Ready to start to learn

AMac

AMac

Suspended / Banned
Messages
203
Name
Alex
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,

Sorry I know this question gets asked a lot but I am looking to narrow the information/answers for my needs.
I have been reading the forum for a while now and from the good advice here, read Mastering Canon flash Photography and Light Science & Magic. I am now ready to start with some practical learning, well I think I am:lol:.

My room is 3150 x 3350 which I think will be big enough to do waist up shots.
At the moment I am using a 20D, 550D and 430 EX11.

My question comes in two parts,

To learn the basic am I better just using the 430 off the camera with a reflector as well? As there is less to play around with and therefore simpler to learn.

Or by the time I buy what I need for that set up, I am not too sure how much this would cost. Or I might as well jump in with both feet and but a set of flash heads?

If I took the 2nd option I think I would buy form Lencarta as from what I have read here they seem good quality and seem to get good advice, I thought a budget of 500-600.
I guess I would need two heads, stands, triggers and soft-box/beauty dish/umbrella?

I know I have asked a lot there, so thanks for any help or advice.
alex
 
Buy 2 stands, 1 with a shoot through brolly and hotshoe bracket and 1 to hold a reflector with an adjustable angle clamp. Use an off camera cord with the 430 (retains the E-TTL till you get used to your technique then if you like it you can just use cordless triggers once your settings become instinctive) Mess around with that for a couple of weeks and you will spend the money on your studio lights armed with a much better knowledge of what you will need and probably save yourself money and frustration.
Trust me I know because I went straight to the studio lights option and over bought and ended up with more than I would ever need (I know I'm a gear whore but aren't we all a little bit at times) :nono:
 
Last edited:
How many people? Solo head shots or (very) small groups? Pure white background?

Either way, if you're serious and want to learn, then it's either two or three Lencarta heads, nice big softbox and beauty dish etc, flash meter and background/HiLite etc.
 
Hi guys,
Thanks for your replies, both your thoughts are what is going on in my mind lol

At the moment I only have reluctant wife, and a bit more keener son, daughter together with boyfriends and girlfriends to practice on. So I think I will start with singles or couples, with a dark background. I am not to sure why, I think I read somewhere it was easier with a dark background in a small space.
Oh I will have to make my mind up soon!
Cheers Alex
 
If you go with option 1 the only outlay is the off camera cord because when you go with option 2 you will already have some of the kit Hoppy suggested i.e. the brolly/stands/reflector win win situation if you ask me. Oh and dont think the off camera lead will be obsolete, stick it in your camera bag and use it hand held in your left hand when your out and about when and if direct fill flash is a no no.

Whatever you decide th most important thing is to have fun and make lots of c**k ups. :gag:
 
Last edited:
Alex,
The advantage of using hotshoe flashes is portability, which can be important to some people and not at all important to others.
The advantage of studio flash is that it's much easier to be creative (lighting is about the quality of the light, not just about producing enough light) and studio flash has a vast range of different tools available that hotshoe flashes don't have.

Dark backgrounds are always easier, and are much easier in a small space. The problem with white backgrounds, apart from needing extra lighting, is that they bounce light where it isn't wanted, which again makes creative lighting difficult in a small space.
 
Alex,

That's a good question but there's no clear answer

If the background is black velvet or flock then the subject can literally be right up against it, because those materials only reflect 5% or 4% (respectively) of the incident light. Paul Rogers (Pellier Noir) demonstrated to me that his background can be used with the subjects right up against it too. Muslin reflects quite a bit more so needs more distance, and paper reflects A LOT so needs much more space, and so does most vinyl, a lot of which is sold for photographic background use but which isn't really ideal for it.

Then there's lighting angle to consider: If the light is at an oblique angle then the reflections will bounce away harmlessly. If the light is square on then it will reflect right back, requiring more distance.

Then there's lighting distance. If the light is very close to the subject then the light intensity will fall off more rapidly over whatever distance it has to travel to reach the background than if the light is further away.

Leaving aside the physics, you'll often want to introduce a hairlight/rimlight when people with dark hair or dark clothing are photographed against a black background, and this will in practice need more space than the actual light on the subject needs to disappear.

Confused? :) Generally, very little distance is needed with black backgrounds.
 
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the info bearing in mind what you have said do you think a room 3150 x 3350 is big enough for portrait type work, if not I would need to have a rethink. What background would people recommend for starting out?
 
There are plenty of people working in that kind of size, but it isn't ideal.

A small space requires more skill and more care than a larger one, and restricts the range of work that you can do in it, although it doesn't have to affect the quality
 
Hi guys,
Well after reading the advice here, thinking about the size of my room, thinking of my current skill level and finaly after talking to Gary. I have decided to start with the 430EX and reflector. I have ordered the reflector via Gary, now then!

Shall I just start with something like:http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-westcott-collapsible-umbrella-flash-kit/p1522439

Or would I learn more with something like:http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-strobies-portrait-kit/p1031888
Or:http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-cor758-floor-stand/p1011572

I guess I would also need:http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-lastolite-tilthead-with-hotshoe/p1030275
And :http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-cor758-floor-stand/p1011572

As I have never purschsed this type of equipment before any other recomandations for equipment to start with or suppliers would be greatly recived.
Thanks again,
alex
 
I was looking for a beauty dish, found Interfit Strobies Portrait Kit. It looked grand, but in fact the size of BD - because it is designed for hotshoe mount - makes it very much useless.
Light stands, umbrellas, why not have a look at ebay? much cheaper and offers good value.
 
Hi Alex,

I taught myself a few things using a Jessops 360 afd and read websites and a couple of books.. Still learning but getting there..

Where in Berks are you, I have the Lencarta Safari and if you fancy a look lets see if we can hook up.

have a look at the piinned thread on lighting systems by Tyke Tyler it is a wealth of information..

Anyway feel free to drop me a PM..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top