Lot's of light newbies

[Snowdust]

Looks like a lot of people have been bitten with the studio light bug lately. Me included. Anyway, got a SB600 for Christmas, and it only took two days to realize it still wasn't going to do what I was looking for.

So what what do you? Go out and start buying light stands, umbrellas, etc.

So, I am a newbie too. Looking forward to sharing some stuff soon. Maybe we should start a post for everyone's first successful lighted shot other than a straight flash.

[oldwolf]

first, what do you want the light to do?

strobist.com is a good resource for off camera lighting if you want to go that route.

give us a little more info as to what you want the light to do and we could probably help some more

[Snowdust]

[QUOTE=Snowdust;350800]
So what what do you? Go out and start buying light stands, umbrellas, etc.
QUOTE]

I was actually being sacastic here, and actually went out and bought this. I was looking to strike discussion with others who are just starting out.

I have been reading until my head spins, and yes Strobist is good. I will be starting out with a single strobe umbrella and a reflecting board, and adding the second as soon as funds permit.

I am looking to do portaits (family in the house) and possibly some creative still life around the house. I quickly learned that even using a speedlight instead of the onboard flash that things look harsh and flat. Bouncing does take away the harshness, but really only allows you to light the room, and when trying to take a portrait from any distance leaves it looking like a well lit "snapshot". Will be starting to play with my new stuff today, and look forward to posting my first.

[Mr Guy]

[QUOTE=Snowdust;351073]

Originally Posted by Snowdust

So what what do you? Go out and start buying light stands, umbrellas, etc.
QUOTE]

I was actually being sacastic here, and actually went out and bought this. I was looking to strike discussion with others who are just starting out.

I have been reading until my head spins, and yes Strobist is good. I will be starting out with a single strobe umbrella and a reflecting board, and adding the second as soon as funds permit.

I am looking to do portaits (family in the house) and possibly some creative still life around the house. I quickly learned that even using a speedlight instead of the onboard flash that things look harsh and flat. Bouncing does take away the harshness, but really only allows you to light the room, and when trying to take a portrait from any distance leaves it looking like a well lit "snapshot". Will be starting to play with my new stuff today, and look forward to posting my first.

Negatory, space ghost!

Bouncing can do a whole heck of a lot more than that. It all depends on what you bounce it off of.

Check out http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/

[OsmosisStudios]

Mr Guy said it: Bouncing can be very powerful, and it all depends on how you do it.

I got great directional light in some shots over christmas with my little cousins. There's a small alcove area in one of the rooms, so I had one cousin sit on the floor on one wall and had the other stand beside him (out of frame) holding the flash. I had her point it at the opposite wall (at a certain point). The light bounced off the far wall and gave awesome directional-but-diffused light.

[Keels1225]

I am also just getting in to lighting (like within the last month or two). Up until recently I was mostly concerned with outdoor photography, but I work long hours and now that it's winter I am not at home while the sun is up. This left me with no other alternative but to begin building a lighting "studio" (either that or only shoot on the weekends).

I have a strobe "kit" in route, but I also really enjoy ghetto setups. I have a host of materials and a couple clamp lights from Walmart and the hardware store that I use along with the lamps in the cottage I am renting, and whatever else I can find. I think next week I am going to work on using a television as my only light source. While I am looking forward to having a little more control and and a more professional look with light, I think that budget set-ups can provide very interesting and sometimes more realistic photographs.....at least to me.