HA! Just have to add one more check to my list.

Jim,
not sure I can see the effect of the fill light but overall I like the lighting from the Beauty Dish. I agree, BTW, with setting the white balance based on the color temp of the lights. Makes editing much easier even on RAW files.

Jim

I like the lighting that you got in this photo. I also use the 22 in beauty dish on my 800 watt AB. Initially I had it on the side of the table, but moved it directly in front of it and back about 7 feet.

Thanks Jim,

Without the fill, the left side of the dog's face would have been more in shadow. Other than that, I had it turned way down, but you can see the second catch-light.

Thanks Marie,

When thing slow down a bit, I'm going to start some experimentation with it in different configurations.

Oh, I am not a fan of the orton on this. I don't like hair and dog fur melted. If you are looking for something for perfect skin, Mama Shan has "powders" that are awesome

http://www.photoshopmama.net/products.html?reload#goodies My favorite is the silk powder. I have the whole portrait pack and it is great.

I think you're right. I probably should mask the Orton off of the dog. I'll check those powders out as well.

I've been trialing the bundle from Topaz Labs too. So far, I'm not impressed enough to buy it when the trial expires though.

Interested in how you like the Alien bees. I have Elinchrom DLites and the light quality is very nice, but the build quality is abysmal (when you have an hour or so I'll tell you all the things wrong with them :-) -- also have Elinchrom Skyport remotes... equally as abysmal) Huge investment mistake!

Been thinking (quite heavily recently) of replacing with Alien Bees, especially with the Einstein when it comes out.

Anyway, I hear the ABs can have some color variations at different power outputs. Anything you would notice in "real life" when two or more strobe are at different power?

Hey, long time no see. Check out my "Getting some real lights" thread for a bit of a discussion of my journey to the AB's and lots of opinions.

In general, I'm happy with them, but I've had less than stellar customer service on the ordering end of things.