Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 40

Thread: tungsten vs strobe lighting

  1. #21

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    St. Louis, Mo.
    Posts
    3,064

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Hughes View Post
    If I can't count the hairs on the bacteria crawling across her face, then it's not sharp enough.
    Well, you really answered my question!

  2. #22
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,341

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    I really love my Arri fresnel system, along with my various Lowell hotlights. I have
    a variety of simple diffusers and reflectors, and neutral density gels for the lights
    themselves. I like to keep things simple. An especially nice setup for traditional 8X10
    studio portraiture etc. But's its not very practical for squirmy kids or pets - that's when I switch to a Nikon and available light. Never did care much for flash of any kind.
    Hot lights are of course hot, so it helps that I live and work in a mild climate. Nobody
    has air conditioning around here on the coast.

  3. #23

    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,908

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Although I have a variety of studio strobe units, I rarely use them as such. It is more normal for me to use the modeling lights through a soft box or boxes to make the negative. This is essentially always true for portraits and nudes.

  4. #24

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Durham, NC
    Posts
    117

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Alan,
    In response to your question, I don't mind the softness with portraits of women. In fact, all of them I've worked with so far prefer it. I don't mind using a ND filter in those situations. I use a Cooke 229mm portrait lens wide open at f/4.5, and adjust my studio lighting accordingly. With such a shallow depth of field, only a small part of the portrait is in focus. For other portraits, I want that sharp focus to see pores, hairs, etc., if not on the bacteria then at least on the sitter.

    Jim,

    Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been using my tungsten lighting in LF for portraits pretty much exclusively, but I am going to explore the strobes as well.

    David

  5. #25

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    St. Louis, Mo.
    Posts
    3,064

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    David,

    Thanks for the additional information. I thought your first response was hilarious. My wife said that she didn't want you taking her portrait!

    Alan

  6. #26

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    669

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    My Arris came with scrims (metal screen type) that fit over the lights. You could do something similar with the monolights and place a screen over the head. Heat shouldn't be to much of an issue so another option would be some Lee ND material over the head. Much cheaper than filtering the entire softbox. You could also mix tungsten and flash with addition of a CTO or half CTO over the head.

  7. #27
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Fond du Lac, WI, USA
    Posts
    8,955

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    Be very careful putting a meltable/flammable item around the flash tube. Modeling lights can produce a lot of heat. Using metal mesh, such as aluminum window screening, would be much safer. You can always use multiple layers if need be.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  8. #28
    Nathan Appel Nathan Appel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Los Angeles, California
    Posts
    71

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    i haven't read all the replies, but tough spun and silks on your reflector.

  9. #29

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    469

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    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.

  10. #30

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dallas/Novosibirsk
    Posts
    2,205

    Re: tungsten vs strobe lighting

    David there are reducing get filters for lights. But what you can do in a pinch - you can turn softbox into strip box, cutting its effective surface down by using something as simple as cardboard slices. Half of surface out - one stop down. Or just buy yourself slower film.

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
  •