BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Julie Walker		Inexpensive but portable lighting I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the average "floodlights" sold at Wal-Mart are suitable for beginning photography out of my home? I'm also wanting to use them for some minor location shooting if possible...Thanks for any and all responses in advance! To love this question, log in above February 04, 2004

Melissa E. Downham		As far as I know, floodlights will not work with a camera. To begin with, the light is tungsten, and unless you use tungsten film, the photos will look orange. Also, even though floodlights look really bright, a camera might not see them as all that bright! To love this comment, log in above February 12, 2004

Wing Wong		Hmm... having grown up with floodlights and other light sources, I would have to agree, they aren't very bright. But then again, it depends on the effect you are looking for. The first question I have is what are you using to shoot with? Ie, are you using a digital camera or film camera? If digital, make sure to white balance your camera to the light source. If film, as Melissa posted above, use a properly balanced film to avoid getting an orange or blue cast, depending on the type of floodlight and/or film type. If you get one kind of floodlight and find out it isn't bright enough and want to add more, check to make sure that you get additional lights with the same kind of bulb and possibly from the same manufacturer! Otherwise, you might find that you will get weird color casts despite whitebalancing and/or using balanced film. If you decide to get floodlights, I would go to Home Depot instead of WalMart. You'll get better made floodlights and more options to boot. Good luck! To love this comment, log in above February 13, 2004

This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here Report this Thread