Finally had an opportunity to test my softbox. I only have one so I used a shoot through umbrella for fill on the other strobe. Let me know what you think.

Images are straight from the camera. Only resized for posting.
All were shot a f/8, 1/250sec

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/106036928-L.jpg

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/106037001-L.jpg

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/106037172-L.jpg

Thanks for looking.

I think the lighting was generally good... I can't notice any harsh shadows... :) Well done!

Thanks Earl.

Thanks Earl.

You are Welcome Zandy... I hope others who are experts in studio set-ups can chime-in as well... :Grin:

Some more test pictures.

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/106718093-L.jpg

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/106717837-L.jpg

Looks good. I'm no pro but I think the light is just right, not too harsh. :)

@Zandy, What set of softbox do you have & how much did it cost the set-up.

Thanks.

Thanks Fidel.

@Egay

I used a large Photoflex softbox (36" x 48")

As for the rest of setup, here's what I used:
pair of AlienBees B800 strobes
pair of light stands
backdrop holder + clamps
large shoot-through umbrella
muslin backdrop
light meter with remote flash trigger module
remote flash triggering device (Pocket Wizards)The cost of the setup was probably around $1500 but for starting out, you can do without the light meter and Pocket Wizards (about $650 for both) and just wire the strobe directly to your camera. Umbrella's work fine too. I got the softbox since I have always been curious as to how it compares.
So far, I'm liking the much softer light it produces and the bigger catchlights. Might have to get another one to make it even. :)

regards,

Thanks Fidel.

@Egay

I used a large Photoflex softbox (36" x 48")

As for the rest of setup, here's what I used:
pair of AlienBees B800 strobes
pair of light stands
backdrop holder + clamps
large shoot-through umbrella
muslin backdrop
light meter with remote flash trigger module
remote flash triggering device (Pocket Wizards)The cost of the setup was probably around $1500 but for starting out, you can do without the light meter and Pocket Wizards (about $650 for both) and just wire the strobe directly to your camera. Umbrella's work fine too. I got the softbox since I have always been curious as to how it compares.
So far, I'm liking the much softer light it produces and the bigger catchlights. Might have to get another one to make it even. :)

regards,.


Nice Sample Zandy,
Great set up too,, Thanks for sharing the info on the equipment, I'm planning to get some set, maybe by next year.

congrats man..

Thanks Erik, Jimmy...

There's a shop in Hidalgo that sells inexpensive slave / strobes (Morris) - complete with umbrella, stand, etc. They also sell all sorts of reflectors. I got a pair of these and some reflectors (with stand, holder). Check em out ... The name escapes me now but its right along the mini-park. If you're interested, just email back -- will have to dig through my receipts.

Alan

Hmmmm.... no problem with the main light. But I don't think you should have used the second light for fill purposes. The lighting is a bit too low contrast and flat for my taste. Could you try shooting with the same set of lights, but use the second light for accent lighting instead? :D

Jo,

Thank you so much for your comments. I will try as what you suggest but I am not sure what you mean by accent lighting. Where would the placement of the fill light be? Or do I use a reflector instead? Would I need a snoot for the accent?

Sorry for the newbie questions.

By the way, I just found out that I could my Nikon SB800 flash as a 3rd light source and would also experiment on using that as a hair light.

Using a reflector would provide fill light. You generally use fill light in a high contrast lighting situation. You would resort to using an accent light in a low contrast lighting situation.

A fill light is used to brighten shadow areas to lower the contrast of the a subject.

An accent light is used to introduce highlights to raise the contrast.

A hair light is a good example of an accent light to use in the images that you shot.

You don't necesarily need to use a snoot for accent light purposes. You can use a bare bulb strobe, an umbrella, a softbox or a strobe outfitted with a honeycomb.

Thanks Jo.

Will try out what you suggested this weekend.

Just watch out for unwanted light spill on the subject when using an accent light :D

Hey.. great test set! Great even lighting at small apertures is the easy part.. nahirapan ako kapag dramatic lighting na and not-so-pretty faces. :)

Most pros are using softbox as their mainlight & white shoot thru umbrellas as their fill flash. you got it right man. congrats for a very nice results. geri

@Zandy, curious. You said you only had 2 strobes. How did you light the background? sorry for the newbie question, its just that the background really stands out, as if you had a 3rd strobe to light it. Thanks

using your flash as your kicker light would give a better impact.

Thanks Jerry, Gerico.

@Mario - I didn't light the background at all. My main lights must have given that effect. The subjects were about 4 feet away.

@Ryan - Will try to do some reasearch on using a kicker light (first time I've heard of that term as I'm also a newbie in this type of thing) :)

Here's a family portrait experiment which was done in a hurry as my little boy wouldn't cooperate. :Angry: I know the back lighting wasn't that good (used my Nikon SB-800) but that is the best I can come with given the time constraints(we were also on our way to church). This is still using the same setup as before(still haven't tried Jo Avila's suggestion) but moved the softbox at a much higher position and rotated it so that the widest end is horizontal.

As always, C & C's are most welcome. :)

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/111629332-L.jpg

Now, if I were to use a reflector as fill, and my other strobe as a backlight, what accessory would I need to put in my strobe to make sure I get an even amount of light on all the subjects? Would I need the "Spill Kill Reflector" mentioned in the link below?

http://www.alienbees.com/reflectors.html

Thanks in advance.

Hi Zandy:

Saw your previous pictures. As jo mentioned the light is ok but seems to render the subjects flat. Using another strobe or reflector to add some accent light to the subject would be useful. For portraits you can try to also use a lower flash output and open your lens up a bit. Play with a shallow DOF and try a different angle. See if it works too.

As for your second portrait. It is good to see that you used your sb-800 as a backlight (i also sometimes use the sb-800 to give some kicker or accent light esp. in location shoots) The main light is ok, but the light seems uneven. Check the lighting on the face of the man (right) compared to the face of the lady. Perhaps you can try to position the light in the middle raise it a bit, put a reflector under the light and use some kicker lights either from the sides or some hairlight.

The spill kill might work, but i suggest that you try positioning your lights differently before you buy anything :)


My two cents :D

I would prefer the mainlight to be more contrasty in this situation. Also the accent light should be a bit higher. Watch out for the unwanted light spill on the cheek :D

Here's a family portrait experiment which was done in a hurry as my little boy wouldn't cooperate. :Angry: I know the back lighting wasn't that good (used my Nikon SB-800) but that is the best I can come with given the time constraints(we were also on our way to church). This is still using the same setup as before(still haven't tried Jo Avila's suggestion) but moved the softbox at a much higher position and rotated it so that the widest end is horizontal.

As always, C & C's are most welcome. :)

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/111629332-L.jpg

Now, if I were to use a reflector as fill, and my other strobe as a backlight, what accessory would I need to put in my strobe to make sure I get an even amount of light on all the subjects? Would I need the "Spill Kill Reflector" mentioned in the link below?

http://www.alienbees.com/reflectors.html

Thanks in advance.

Technically, you can't use a reflector for accent lighting purposes. :D

Hi Zandy:

Saw your previous pictures. As jo mentioned the light is ok but seems to render the subjects flat. Using another strobe or reflector to add some accent light to the subject would be useful. For portraits you can try to also use a lower flash output and open your lens up a bit. Play with a shallow DOF and try a different angle. See if it works too.My two cents :D

Hi Zandy,

Such a beautiful family you have there.

Not a pro here but I've been to one of Monte's seminars. Since you have two alien bees, you can set up one as your main light in a softbox. Put it maybe 45 degrees from the camera's left (or right) a little bit higher than your subjects. Use the other alien bee bouncing on the umbrella (or shoot through the umbrella) on the right (or left) perpendicular to the camera and set it so its power is very minimal, just for fill light purposes. It could take some experimentation (power and distance to subjects) to make it just right so maybe you could test this on yourself before you include your son :) . The main light will create contrast and the fill light will just soften the shadows.

Put the SB800 on a snoot and set it high above your subjects back. This will provide hair light or accent light.

Another thing that I've seen Monte do is just use one light source, the main light in a soft box, same setup I mentioned earlier, and use a reflector to bounce some light back to the subjects. This will provide more contrast than the first setup. (Edited: I forgot, the accent light is still there, it's just that the fill light was replaced by the reflector.)

Note: All of the above are mere observations as I have not actually done this setup yet (no money to buy the gears :Grin: ).

Happy shooting and post more pics.

Marco

There's a shop in Hidalgo that sells inexpensive slave / strobes (Morris) - complete with umbrella, stand, etc. They also sell all sorts of reflectors. I got a pair of these and some reflectors (with stand, holder). Check em out ... The name escapes me now but its right along the mini-park. If you're interested, just email back -- will have to dig through my receipts.

Alan

I recently bought from avenue...strobe set na OEM 19k complete with lightstands, softbox, umbrella and remote trigger

I shot this pic with my SB600 bounced off an umbrella. I didn't need to hold the reflector as my son was already standing on it :Grin:. I do not know if this picture shows that contrast that Jo and I were referring to. See the shadows are not very harsh because of the light that got bounced off the reflector and the lighting does not make the subject look flat.

http://www.f3mphotography.com/~dpp/postedpics/Milian.jpg

Saturation, sharpening, cropping and resizing done in Photoshop. No dodging and burning.

But the fill light will look subtler if you opt to use a reflector instead of another strobe for fill purposes.

Most pros are using softbox as their mainlight & white shoot thru umbrellas as their fill flash. you got it right man. congrats for a very nice results. geri

My bad, should have been reflector and another strobe :D