Page 4 of 4 FirstFirst ... 234
Results 31 to 40 of 40

Thread: tungsten vs strobe lighting

  1. #31

    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Hell's Kitchen, New York
    Posts
    525

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Quote Originally Posted by premortho View Post
    Let me say at the outset I'm certainly no expert, which is why I keep it as simple as possible. I use photofloods in hardware store reflectors. When I use ortho film I use blue bulbs. With panchro emulsions you can use either blue or white. Blue is more like sunlight, temperature wise. While I've never used a dimmer, that seems like a good idea, as the bulbs last longer, and the model is not sweltering when you turn the "heat" on. I'll have to see if I can find a dimmer that can handle the watts. One of the advantages of using photofloods is all you need is a reflective meter. I use a Weston Master ll.
    Remember that as you dim an incandescent lamp the peak wavelength gets longer (ie the light gets redder) so you are probably reducing the actinic efficiency of the lamp and thus you are likely to get less actinic power for a given amount of heat - the 'actinic watts' per electrical watt* generally goes down, particularly with ortho film. It's usually better to run the lamps as hot as they are designed for, which is why the good old P1 photofloods have a colour temperature of 3400 K (tungsten Type A) and a short, but relatively efficient (for that type of incandescent) life.


    *lumens per watt isn't appropriate for films that don't match the eye's spectral response - which is just about every B&W film - but it is a guide in the absence of anything else.

    Best,
    Helen

  2. #32

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington
    Posts
    3,020

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Quote Originally Posted by David Solow View Post
    I am shooting with a cooke 229mm lens on a 4x5 camera. I am wanting to shoot at f/4.5 to get the softest lens effect as possible. With my Bowens Gemini 500 Pro monolight set at the lowest setting, 15 watts/sec and with a one-stop reducer in the softbox, I can use only one light and must keep it around 8 feet away, otherwise the shot is overexposed. I am shooting ASA 100 at 1/125 sec. at f/4.5. I would like to be able to use fill lights, hair lights, etc. without that overexposing the film. I thought of using tungsten lighting, so I bought a 650 W Tungsten Fresnel, but with that I have to get 3 feet away at the tightest spot to shoot at the same shutter speed and aperture. I don't really want to go below 1/60th sec., and I don't want my models melting under lights so close to them. Also, the tightest spot covers less than 1 foot at that distance. With a 650 W flood, forget about getting enough light. I have done some reading on the internet already. Some suggest going up to a 2000 W Tungsten fresnel or larger, but that would mean I would have to get farther away, which would lead to loss of light intensity. Why the fresnel? I love the look of fresnel spotlights of the old Hollywood portraits of the 20s and 30s. Oh, and I can't afford HMI.

    Thanks for reading my lengthy question,

    David

    Hi David,

    I'm in a similar situation -- making portraits of my wife in a makeshift "studio", with makeshift lighting, and I've been shooting mostly at f/4, with exposures around 1/8- 1/15 second with ISO 100 film. Too much light hasn't been my problem. For my main light I use a 23watt fluorescent bulb in a 12" reflector, quite close to my subject. For fill I use a fluorescent desk lamp, with a ring bulb, and one of the IKEA LED lamps linked for an accent light. I try to spill light from my main light on the background, but it's not enough -- I need a lighter background, or another light. Anyway, that's my lo-fi setup.

    Since no one has mentioned it, I will -- you could use slower film. It wouldn't be my first choice, because it would mean using Adox/Efke, but it is workable. Below are a a couple examples of my very fledgling results with the above setup -- one with Efke CHS 50 ART, and another with Fuji Acros:

    [IMG] Untitled by Jay DeFehr, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG] Untitled by Jay DeFehr, on Flickr[/IMG]

  3. #33

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    469

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Those are nice shots, Jay. The first one is more 1920's look (The film), The second has that plus-x look from the 1940's. And to answer Helen, I would only use the dimmer for setting up the lighting ratios, then turn up "the heat" for the shot. Now if we are using the same lights, the law of inverse squares apply to lighting so if the first light is at 6 feet and the second is at 12 feet, the second one only delivers 25% as much light on the subject. And you meter only the first lamps intensity, it controls exposure. The second light only fills shadows. But if you use two different types of light, you'll have to figure out the ratios somehow. Too complicated for me.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay DeFehr View Post
    Hi David,

    I'm in a similar situation -- making portraits of my wife in a makeshift "studio", with makeshift lighting, and I've been shooting mostly at f/4, with exposures around 1/8- 1/15 second with ISO 100 film. Too much light hasn't been my problem. For my main light I use a 23watt fluorescent bulb in a 12" reflector, quite close to my subject. For fill I use a fluorescent desk lamp, with a ring bulb, and one of the IKEA LED lamps linked for an accent light. I try to spill light from my main light on the background, but it's not enough -- I need a lighter background, or another light. Anyway, that's my lo-fi setup.

    Since no one has mentioned it, I will -- you could use slower film. It wouldn't be my first choice, because it would mean using Adox/Efke, but it is workable. Below are a a couple examples of my very fledgling results with the above setup -- one with Efke CHS 50 ART, and another with Fuji Acros:

    [IMG] Untitled by Jay DeFehr, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG] Untitled by Jay DeFehr, on Flickr[/IMG]

  4. #34
    Large format foamer! SamReeves's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    1,214

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Photofloods provide good cheap fun. I run 250 watt ECA's with some household bulbs for hair and background applications. Then I have enough power left in my breaker box to turn on a space heater. Yes you're running at about 1/15th, but with a good model, it doesn't matter too much.

  5. #35
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Posts
    5,614
    I've been setting up my studio lights to do some copy work, and with two of my Speedotron M11 heads (the big ones), both at six feet pointed into large, plain white umbrellas, I'm getting f/8 at ISO 160. I dialed the head down to 200ws to achieve that. At ISO 100 and a bit more distance, these would work at f4.5. And if you are in a hot light mood, you can just use the modeling lights.

    People are just about giving that Brown Line stuff away these days.

    Rick "trying to keep a small-format copy lens at optimal aperture for pics of artwork" Denney

  6. #36
    bob carnie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario,
    Posts
    4,939

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Baking Soda Solarization.jpg 
Views:	25 
Size:	86.9 KB 
ID:	71585All my lighting is with hot lights, I love being able to see where the light lands in real time... My assortment of lights is so basic and mixed up its embarrassing but what fun.

    I have a natural light set up for still life up north, works like a charm, I just need to balance out my solarization exposure time and I am good to go.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Picture 1.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	39.3 KB 
ID:	71584

  7. #37

    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    1,376

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    hang a white hotel towel over the front of the softbox... that would be good for 2 or 3 stops anyway

  8. #38

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    38
    Hi,
    If you have a bowens Gemini 500 set you should have 250W modeling lights in them, so using them at full power fairly close might be an option. The only thing is, you may have to add some gels if you are shooting color, since they are not really daylight balanced.

  9. #39

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    469

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    I phrased it wrong. Turning up the heat is a photographers phrase from my youth. It means either a flash exposure or turning the dimmer on photofloods up all the way for the exposure. Running the lights on 2/3 max to set lighting ratios and sitings makes the bulbs last a lot longer, and doesn't bother the sitter (victum?) while you are doing all of this. When we were ready for an exposure, some one would say "turn on the heat". If you've ever sat under photofloods very long, you'd know what we meant.
    Quote Originally Posted by Helen Bach View Post
    Remember that as you dim an incandescent lamp the peak wavelength gets longer (ie the light gets redder) so you are probably reducing the actinic efficiency of the lamp and thus you are likely to get less actinic power for a given amount of heat - the 'actinic watts' per electrical watt* generally goes down, particularly with ortho film. It's usually better to run the lamps as hot as they are designed for, which is why the good old P1 photofloods have a colour temperature of 3400 K (tungsten Type A) and a short, but relatively efficient (for that type of incandescent) life.


    *lumens per watt isn't appropriate for films that don't match the eye's spectral response - which is just about every B&W film - but it is a guide in the absence of anything else.

    Best,
    Helen

  10. #40
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Put some diffusion or scrim(s) on your strobes. Use several layers if necessary.

    Or as Rick suggested use a shoot-through umbrella. You lose half your light (one stop) regardless of which way you point it.


    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

Similar Threads

  1. Filtration for Portrait lighting
    By Bob Kerner in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 31-Dec-2010, 20:28
  2. Suggestions for single strobe portraits
    By jasonjoo in forum Gear
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 26-Aug-2008, 16:30
  3. Graflex Heiland Strobonar 4X5 Strobe
    By romie in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 24-Mar-2008, 14:51
  4. Feinstein's lighting technique for flower photography
    By Paul Schilliger in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 11-Nov-2005, 13:59
  5. Recommendations for compact lighting kit?
    By Michael Mutmansky in forum Location & Travel
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 29-Apr-2002, 09:24

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •