a small step for home studio
I have finally come around. After inventing all kinds of excuses why I would not get into 'people' photography again, I have been persuaded, more like encouraged, or motivated, to rescue and retrieve my studio lamps from storage. A studio lamp is a studio lamp and as long as it can be triggered it is good to go until such times as. So what can go wrong with a studio lamp? For one thing some of the 1970 components may need replacing and the product's manufacturer may be missing in the recession. I can recall a little something about electronics, and should be able to "fix" the lights from parts in my ham radio junk box, and if I need help, I have a few friends with nimble fingers. I also recall having at least five [5] brand name studio lamps by Bowens/Bogen, and I will totally disregard the batch of small 'dolly' flash lamps if I find them.
The studio lamp is the main component in the studio lighting system, but maybe equally important is a reliable flash meter. Light stands of various sizes and height are necessary from background, on the floor lighting, to the boom arm for the hair light, for gobo, and creative innovations as required. I know where my Minolta flash meters and light stands are so I am one jump ahead. It is a sobering though not having to find in excess of five [5] grand in uncle Sam's for just five [5] new brand name studio lamps today, and another two [2] grand for the fixtures, accessories, light modifiers, which I doubt very much can outperform those of yesteryear. So if you don't have access to this kind of bread or photo studio 'set up' you may have a hard time getting counted on judgement day.
In reality, maybe it has nothing to do with the studio lamps at all, and the seemingly expensive and fancy studio lights setup, that some folks seem to be peddling. Maybe it is convenient to have the studio setup, but there has to be people on this planet who are delivering "the almost perfect image" and not breaking any bank. Every day I see images on Facebook and websites unlimited, and I am not moved to click like, but when I do see a compelling image it is not coming from some of the young 'hotshot' so-they-think photographers, but from the older, seasoned, and I don't really want to use the word "matured" photographers, who took the time to ply their trade, and can now make their statement. This is my opinion, and if you can't handle it, zip it.
So the firs step in this new direction is to locate and inventory the hardware, lamps, stands, cords, backgrounds, etc. This to be followed by equipment evaluation, testing and modifications. I think I will update some lamp components, so that the robustness and capacity is maxed out. Do or die strategy. I need lamps that can fire two, three and even four times per second, and if these old time lamps can't handle that, or be upgraded to handle that speed, then I may be searching eBay for something better. But if this does not work out as intended I can always fall back to Plan B, that is, to get another Canon 580EX flash unit or two [2], and I am pretty sure that light system will deliver most of what I need .. and it will be 100% portable too.
Maybe I should just go straight to Plan B ....
[Above & Below] Tanker aground in the Basseterre Bay during the passage of a subtropical weather system earlier this week
[Below] Sunrise over the Basseterre Bay, days before the bad weather and the Tanker incident this week.
[Below] Passing through the City last Saturday afternoon, young models posing.
[Below] I just had to get a close up snap too.
The studio lamp is the main component in the studio lighting system, but maybe equally important is a reliable flash meter. Light stands of various sizes and height are necessary from background, on the floor lighting, to the boom arm for the hair light, for gobo, and creative innovations as required. I know where my Minolta flash meters and light stands are so I am one jump ahead. It is a sobering though not having to find in excess of five [5] grand in uncle Sam's for just five [5] new brand name studio lamps today, and another two [2] grand for the fixtures, accessories, light modifiers, which I doubt very much can outperform those of yesteryear. So if you don't have access to this kind of bread or photo studio 'set up' you may have a hard time getting counted on judgement day.
In reality, maybe it has nothing to do with the studio lamps at all, and the seemingly expensive and fancy studio lights setup, that some folks seem to be peddling. Maybe it is convenient to have the studio setup, but there has to be people on this planet who are delivering "the almost perfect image" and not breaking any bank. Every day I see images on Facebook and websites unlimited, and I am not moved to click like, but when I do see a compelling image it is not coming from some of the young 'hotshot' so-they-think photographers, but from the older, seasoned, and I don't really want to use the word "matured" photographers, who took the time to ply their trade, and can now make their statement. This is my opinion, and if you can't handle it, zip it.
So the firs step in this new direction is to locate and inventory the hardware, lamps, stands, cords, backgrounds, etc. This to be followed by equipment evaluation, testing and modifications. I think I will update some lamp components, so that the robustness and capacity is maxed out. Do or die strategy. I need lamps that can fire two, three and even four times per second, and if these old time lamps can't handle that, or be upgraded to handle that speed, then I may be searching eBay for something better. But if this does not work out as intended I can always fall back to Plan B, that is, to get another Canon 580EX flash unit or two [2], and I am pretty sure that light system will deliver most of what I need .. and it will be 100% portable too.
Maybe I should just go straight to Plan B ....
[Above & Below] Tanker aground in the Basseterre Bay during the passage of a subtropical weather system earlier this week
[Below] Sunrise over the Basseterre Bay, days before the bad weather and the Tanker incident this week.
[Below] Passing through the City last Saturday afternoon, young models posing.
[Below] I just had to get a close up snap too.
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