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One Light Formals #28533
03/07/10 10:25 PM
03/07/10 10:25 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
For most of my dog show work, I've used two AB 400s with silver umbrellas set up to fill lighting both left and right. It's worked wonderfully for me and I've had no reason to change that setup. Until this weekend (pipe in the music from Jaws).

I arrived at the location to shoot two Sheltie Specialties only to find that my usual location had been usurped for grooming. The show superintendent looked at me sheepishly and pointed to a small area next to her table and asked "will this be big enough" smile, smile. The area was bordered on the right with the raffle table and to the left with the trophy table. Front to back was about 8 feet. There was enough width to set up the backdrop and a grooming table draped but not much more. Certainly not enough room for a two-light setup. So, having obviously had an adequate dosage of my mood-enhancing prescription drug, I smiled wanly and said "it'll be fine."

For this situation, I set up one AB400 with a 64" AB parabolic silver reflector directly in front of the grooming table. I put my chair right against it and wedged it against the trophy table. I then hoisted the light to about 8 foot height. I asked someone to provide a test dog and took a few shots and was pretty pleased with the lighting. So, that's how I shot the shows.

This is the "cute" shot of the Best In Sweepstakes puppy from today's show.



And here's the more traditional shot.



The key is to notice the lack of messy shadows behind both the dog and the people. I was actually pretty pleased with this lighting setup because it gives me an option when space is at a premium or when I want a stronger direct lighting look without the resulting harsh shadows. Sometimes situations create solutions that can be very helpful for future situations.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: One Light Formals [Re: Jim Garvie] #28534
03/07/10 11:32 PM
03/07/10 11:32 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
TN
Julie Offline
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Julie  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
TN
Did you have it set high and behind you to get the shadows to fall off like that?

Re: One Light Formals [Re: Julie] #28535
03/08/10 09:16 AM
03/08/10 09:16 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
psmith Offline
Pooh-Bah
psmith  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
Nice shots Jim. The AB 64 PLM is amazing. I have one in my bag for just that kind of situation.

Re: One Light Formals [Re: Julie] #28536
03/08/10 10:23 AM
03/08/10 10:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Julie,
it was 8' high and I was sitting directly under it. I checked the spread and at the 8-foot distance from the table, the coverage was over 12 feet wide until it started to feather out. Like I said, it makes a nice alternative when you get shoe-horned into a small space. I have a similar situation coming up on Friday at a Rottie Specialty in West Palm Beach and it's nice to know I have a lighting alternative -- that I like -- if there isn't room for both strobes.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: One Light Formals [Re: psmith] #28537
03/08/10 10:27 AM
03/08/10 10:27 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Preston,
the PLM actually surprised me with the quality of light. I didn't notice anything special when I was testing it but it really gives you nice spread and set high like that tends to take weight off of people because it outlines the jaw line. Now, if I can just find the 86" in stock . . .

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: One Light Formals [Re: Jim Garvie] #28538
03/09/10 01:14 AM
03/09/10 01:14 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
CA
StarrLight Offline
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StarrLight  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2009
CA
Nice! I had been toying with getting one of these but I see now they are on backorder. Did you use it with or without the diffuser?

Diana

Re: One Light Formals [Re: StarrLight] #28539
03/09/10 08:53 AM
03/09/10 08:53 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
I used it without. I shot at ISO 200, F8 @1/250. The diffuser is nice in the studio with people but with dogs, I prefer to work without. I have the silver PLM.

Jim

Last edited by jimgarvie; 03/09/10 08:54 AM.

Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: One Light Formals [Re: Jim Garvie] #28540
03/09/10 10:17 AM
03/09/10 10:17 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
psmith Offline
Pooh-Bah
psmith  Offline
Pooh-Bah

Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
Looks like Paul is redesigning the large one to be based on a speedring in order to set the position more consistently and eliminate the 'eye poker' umbrella shaft.

Re: One Light Formals [Re: psmith] #28541
03/10/10 01:33 PM
03/10/10 01:33 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
CA
StarrLight Offline
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StarrLight  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2009
CA
Quote:

Looks like Paul is redesigning the large one to be based on a speedring in order to set the position more consistently and eliminate the 'eye poker' umbrella shaft.




Well that's a good thing.

Jim, curious as to what differences you see in using the silver vs the white? Is it just a color difference that you like?

Diana

Re: One Light Formals [Re: StarrLight] #28542
03/10/10 03:00 PM
03/10/10 03:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
psmith Offline
Pooh-Bah
psmith  Offline
Pooh-Bah

Joined: Nov 2008
Kansas
The silver gives you a few stops of extra light on bounce. I'm not sure the silver is a different degree Kelvin. The white diffusion can be added to the silver.

Here is the ultimate PLM resource thread: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/805037/0

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