 6 years ago. The one listed here is much better at 300W power (mine's only 100W) and you get two softboxes, stands etc. It's only £385 (in UK), which is very good

www.kenro.co.uk/product/300w_Lighting_Kit_GROUP/6/light%20tent/Kenro+300w+Studio+Flash+Kit.html

That's all you would ever need, and you do portraits with it as well as it's 300W

[chrisc]

I bought this www.cowboystudio.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=CB2600kit_newcb_b/w/g
for about $350 +/- and it will do anything and everything you so desire.

This is a full strobe slighting setup including backdrop/reflectors/soft boxes, etc.

[macromeister]

Nov 18, 2012 14:20:02 GMT chrisc said:

I bought this www.cowboystudio.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=CB2600kit_newcb_b/w/g
for about $350 +/- and it will do anything and everything you so desire.

This is a full strobe slighting setup including backdrop/reflectors/soft boxes, etc.

That looks quite good too. These things are cheaper in the US as well. You don't need a sophisticated pro set-up. My kit has produced some great shots on a pretty cheap budget.