 BetterPhoto Member |
Inexpensive lighting help Hi all, I would like some help with the following. I am a hobby photographer that volunteered to do photo shoots for the women who live at a rescue shelter near me. Actually it's of their kids. We play in a room and I generally just shoot and shoot and shoot. The idea is to give the mothers pictures of everyday play. My question is this. I am using a canon 580 speedlite and it does work well but the room is very dark and even has lights not working (dark blue walls with low drop ceiling). Not a great room. But it's a rescue shelter. Since I am moving in every which way on the floor, on chairs, any possible angle to get pictures..well I have to constantly adjust the flash head. So, I am thinking of purchasing some very inexpensive lighting. Inexpensive since I have to pay for everything including the prints. So, I would rather put the money toward getting to photograph more families than spend money on lighting. So, are there any suggestions out there. I really do appreciate this. Thanks. holly hess
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robert G. Fately |
Holly, one possibility to consider would be to get a diffuser for your existing flash rather than more lighting. Having used a bunch over the years, the one I like best is the Photojournalist by Gary FOng (www.garyfong.com) - he's a wedding photographer who invented this accessory for the flash head that spreads the light very evenly. SInce it sounds like the rooms in which you shoot are not that large, this, or something like it, might be a good idea. The concept of these diffusion devices is that they spread the light from the flash tube far more than the lens on the flash itself does alone. Of course, the price you pay for this is less light going in a given direction, but again in a limited range they can work quite well. Other diffusion devices are offered by Lumiquest, Sto-Fen and a few other companies whose names I don't recall. The Fong device is about $50, the Lumiquests more like $30 or so, but you can also make your own. In fact, someone on this list mentioned a website where there are directions to build your own flash diffuser with fairly inexpensive materials, like white foamcore and tape. What you're doing sounds like a nice thing - I hope this helps.
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi Holley, Your task will be simplified if you could elevate the ambient light in the room and shoot without flash. The problem is, inexpensive lamps means the lamps will be the wrong color. Now color won’t matter if you are shooting black & white. Also for your purposes lamp color won’t matter if you are shooting color negative film. This is true because the printing machine at the local one-hour shop will automatically correct out the color error and the results will be OK for your purposes. Use a high speed film. If you are shooting, using a digital camera, your camera set to automatically adjust white balance will do a reasonable job. Set the ISO at the highest setting Best you read your camera manual for this setting. Now for inexpensive lamps: Go to a local hardware store and buy the silver pin-up fixtures. These have reflectors that are made of aluminum and they are about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. They have rubber covered clamps. These fixtures accept standard light bulbs. Use ordinary 100 watt lamps. Your problem in an old building is the outlets on the wall might not support many lamps. Buy an extension plug strip as it will have a built-in circuit breaker to prevent current overload. You need this protection to keep everyone safe from an electrical fire. Buy three fixtures and plug them into the strip. You don’t need the silver aluminum fixtures if you by the outdoor reflector floods. These are the heavy duty lamps known at the hardware store as PAR. They come in flood and spot. Whatever you get, aim at the ceiling and shoot available light (no flash). Keep in mind, you are making record shots not works of art. Mom will say “ look at Sally, look at Jimmy, don’t’ they look sweet. Best of luck,
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Debby A. Tabb |
wow Alan. I love your posts, but you made a small error on this one. Portraits done well are very much a work of art. The work done here if done well is not only documentation, but can be very valued pieces of art. Just my opinion. Also Holley, You could also get one or two more flash heads and put them on light stands using the cheap small peanut slaves you can get at any Phototorium. This can give you a 2-3 light system that will be great in a smaller space. Best of luck to you, Debby Tabb http://cgi.ebay.com/Flash-Slave-Trigger-Wireless-Hot-Shoe-Sync-Adapter-y17_W0QQitemZ160077563042QQihZ006QQcategoryZ64354QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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