What modifiers (sizes) are speedlites good for?

[brad goda]

test your speed light behind a diffusion frame.
keep distance from frame to subject but try diff distances of speed light to the frame and diff zoom settings…
you will quickly see the + and - to each variation.,, light quality and power… and of course the limitations of the speelights output.

change distance of frame to your subject for further testing…
from there you can figure what kind of set box diffusion size density power requirements advantages and limitations…

have fun.

 

[BL]

I don't do much with my flashes, but every now and then I would like to try it a bit more (not professionally, just play with it and learn something). I recently booked a workshop that should have been my first studio/model shoot experience, but it was canceled just two days in advance, so I thought I’ll use the money to buy some lights/modifiers and learn on my own as until now.

I was googling some cheap alternatives as I don't feel like investing much now, but I want something more than my smallish DIY boxes. It seems that I could go with some fluorescent continuous set, or just buy something that I can stick my flashes into.

Start small, it's easy to overdo things and walk away confused after many hundreds or thousands of dollars later.

If you go the speedlite route, start with some 43" umbrellas (shoot through and reflective) and master those. Then work your way towards other modifiers to change up your light.

Between bare flash (with or without gobos) and umbrellas, I'm pretty much able to shoot 85%-90% of what I want.

Here's a simple shot I took of my boy, 43" shoot through umbrella from above and 43" silver reflective umbrella on axis. There's not much to it!

 

[Stig]

Hi,

and again, thanks for sharing your tips and advise, and of course the beautiful photos.

I looked, read, googled, did some calculations, got even more confused when strobes came into the mix, but I think I'll call them too expensive* for now and try a combo of:

cfl (two 5x60w boxes/stands)http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3000w-Continuous-Softbox-Lighting-Studio-Kit-Photography-Photo-Video-Portrait-/151318574069?pt=UK_Photography_Lighting_Kits&hash=item233b4a33f5)

and a brolly box + bracket for the speedlite http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/109cm-43-Umbrella-Softbox-Soft-Box-Brolly-Reflector-For-Studio-Flash-Strobe/310897212264?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22313%26meid%3D7380530785298607357%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9701%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D330861626445&rt=nc#ht_1609wt_1006

and see whats what with those.

I still have some questions about modifiers, but I guess that's for a separate thread

and btw, about our other (better) halfs, I hope mine will give me at least 10minutes in front of the lights before going away and asking when will they be disassembled and stored away ... do your wifes and girlfiends pose for you, or rather hate being in front of the camera?





*though I'm still looking at these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Digital-900w-Studio-Flash-Lighting-set-Photography-Strobe-light-Portrait-Kit/281008891976?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22313%26meid%3D7380142445252548667%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9701%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D231008381491&rt=nc#ht_5470wt_959 even though that would be twice as much as the combo above

 

[Besisika]

Hi,

and again, thanks for sharing your tips and advise, and of course the beautiful photos.

I looked, read, googled, did some calculations, got even more confused when strobes came into the mix, but I think I'll call them too expensive* for now and try a combo of:

cfl (two 5x60w boxes/stands)http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3000w-Continuous-Softbox-Lighting-Studio-Kit-Photography-Photo-Video-Portrait-/151318574069?pt=UK_Photography_Lighting_Kits&hash=item233b4a33f5)

and a brolly box + bracket for the speedlite http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/109cm-43-Umbrella-Softbox-Soft-Box-Brolly-Reflector-For-Studio-Flash-Strobe/310897212264?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22313%26meid%3D7380530785298607357%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9701%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D330861626445&rt=nc#ht_1609wt_1006

and see whats what with those.

I still have some questions about modifiers, but I guess that's for a separate thread

and btw, about our other (better) halfs, I hope mine will give me at least 10minutes in front of the lights before going away and asking when will they be disassembled and stored away ... do your wifes and girlfiends pose for you, or rather hate being in front of the camera?





*though I'm still looking at these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Digital-900w-Studio-Flash-Lighting-set-Photography-Strobe-light-Portrait-Kit/281008891976?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22313%26meid%3D7380142445252548667%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9701%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D231008381491&rt=nc#ht_5470wt_959 even though that would be twice as much as the combo above

I have two of the brolly boxes and I am pleased with them, especially used indoor on location. They are lightweight and very quick to assemble. It's a good idea to put your speedlites to 24mm zoom. Remember to check the battery of your flashes and transceivers often when shooting events, they are hidden within the boxes and you won't be able to see them from a distance (especially if you don't chimp).

 

[Hannes]

don't waste time and money on continuous lights, they are either not bright enough or they melt your face.

My suggestion would be two of these, then add a yongnuo 560 III or two, suitable light stands and brackets:
http://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/product/essentialphoto-60x90cm-rectangular-5cm-grid-softbox-s-type-fitting/

 

[Stig]

ye, I came across this test... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTJcBLrtBXA
and seem that fluorescent aren't too hot, but they also seem to have really just a fraction to the power of even a small strobe... than again, why would I put it 3m away? and It seems it isn't too useless... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkUqBJoxZ-I

so anyway, while I was inclined to base my set on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Continuous-Softbox-Studio-Lighting-Boom-Kit-3300w-Photography-Photo-Portrait-3-/151318574739?pt=UK_Photography_Lighting_Kits&hash=item233b4a3693

now I think I'd rather put some more money into it and base it on these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Photo-Studio-540w-Light-180W-x3-Strobe-Flash-monolight-Lighting-kit-set-S602-/151049091293?pt=UK_Photography_Flash_Lighting_Kits&hash=item232b3a38dd plus some universal mount softboxes, stands, boom arm... I would end up spending more but...?

and for even a bit more money, I found an ad close by where I live for a "little use", about 2year old set of:
4x strobes Quantum 200Ws
1x octabox 150cm
1x octabox 80cm
2x softbox 40x180cm
1x softbox 60x60cm
1x background reflector
1x beauty dish 70cm white
5x stands

so I think I will check that tomorrow...

 

[mackguyver]

Stig, that sounds like a nice set if it's been taken care of and can be had for a good price. Florescents are great for studios where you can control all of the ambient light (i.e. make it very dark inside) but are too weak for most settings and are really more for the video guys, at least for now. HMI lighting is what the Hollywood types use and is very hot and very expensive...but some high end photographers use them as well.

Strobes are the best choice unless portability is a concern (especially air travel), and then flashes/speedlites are the way to go.