Lighting for beginners

Harvey_nikon

Harvey_nikon

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Hi all,

I am really eager to look into setting up a basic home studio for learning lighting etc however, I know nothing about lighting equipment, techniques etc.

I've had a look in the tutorials section and couldn't find anything covering the basics.

Can anyone point my towards a website or book that may help?

I've been reading in here but the large amount of info is quite overwhelming for a newbie :)
 
To get going with pukka studio lighting, the best way by far is to get a two-head kit which includes two heads, stands, two umbrellas or softboxes and a carry case. Check out Bowens, Elinchrom and Lencarta and budget for £250-500.

You can do quite a lot with one light, even more with two and if you add a third light there's pretty much nothing you can't do. These kits save a lot of money over buying separate items.

In addition, you'll need to rig up some background support, either a bit of DIY or another couple of stands and a cross-member. With a roll of paper you'll spend £100. Then a flash meter, eg Sekonic 308S for £120. You can get by without one but it's fiddly and you'll learn a lot using a meter. Get a 100cm reflector too, white one side, silver the other.

How does that sound? Garry Edwards is around for more specific advice. He's also got some instruction stuff on his website. Google might locate it for you meantime :)
 
Well, I have just ordered the Lencarta kit I linked too, can't have it until Xmas though :(
 
Daryl said:
when I started out I used 4 candles
Click to expand...

I decided to try this method. Where am I going wrong?

Below is my setup.
Rollins%20fork%20handles.jpg
 
I have been looking at this also,seems to be very good value.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Well, I have just ordered the Lencarta kit I linked too, can't have it until Xmas though :(
Click to expand...


Let us know how it performs...

Interested in this kit...

:thumbs:
 
Hello all. Im working on a walk cycle with a character that uses cellshade in lightwave 8.0. Thing is ive never worked on lighting for anything useing this before. Could someone give me a few tips to help point me in the right direction? Or even a website dealing with this issue would help considerably.
 
markw08 said:
Let us know how it performs...

Interested in this kit...

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Well the kit arrived mid week, and because the wife was out I thought it an ideal time to take it out of the boxes to 'check' it all ;)

Shocked by the build quality, everything feels and looks very well made. Softboxes feel like quality material too although I didn't use them (see below)

My only 2 issues are that one of the light stands has a bolt that won't tighten, as though its been over tightened at some point and it just spins and spins, although I don't feel its a major problem as its still perfectly stable. The other stand is tip top :)

The second issue is that I am totally new to lighting and lighting equipment and found it slightly odd that a beginner kit like this wouldn't even have any basic instructions on setup or use. I've no idea how to put the softboxes together although I managed to work out the lights and wireless transmitter.

On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly :D

I am happy with my purchase and will be looking at expanding it from their range in the future.

Might need to look at getting another wireless kit though for the other flash.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Well the kit arrived mid week, and because the wife was out I thought it an ideal time to take it out of the boxes to 'check' it all ;)

Shocked by the build quality, everything feels and looks very well made. Softboxes feel like quality material too although I didn't use them (see below)

My only 2 issues are that one of the light stands has a bolt that won't tighten, as though its been over tightened at some point and it just spins and spins, although I don't feel its a major problem as its still perfectly stable. The other stand is tip top :)

The second issue is that I am totally new to lighting and lighting equipment and found it slightly odd that a beginner kit like this wouldn't even have any basic instructions on setup or use. I've no idea how to put the softboxes together although I managed to work out the lights and wireless transmitter.

On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly :D

I am happy with my purchase and will be looking at expanding it from their range in the future.

Might need to look at getting another wireless kit though for the other flash.
Click to expand...
I would get in touch with them about the stand.:thumbs:
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Well the kit arrived mid week, and because the wife was out I thought it an ideal time to take it out of the boxes to 'check' it all ;)

Shocked by the build quality, everything feels and looks very well made. Softboxes feel like quality material too although I didn't use them (see below)

My only 2 issues are that one of the light stands has a bolt that won't tighten, as though its been over tightened at some point and it just spins and spins, although I don't feel its a major problem as its still perfectly stable. The other stand is tip top :)

The second issue is that I am totally new to lighting and lighting equipment and found it slightly odd that a beginner kit like this wouldn't even have any basic instructions on setup or use. I've no idea how to put the softboxes together although I managed to work out the lights and wireless transmitter.

On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly :D

I am happy with my purchase and will be looking at expanding it from their range in the future.

Might need to look at getting another wireless kit though for the other flash.
Click to expand...
email support@lencarta.com, I'll sort out the lighting stand.
There's a video on the lencarta website showing how to assemble to softbox
And the instructions are on the website too, where it says 'Download the instructions' on the page you bought it from.
You only need one radio trigger/receiver, unless you're working in the same area at the same time as another photographer who is also using flash.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Well the kit arrived mid week, and because the wife was out I thought it an ideal time to take it out of the boxes to 'check' it all ;)

Shocked by the build quality, everything feels and looks very well made. Softboxes feel like quality material too although I didn't use them (see below)

My only 2 issues are that one of the light stands has a bolt that won't tighten, as though its been over tightened at some point and it just spins and spins, although I don't feel its a major problem as its still perfectly stable. The other stand is tip top :)

The second issue is that I am totally new to lighting and lighting equipment and found it slightly odd that a beginner kit like this wouldn't even have any basic instructions on setup or use. I've no idea how to put the softboxes together although I managed to work out the lights and wireless transmitter.

On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly :D

I am happy with my purchase and will be looking at expanding it from their range in the future.

Might need to look at getting another wireless kit though for the other flash.
Click to expand...

Lets see some shots then.:):thumbs:
 
Garry Edwards said:
email support@lencarta.com, I'll sort out the lighting stand.
There's a video on the lencarta website showing how to assemble to softbox
And the instructions are on the website too, where it says 'Download the instructions' on the page you bought it from.
You only need one radio trigger/receiver, unless you're working in the same area at the same time as another photographer who is also using flash.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing me towards the videos, and I'll email you as soon as I get some spare time. Work is manic at the moment, first time i've been on here in a few days :(

jockwav said:
Lets see some shots then.:):thumbs:
Click to expand...

I am not allowed them until Christmas morning :'( I got told off for 'testing' them :naughty:
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Thanks for pointing me towards the videos, and I'll email you as soon as I get some spare time. Work is manic at the moment, first time i've been on here in a few days :(



I am not allowed them until Christmas morning :'( I got told off for 'testing' them :naughty:
Click to expand...

:D:lol::gag::dummy::woot::exit:
 
Sounds like you've picked up a good starter set, and with Garry's tutorials you're well on your way...

I'd love to jump in and order something like this, except that I don't really have the space, but I'd love to learn how to light using my own gear, rather than visiting a studio every time.

Bet you can't wait until Christmas now... i know I can't wait to see the results and perhaps some shots of your setup...?

Have fun :)
 
contact them yesterday about my faulty stand, new one arrived today:thumbs::clap:

I haven't got a lot of room really, as for waiting until xmas, it'll be like when I got my 360.

Opened it xmas morning, quickly set it up, just put Assassins creed on, watched the intro and it was time to go and visit everyone :(

And I will take some shots of the setup as well :)
 
Hi, just looking at the section for the very same reason, and the kit looks just what I was thinking of - do you mind me asking but you mention 'On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly', but the link seems to go to one at £309 - is this the same kit, just wondering if you we able to get a little discount?
 
KevD3x said:
Hi, just looking at the section for the very same reason, and the kit looks just what I was thinking of - do you mind me asking but you mention 'On the whole, definitely worth £250, I just need to figure out how to use it properly', but the link seems to go to one at £309 - is this the same kit, just wondering if you we able to get a little discount?
Click to expand...

Harvey's been talking about the Lencarta SmartFlash kit. Link's here:

http://www.lencarta.com/smartflash-...smartflash-twin-softbox-starter-kit/index.php
 
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