Stung by the Bee...

[Chuck Gardner]

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

 

[Juli Valley]

I thought you were going to complain about them. I'm thinking of getting three of the B400s down the road.

 

[Waleed Alzuhair]

Congratulations... I hope you got the 13' stand and not the 10', I read on their website that the 10' cannot handle the weight of softboxes but the 13' can.

Best of luck and looking forward to seeing some of your shots..

Waleed

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set
of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with
pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on
the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a
special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I
figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my
small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

--
Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life

 

[Chuck Gardner]

I thought you were going to complain about them. I'm thinking of
getting three of the B400s down the road.

 

[Yada Day]

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set
of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with
pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on
the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a
special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I
figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my
small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

 

[Mike Goebel]

a new tripod, a muslim background, a roll up portrait background, a stool, a new camera bag, a couple more flash cards...and the list goes on and on.

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set
of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with
pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on
the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a
special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I
figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my
small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

--
http://www.mikegoebel.com
http://www.belmontstudio.photoreflect.com

 

[Chuck Gardner]

Muslim background? Heck, why stop there? I'll get the Christian and Jewish ones too!

LOL,
Chuck

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set
of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with
pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on
the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a
special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I
figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my
small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

--
http://www.mikegoebel.com
http://www.belmontstudio.photoreflect.com

 

[Juli Valley]

I got one of those muslin backgrounds today. I also ordered a small softbox. There is no end, but now I know I might be able to start with two ABs instead of three. There is no end to things you can want to buy. Take a look. This is my elderly father made with two Canon flashes into umbrellas.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24924448/medium

 

[Chuck Gardner]

Juli,

Much nicer background than the blue. Notice how his knees look unnaturally big relative to his head and body? That's because you shot it with wide angle which makes the foreground larger and background smaller. Try shooting at focal length equiv. of 85-110mm. For that 3/4 view you'll likely be 10 or more feet away, but the relative size of the body parts will be more natural looking. The chair cushion clashes with the new background and the light pants are a distraction, so you might try just a head and shoulders crop to eliminate them.

Chuck

I got one of those muslin backgrounds today. I also ordered a
small softbox. There is no end, but now I know I might be able to
start with two ABs instead of three. There is no end to things
you can want to buy. Take a look. This is my elderly father made
with two Canon flashes into umbrellas.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24924448/medium

 

[Juli Valley]

I got my 70-200L IS out for awhile, but I'm working in very close quarters. I know a wider angle is not good. The khaki pants are a distraction, but that's what Dad had on at the time. I did get him to put on a coat. Hmm, I don't know what to do about the chair color. I guess I'll have to get one of those posing stools. Thanks for the feedback. I'll try using one of my longer focal lengths. It will be easy just for head and shoulders. I'll try that crop, too.

 

[Juli Valley]

 

[ReedW]

I got one of those muslin backgrounds today. I also ordered a
small softbox. There is no end, but now I know I might be able to
start with two ABs instead of three. There is no end to things
you can want to buy. Take a look. This is my elderly father made
with two Canon flashes into umbrellas.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24924448/medium

Very nice shot. I've been thinking about buying some lights, but I'm wondering if I can just get by with buying a couple of umbrellas to go with my Nikon speedlights in the short term. Do you find that you can do most of what you want to do with just the Canon flashes, or, other than a difference in power, would a set of lights be alot more useful?

 

[Juli Valley]

I'm using my Canon flashes with umbrellas and a transmitter, but my BIG problem is that I don't have a large enough space to work. This is just a hobby. I've been setting this stuff up in my living room, but I can't really get back far enough to use longer focal lengths. I have a cluttered basement that I need to empty some junk from, but it's not going to be easy. Some of it is old family furniture. I don't want to upset my elderly father by tossing it. Most of it isn't valuable. If I could work out a proper space, I would like to get some Alien Bees.

 

[Orchids]

Juli: Are you using your 550EXs in E-TTL mode or in manual mode when using your umbrellas? I have a similar set-up as yours but am always looking for ways to improve my portraits. I thoroughly enjoy your commentary and questions.

I'm using my Canon flashes with umbrellas and a transmitter, but my
BIG problem is that I don't have a large enough space to work.
This is just a hobby. I've been setting this stuff up in my living
room, but I can't really get back far enough to use longer focal
lengths. I have a cluttered basement that I need to empty some
junk from, but it's not going to be easy. Some of it is old family
furniture. I don't want to upset my elderly father by tossing it.
Most of it isn't valuable. If I could work out a proper space, I
would like to get some Alien Bees.

 

[JRG-Imaging]

i have three of the 1600's myself. i enjoy the fast recycle times, and being able to fully gell a softbox with a deep red gel and have enough power to get f/8 at 6 feet away.

Well I finally got stung by the Bee... repeatedly and severely...

I ordered a 4 AB800s kit, stands, a boom for the hair light, a set
of grids, a barndoor, wired remote... For softboxes I went with
pair of Photoflex, a medium and a large Multidome Softbox, based on
the great advice from this forum and the fact B&H is having a
special which includes a 3-piece accessory kit.

I also purchased a 8x (3 stop) ND filter for my camera, which I
figure will give me more exposure headroom using the AB800s in my
small studio space.

Thanks to all for your advice...

Chuck Gardner

--
http://jrg-imaging.com
'Film is cheap compared to the trauma of a missed shot.' - Brian Peterson

 

[Chuck Gardner]

Juli,

Big difference in the overall appearance. Much nicer. Compositionally I'd still crop tighter, to more of a classic head and shoulders:

Bottom: Just under the bottom button
Left: Just past his shoulder on the left
Top: Cut the amount of space in half.

This will move his face more to the center and the eye's to the upper third after the bottom is cropped.

Chuck

 

[Juli Valley]

Thanks for you suggestions. I really appreciate them.

 

[Juli Valley]

I'm using them in ETTL with a 1:3 ratio set on the fill light.

 

[Juli Valley]

How should I crop? I've been cropping for an 8 x 10 sized print. Any recommendation? 5 x 7 is a different aspect ratio.

 

[Juli Valley]

How do you decide to crop? 8 x 10, 5 x 7, etc. It changes the composition so much.