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Photography lighting

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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
Continuous lighting?

wondering what stuff is good for urban shots and something that provides a wide angle of lighting outdoors. Anything i should know about continuous lighting before getting into it? what experience have you had with it?

Tungsten?
Fluorescent?
HMI?
CDM?
HDI?
LED?



Thanks NS
Jan 24 2009 5:49PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
Well, when I shoot video I use a 3,000 watt generator with a ton of different lights.  This is usually what I use, and they can cover a very large area.

All tungsten lighting
3 - 425 watt Lowel Omni lights
2 - 250 watt Lowel pro lights
Lowel Tota Lights and DP lights

A combination of those lights is more than enough light.  I will never use work lights again, you have absolutely no control over them whatsoever, and the light they produce is scattered.  It's better to have many lower wattage lights than one or two large lights.  With smaller lights, you can craft your light and make it look much nicer instead of just throwing up one or two large lights.  With large worklights, you get no contrast out of your shot, but with many small lights, you can be much more creative and focus your light to create a higher contrast image.  If you're low on cash, pick up a few 500 and 250 watt work lights with some stands, maybe some barndoors for them as well.

http://www.coollights.biz/clbd4-halogen-worklight-barndoor-p-36.html



Jan 24 2009 6:18PM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
http://www.smithvictor.com/products/detail.asp?prodid=100&id=14&pid=1&s1=Lighting+Kits+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&s2=Photoflood+Kits+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&nm=KT750U+THRIFTY+BASIC+KIT


that's what i found that looked decent

Jan 24 2009 7:23PM
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SteezyOhio
Posts: 6044 - Karma: 60
my threads
Jan 24 2009 7:34PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
Nay.  Strobes are more popular for a reason.

Continuous has a definite place in video and some photography but strobes will certainly do you better in the long run.
Jan 24 2009 8:22PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
I use strobe. I have one for the time being. I got a 30ft cord, a light stand and an umbrella. it does it pretty well. the key with strobes are that you NEED to use a very low watt second (like no more then 500). With w/s, the higher the number, the longer the strobe emits light for, and you have something moving, its going to be blurry. I use a impact 30" white umbrella (b&h for 15) and the stand was about 50. my flash is old at hell but works. together its pretty damn good. i will post a picture shortly.
Jan 24 2009 11:04PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
This was shot at 1/30 @ f/4 with a Canon 5d MkII and about 50w/s with my umbrella set-up.
Click for larger image
Jan 24 2009 11:11PM
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whistlerdan
Posts: 90 - Karma: 299
Continuous lighting simply isnt bright enough to shoot action with.  Not even close i'm affraid.  If you want  to shoot night time urban you are going to need to invest in some strobes, although there are plenty of cheap ones available on ebya that will do the job very well and they will be cheaper than a generator and lights anyway.
Jan 24 2009 11:40PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
Eh.  The part about w/s is slightly erroneous.  Profotos and the like have line ups of action power packs/heads that deliver incredibly fast durations with higher w/s.  And I'm sure he would be looking at speedlights before monolights.  I'd rather have a few speedlights than one monolight.
Jan 25 2009 3:22AM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
Who ever said I was using monoblocks? I use speedlights. I have a lightstand for them and have umbrellas and soft boxes. they work great.
Jan 25 2009 6:51PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
The fact that you were stating w/s was an indication of using monolights.  I have never heard anyone use w/s to describe the power of speedlights.
Jan 25 2009 6:56PM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
Thanks everyone ++++karma  to all



i think im gunna go with some more flashes, already have one good one but doesnt cut it. if you see any deals on remote or slave flash kits hit me up.

thanks again guys
Jan 25 2009 8:05PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
I don't know if you ever saw my cybersync review, but they are pretty cheap for awesome receivers.

http://forums.skateperception.com/index.php?showtopic=200953
Jan 25 2009 9:07PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
really? you can find ratings for them online. its not an exact number, but it close. my speedlight ranges from 50 to just under 150.
Jan 25 2009 9:19PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
Are you talking guide numbers here or w/s?  Because they are vastly different.

Guide numbers are power represented through feet and f stop.  They are a useful tool when figuring out exposure without a meter.  W/S is a different form of representing the amount of power the flash head can emit over a time and, since I'm not at all familiar with them, I am unaware of any useful way to manipulate the numbers.
Jan 25 2009 9:23PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
I know what im talking about. Im in my 3rd year of college for photography. im talking about w/s. i never use the guides.
Jan 25 2009 9:27PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
Relax.  Do you have a flickr or anything?

Jan 25 2009 9:41PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
haha dude its cool. Naw. im working on building a website right now. I did it for a class using iweb. it not my best stuff but its some. you?
the hyperlink button isnt working for me
http://web.me.com/ebutka/Evan_Butka_Photography/Home.html
Jan 25 2009 9:53PM
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ChronicLines
Posts: 951 - Karma: 61
Yeah the hyperlink button doesn't work on firefox for me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendoyle/
Jan 25 2009 10:03PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
try just typing in web.me.com/ebutka
nice dude. you got some sick shots. i do have any skiing pictures on my "site" though i should
Jan 25 2009 10:12PM
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skithe49th
Posts: 2487 - Karma: 14
mythrads....right now i'm using construction lights and there pissing me off
Jan 26 2009 1:50AM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
why pissing you off? cant get a sharp photo? if your using those, you better have a lot in order to get a sharp photo.
if you can try buying some each speedlights, vivitar 285
Jan 26 2009 8:45AM
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