Flash heads and continuous lights.

Johnny Thunder

Johnny Thunder

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This is probably a real stupid question, but I will ask anyway.

I've just been watching some vids on the Lencarta website. One was continuous lighting. OK, understand that, does what it says on the tin.
The next vid uses flash heads. They look like they are on continuous too, except they flash when a picture is taken?

What is the really obvious bit that I am missing here?:)
 
There are continuous lights on all decent flash heads too. They are called modelling lamps and their purpose is to indicate the effect that the flash will have, i.e. they will indicate the highlight and shadow areas.

But they are just a guide - the actual contrast produced by the flash is always greater, simply because (unless you shoot in total darkness) there is always some other light present and this dilutes the effect of the modelling lamps, giving the impression that the contrast is lower than it actually is.

The lower the level of ambient lighting and the higher the power of the modelling lamps, the more accurate the visualisation will be - Lencarta flash heads have either 250w or 150w modelling lamps (depending on model). Some of the cheaper lights have less power.

Modelling lamps can also be used for video
 
Thanks for the reply Garry.

So when the guy on the video meters using these modelling lamps, is he using a known formula to allow for the difference between the modelling lamp and the flash?

(is that guy you Garry?)
 
The goodlooking mature guy in the video:) Guilty.

The modelling lamp is incredibly weak compared with the power of the flash, it makes no practical difference at any normal shutter speed. In theory, it IS taken into account when metering the flash.
 
Garry, is there a tutorial available that explains how to meter in the studio?
 
Not from me there isn't, maybe I should do one...
 
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