BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Sarah
 

How to use studio strobe lighting


I have been using continuous tungsten lighting for the past three years and I just bought a three piece strobe lighting kit from Photogenic. I am pretty clueless on how to use them. I've played around with it a little bit and am extremely confused. Does anyone have any good websites and/or books they can refer to me to help me figure out how to use these. I have a canon 430 ex flash that I'm using to trigger the other ones. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!


To love this question, log in above
March 04, 2007

 

John H. Siskin
 
 
 
Hi Sarah,
Well this is a big question, but I’ll jump in with a few things. First I don’t know a book to recommend; although I am sure there are some good one out there. The goal when working with strobes is to be able to see the results you want to achieve in your mind and then create that light with the tools you have available. Hopefully you have learned some things about the way light works, broad light sources and reflections from the time you have spent working with continuous light. Regardless it is not a good idea to start with trying to understand the interactions of three light sources at the same time. I have an article posted here at BetterPhoto about using a single light source, you may want to check it out: http://www.betterphoto.com/article.php?id=129, I’ve posted a few other articles about using strobes here at BetterPhoto. All the articles, mine and everybody else’s, are under the resources heading.

About using the Canon strobe to trigger your Photogenics, of course this will certainly work. However the 430 will add light to the scene that you may not want. This will be hard light from a small light source. This can make a great catch light in the eye, but too much of it will change your image in ways you don’t expect. You may want to consider having another way to sync your camera. I would get a wired sync that connects to the PC socket or the hot shoe (please get a device to isolate you camera from the trigger voltage, Wein makes these). I would also get a radio slave. This is the primary way I connect my camera to my strobes. I have one of the models you can buy on EBay, and it works pretty well. There have been a couple of blogs here at BetterPhoto about syncs and slaves by, well modesty forbids, but you might want to look in last month’s bogs.

Good luck! I am sure you will get a lot of other fine advice here!

Thanks, John Siskin


To love this comment, log in above
March 04, 2007

 

W.
 
Yes, "the 430 will add light to the scene that you may not want".

But don't jump into buying expensive remote controllers just yet. First try scaling down the 430EX's output to 1/64th (that is 6 stops less!). See if that's still enough to trigger your other gear. While at the same time being unnoticeable (enough) in the image.

Because if it does/is you can save a few bucks...


To love this comment, log in above
March 04, 2007

 

W.
 
Also, pointing the 430EX's flash head at a slave sensor – if you want to get really funky you fashion a crude 'snoot' of black thick paper or cardboard and tape – and away from the scene, GUARANTEES none of it's light has any effect on the image.


To love this comment, log in above
March 04, 2007

 

John H. Siskin
  Hi Sarah,
Well maybe we have spent more talking about sync than is really necessary. What kind of light modifiers did you get with your system? One way to learn about what they do is to go to a beauty supply store and get a wighead. These things are endlessly patient. You can photograph them repeatedly with reflectors, snoots, umbrellas, softboxes and so on. This will help you learn your tools. The object is to learn to use the tools in your head first, rather than bringing out every piece of equipment you own in front a client and searching for good light.

Thanks, John Siskin


To love this comment, log in above
March 05, 2007

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.