Perhaps an ignorant question but ..

[AndyB]

All my photography until now has been outside or ambient light with flash.

Thinking about studio photography that a lot pf people here has experience with - what is the advantage of studio flash set up as oposed to 'always on' set-ups? Aside from the heat generated by the lights (not a problem with all kind of lights) and the electricity consumed what else is it that makes flash preferable?

As I said - it might seem an ignorant question but I am turning over ideas in my mind for building a lighting kit and at the moment 'always on' is the way I am thinking to achive the result I am visualising

 

[andrewc]

Always on causes the pupils to contract whereas they don't if you use modelling lamps and flash

 

[AliB]

Always on almost never seem to have power controls! So the controllability of flash systems is much better.

Power, flash comes in 150w to 1000w heads so choose your weapon, you don't get that with continuous lighting.

Colour temp, much more accurate with flash.

The tungsten continuous lights can be used to good effect if you want all your shots with a warm colour cast but most folks don't.

Have a look at Garry Edwards lighting guides on here for the real low down on lighting. it could save you a fortune.

 

[AndyB]

Ah the pupils. Bugga hadn't thought of that - I'll need drugs to counteract that Still it wouldn't always be a problem in this case. I'm thinking dimmers/faders perhaps so the brightness is conrollable. Not sure really. Just one of those half baked ideas that goes round my head sometimes.