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strip-domes or small softboxes?

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dogwood

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Just curious-- I'm looking to add some better kickers than I currently use (mainly umbrellas or spots) and I've seen great results with small softboxes as kickers. Would this be a better choice than stripdomes/strip lights? Seems like a lot of kickers I see just "kick" the subject's head (ie a small softbox) rather than their whole body.

Anyone have a preference in what they use for kickers? I'm thinking the style that is common in Macy's print ads right now-- which appear to be just small softboxes.
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Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com
 
Pete,

Would depend on the effect you are looking for.

If you create masks for you SBs you can get a variety of effects from a regular SB, i.e. turning a large SB into a strip box. Photoflex includes circle and strip masks plus a set of louvers in its accessory kit. The accessory kit was bundled with the Multidome Q39s when I bought mine but I think it sells separately for about $100. Of course you an also make masks from anything opaque like foam core.

CG
 
Chuck:

Good idea. That's the brand I'm pondering right now too. In another post, did I understand you correctly that photoflex softboxes could be attached to AB's using AB speed rings?

Only thing with masking is there'd be some light loss. Probably not a big deal in studio but with a Vagabond (and limited flashes) it could be a bit of pain.
--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com
 
dogwood said:
Chuck:

Good idea. That's the brand I'm pondering right now too. In
another post, did I understand you correctly that photoflex
softboxes could be attached to AB's using AB speed rings?
Click to expand...
Yes, except for the the narrow strip boxes which require a set of holes in the ring the AB ring does not have.

CG
 
Masks will work in order to give a rectangular soft box the striplight aspect. Results will be exactly the same. The light loss will be substantial though. Photoflex "halfdomes" give the same output as most of their other softboxes, all sizes, directly on-axis: they're as efficient.

I have mounted small halfdomes to older-style speedrings with the four corner holes, and they don't seem to require a special ring: if you have photoflex rectangular boxes that mount on some ring of yours, then the halfdomes will mount too. The striplights provide a much nicer kick lighting. They cover very wide on the vertical axis, quite narrow on the horizontal axis. Shading the lens with large gobos, flags, will be required.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions
 
Just to give you feedback on the opposite side, I often use small softboxes as kickers. For example, in this shot:



I have two small boxes, one on each side above and behind the model.

I also have a photoflex halfdome strip box, but the thing is pretty large (like 16x48 or something like that) and I use it when I want specific effects, usually with a grid...but typically not for kickers. Not sure why, other than it's big and hard to put together. It does, however, use the same speedrings as all of the other boxes, with 4 holes at 90 degree angles from each other - nothing special.

--
Greg

Photos: http://gregr.smugmug.com
Weblog: http://www.rassoc.com/gregr/weblog
 
Yeah, I liked the effect from the SSU class I took (I think you took a similar one) with the small softboxes as kickers. I bit the bullet today though and ordered the strip/halfdomes. I could always flag them as Chuck points out (well, his tip was actually for full-size softboxes). I'm sure I'll find a use if they don't work like I want as kickers!
--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com
 
--
Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

I've never carried bags for anyone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night ;)
 
You're talking huge barndoors. Kickers and backlights are usually aimed more or less in the direction of the lens, so flare is a strong possibility. Even eggcrates are'nt of much use in these cases. I found no better then hiding behind large flags. Small 7 inches reflectors still require relatively large barndoors.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions
 
You can always use grids for you edge lights. Grids give you more control to place the light where you want it.

Grids on each side here.

88LB2521-8x10.jpg
'] http://homepage.mac.com/mluter/.Pictures/88LB2521-8x10.jpg[/img] [/URL]

Mike
--
http://www.MikeLuter.com
 
was I that I'd rather use metal barndoors -vs- softboxes outside ;) for stability if it gets a bit windy, and ease of use ;) Stripboxes aren't usually that little, or the one I have isn't. Dead calm day, I would consider using it outside, but it's still alot bigger by a factor of 6 compaired to my barndoors.

Heck, I don't even light to mess with my Medium SB outside. LOL

--
Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

I've never carried bags for anyone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night ;)
 
Nice shot. Was there a top hairlight as well?

I flag kickers because I tend to use a more acute angle, while the kickers used on this shot seem to be spread 45° each from the axis. It works because of the "big hair": the face is completly shaded from the kickers. With someone with short hair, kickers set up this way will touch the cheeks, sometimes the nose, and that's why I tend to place kickers more at the back of the model rather than at 45°...kicker's faces are then close to the edge of my frame....risky business, hence the flags.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions
 
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