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Re: First photo shoot [Re: Sunstruck] #31258
09/10/10 11:17 AM
09/10/10 11:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline
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Jim Garvie  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Penny,
I often use one light only with a parabolic reflector for location shoots and set it high -- about 7' off the floor -- just off of center. It wraps the light just fine and the high location makes for no shadows.

For other shoots, I'll use two ABs bounced off of silver umbrellas and, at times, I've used my 580EX and just bounced it off of white ceilings or walls (or both). Since you often don't know what you're going to have to deal with on location, I tend to bring everything but the kitchen sink and then use what works for that particular spot.

Here in Florida, garages are not really an option since we have temps in the 90's pretty much all year round but any room in a house will work and I especially like to use rooms that the dogs are comfortable in. And, if they have a special chair or couch, I'll drape that piece of furniture with the backdrop so they are even more relaxed. Learning what you can -- and cannot -- do with your given lighting options will give you much greater flexibility when you walk into that "impossible" location .

Jim G.


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: First photo shoot [Re: Jim Garvie] #31259
09/11/10 03:00 PM
09/11/10 03:00 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
CA
StarrLight Offline
Veteran
StarrLight  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Aug 2009
CA
Penny I think these are really very nice, especially for just having one light! I think if you'd been able to prop up a reflector somehow you'd have caught more shadow behind but they look great, especially the head shots. Very pretty dogs too.

Diana

Re: First photo shoot [Re: StarrLight] #31260
09/11/10 09:21 PM
09/11/10 09:21 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Sunstruck Offline OP
Old hand
Sunstruck  Offline OP
Old hand

Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Thanks you Jim for outlining your work flow. As soon as I can, I'll get another Alien Bee. I love mine. How is the light from a reflector umbrella different from softboxes? Does the umbrella wrap more since it is a curved surface?

Thank you Diana! I'm a work in progress, but with everybody's help and suggestions, I actually feel like I am getting somewhere.


Penny J. Wills
[color:"#08c3c5"]www.pennyjwillsphotography.com[/color]
Re: First photo shoot [Re: Sunstruck] #31261
09/12/10 10:22 AM
09/12/10 10:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline
Addict
Jim Garvie  Offline
Addict

Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Penny,
I prefer the umbrellas for what I do, especially for location shoots and shows. They tend to be a little more focused from the distances I shoot -- usually 10 to 12 feet from the subject. Others prefer softboxes and I do use them in the studio at shorter camera-to-subject distances but I just prefer the light quality and color I get from the silver umbrellas -- especially with black dogs which I tend to shoot a lot of. It's a personal choice and when you get a chance, you should shoot both and see what you prefer.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: First photo shoot [Re: Jim Garvie] #31262
09/12/10 07:22 PM
09/12/10 07:22 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Sunstruck Offline OP
Old hand
Sunstruck  Offline OP
Old hand

Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Thank you for your insight. What size are your umbrellas? I have 42?", 43?", somewhere in that size range. Does size matter?

Thanks again!


Penny J. Wills
[color:"#08c3c5"]www.pennyjwillsphotography.com[/color]
Re: First photo shoot [Re: Sunstruck] #31263
09/13/10 08:06 AM
09/13/10 08:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline
Addict
Jim Garvie  Offline
Addict

Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Quote:

Does size matter?




Leaving that topic for a moment, I have 2 42" silver umbrellas and a 64" AB silver parabolic reflector. I will sometimes use one of the regular umbrellas along with the PLM for fill if the location/show award area is wide -- at a National for example where I have to have enough room to shoot the winners of Stud Dog and Brood Bitch: usually 3 dogs, 3 handlers, a judge, a trophy-holder and a representative from Purina.

More is not necessarily better nor is size depending on what you are lighting and from what distance. Bigger umbrellas give you a wider area of coverage -- same with PLMs -- and you can focus the light depending on how far you mount the umbrellas/PLMs from the light source. You can do a lot of really nice lighting with one strobe, one umbrella or softbox and a reflector used as a fill source.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: First photo shoot [Re: Jim Garvie] #31264
09/14/10 08:37 AM
09/14/10 08:37 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Augusta, GA
M
Marie Mitchell Photography Offline
Old hand
Marie Mitchell Photography  Offline
Old hand
M

Joined: Jul 2009
Augusta, GA
Excellent work, Pj! LOVE the lighting and backdrop.


Re: First photo shoot [Re: Marie Mitchell Photography] #31265
09/14/10 10:02 AM
09/14/10 10:02 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Sunstruck Offline OP
Old hand
Sunstruck  Offline OP
Old hand

Joined: Jul 2009
Connecticut
Thanks Marie!


Penny J. Wills
[color:"#08c3c5"]www.pennyjwillsphotography.com[/color]
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