Suggestions for lights

The Curious Camel

What lights just for home use should I start out with.
There is never enough light and I have a difficult time with shadows.

Any suggestions I would appreciate it.


Thanks, gail

Seymore

Are you needing studio lights or on camera flash?

If on cam, it's best to raise the flash and/or use some sort of flip/rotate bracket to keep the flash above the the lens.

If studio, I'm sure someone will mention AlienBees and have more info for you.

Let us know...

Scott_Quier

Following up and expanding on what Seymore had to say:

• For on-camera flash
  • There is an abundance of fully capable external flash units; the Sigma 500 DG super, the Sigma 530 DG Super, the Canon 580EX II all come to mind and all worth looking at.
  • If you go with on-camera flash, consider also using a flash bracket. These are designed to keep the flash above the lens, regardless of the camera orientation. I like the Newton Bracket Di100FR2, but there are many others that are just as capable.
  • Do a Google search for something called the "Better Bounce Card" to get a very inexpensive but very capable flash modifier. I used one of these at my last reception and the photos turned out very good.
• For "studio" type lighting
  • As mentioned above - Alien Bees (link)
  • Get a shoot through umbrella for each strobe (or something similar)
  • Investigate the many ways to trigger them. I've used Pocket Wizards (over-kill for a home environment). I've also used a 580EX set to manual mode and at 1/128th power to trigger the optical triggers on the ABs.

mrcoons

Adding on to the previous suggestions:

If you have multiple flash units consider the "Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit" and a Canon Speedlite ST-E2 remote. Works well for me and the occasional portrait shot in the home.

The Curious Camel

Oh my, I am totally overwhelmed.

I have 30 & 40 D Cannon and a 550ex flash.

I need help in terms even I can understand.

I just thought I needed an umbrella and light to help with getting more light and helping with shadows am I totally wrong?

thanks to all of you, gail

hgernhardtjr

Gail, for something quick and inexpensive, all you need are three clip-on spun aluminum reflectors like you can find at Ace Hardware with three bulbs of your choice (flood, halogen, or CFL). CFL full spectrum, 5000—5500K (Kelvin) sewing or reading fluorescents work extremely well but can be expensive. So just be sure to set your WB.

While not "pro-" or "home studio-" looking, for under $25 you can make a nice learning set-up which you can play around with until you decide if you really want something more expensive and full featured like studio lights, umbrellas, AlienBees, or perhaps several battery flashes for cordless fun and portability.

And whats even nicer is you can use the setup with a home made light tent, 5 gallon translucent bucket, white plastic trash bag, etc. and do some nice product shooting.

Swartzy

If I may chime in
Lots of great suggestions here....but.....and let me repeat....BUT......one must start....AT THE BEGINNING. Understanding how flash works (strobe), camera settings, abient light versus strobe light, how to mix the two, etc. is critical. I'm convinced the best way to learn off camera lighting is to learn how to use a flash ON CAMERA first.

Manual mode (camera settings), toggling ISO, shutter speed, flash compensation (+ or - 1/3rd EV to a full 2 stops) all plays a part as you "Bounce the flash", left, right, up or down.

Now having said all this, I realize it isn't much help if you've not done it. So, let's look at a simplified version....the camera makers are pretty smart. Say you put the camera in the "P" mode.....pop up the flash...what are the camera settings? Oh, 1/60th of a second at f.4? Interesting. What's that tell you? The camera has a fairly wide aperature to allow in ambient light to mix with flash and the shutter speed is moderately slow enough to stay open long enough to permit ambient light to mix in with the strobe light. Make sense?

Well, what if we turned the dial to manual mode and went to 1/40th of a second shutter speed and opened up our aperature another 1/3rd of a stop to say f/3.5? Would more ambient light be permitted or less?....more is the answer therefore the flash (providing you have it set to ETTL) will not need to supply more power, but less.

Now, if we say up our ISO from 200 to 400, we've doubled our light sensitivity, hence ability to capture ambient light. If we kept our settings at the "P" mode of 1/60th and f/4, at 400 ISO we will allow more ambient light to expose the film (ok, sensor) than strobe (flash) light.

One of the best places to learn about how to use the flash on camera, bouncing, settings, etc. is this site: Read it 10 times...absorb it....it's entertaining and informative. Once you get these basics down, then you will have better command of moving flash off camera, bouncing it from across the room with magical gadgets and using several hidden light sources..but until then...learn how to use what you have "ON CAMERA".

Here's the link:

http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

The Curious Camel

Thanks, you guys are the best.

I am intent on learning this stuff before all my brain cells are dead. So be patient but I'll be back with questions I'm sure.


Peace, gail

Mr. 2H2O

Gail,
I recommend checking out http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/ to read and learn. There is a LOT you can discover about the physics of generating light and using your camera to record the reflection of light. Its also possible to craft together a lot of things using stuff around your house to help with your quest for understanding lighting.
Then, after you decide how to get started, just shoot, shoot, shoot but make sure you also take pics of your setup so you can learn what you liked and didn't like.

- Mike

The Curious Camel

Thanks Mike for the link, I will certainly be reading it. Also a great idea to take a picutre of the set up.


So many things I didn't consider I'm so glad I posted for help here.Thanks much.


peace, gail