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View Full Version : First self portraits with Alien Bees

debtoine
Jun-02-2005, 07:52 AM
The very first one is done with flat lighting - I was just trying to figure all this out :)

http://www.tc-photography.com/photos/debtoine/images/1871/original.aspx

Here, I played a bit with different lighting ratios:

http://www.tc-photography.com/photos/debtoine/images/1910/original.aspx

Toine
Mitchell
Jun-02-2005, 07:59 AM
Very nice.


Can you tell me which setup you purchased from AB?

Please describe how you arranged the lights for these shots.

And welcome to Digital Grin!

mitch
Nikolai
Jun-02-2005, 08:45 AM
I take it you did the #1 with two lights on both sides of the camera anot ?

You definitely had enough light, but with all my inexperience I'd say the image came coming out a bit flat. I would think with two lights you need to place them in a non-symmetrical layout. If you probably can make of of them a hair light that would add some "drama" to the portrait.

Please keep playing with it and let us know your results. I just recently got a lighting setup myself so I'm very eager to learn:-)

Cheers!:1drink
debtoine
Jun-02-2005, 09:37 AM
Very nice.


Can you tell me which setup you purchased from AB?

Please describe how you arranged the lights for these shots.

And welcome to Digital Grin!

mitch
I bought the DigiBee set, but upgraded one of the lights to a B800.

Both shots were taken with lights at 45degrees off camera. In the first one, the power on both was pretty much the same, but on the second one, the camera left setup was at half power.

Thanks!

Toine
debtoine
Jun-02-2005, 09:39 AM
I take it you did the #1 with two lights on both sides of the camera anot ?

You definitely had enough light, but with all my inexperience I'd say the image came coming out a bit flat. I would think with two lights you need to place them in a non-symmetrical layout. If you probably can make of of them a hair light that would add some "drama" to the portrait.

Please keep playing with it and let us know your results. I just recently got a lighting setup myself so I'm very eager to learn:-)

Cheers!:1drink
You're right, it is flat, on purpose. I had to figure out how to use the lights, and wanted to go for a yearbook style lighting that was flat and even. Interestingly enough, there are quite a few people who enjoy that lighting more than the more contrasty lighting.

It's fun to try.

I saw in your post that you have a Botero 8x15 collapsible background. What is your trick for folding it back up?

T
Nikolai
Jun-02-2005, 09:43 AM
I saw in your post that you have a Botero 8x15 collapsible background. What is your trick for folding it back up?

T
Man, it's the royal pain.. Each time it takes me like 10 minutes or so to do it, and I'm not sure I'm doing it right.. I twist and turn and glide... I think I need an assitant - or simply put my back into it, set some time aside once and learn how to do it the right way..

Lights are fun, ain't they:-):):

Cheers!:1drink
debtoine
Jun-02-2005, 09:46 AM
Man, it's the royal pain.. Each time it takes me like 10 minutes or so to do it, and I'm not sure I'm doing it right.. I twist and turn and glide... I think I need an assitant - or simply put my back into it, set some time aside once and learn how to do it the right way..

Lights are fun, ain't they:-):):

Cheers!:1drink
I'm glad I'm not the only one :) My wife and I haven't quite figured it out yet. We have been able to get it back in the bag, but never the way it originally came out. But, who cares :)

Lights are fun, but I need some models. I'm getting sick of taking pictures of myself. My wife doesn't like to be in the shot, so she's not an option.

T
Nikolai
Jun-02-2005, 10:26 AM
Well, maybe your wife has some colleagues/friends who don't mind being photographed?
XO-Studios
Jun-02-2005, 01:04 PM
I bought the DigiBee set, but upgraded one of the lights to a B800.

Both shots were taken with lights at 45degrees off camera. In the first one, the power on both was pretty much the same, but on the second one, the camera left setup was at half power.

Thanks!

Toine
Keep in mind that with the mix between a SB400 and a SB800 that the same powersetting is NOT the same amount of light; they are almost a stop different.

FWIW,

XO,
debtoine
Jun-02-2005, 01:57 PM
Keep in mind that with the mix between a SB400 and a SB800 that the same powersetting is NOT the same amount of light; they are almost a stop different.

FWIW,

XO,

I know that, yes. I had them at different settings (B400 @ 1/2 of the B800 setting), but with similar light output.

T