Olafo wrote:
>After reading a book about lighting set-ups for taking portrait pictures, I
>now have a desire to use my F280 (the only flash I currently have) as the
>main light source (coming from the side of the model), along with some
means
>of light diffusion (cloth?, paper?, wide-angle diffuser?) and some
>polystyrene reflection boards (placed on the other side and/or below the
>model).
[...]
>Now, some questions:
>- -Has anyone experimented with similar set-ups, and if so, what are your
>findings/recommendations regarding the above idea?
The problem I find with using flash heads like these is the lack of
modelling light to see what you're doing with positioning, and to some
extent, determining lightining ratios... nevertheless, I have done similar
things with my Viv. 283s with some success. I use A1 and B1 sized sheets of
architectural drafting paper (like heavyweight tracing paper, poster size)
clamped to frames made of PVC conduit for diffusion - they give a large
light source, without being as flat light-wise as a softbox (IMHO!). The
wide angle diffusers and mini-softboxes available for 283s, T32s etc are,
IMO, still to small for soft light, but are ideal for a hard edged shadows
without the gruesome specularity of 'naked' flash.
I would leave out the TTL connections, and use a handheld flash/ambient
meter. You're doing a proper set-up anyway, so it shouldn't add to the time
taken too much, and it will enable you to take incident readings from the
flash, and from the reflectors, to establish lighting ratios, which is
otherwise extremely difficult as you don't have modelling capabilities. If
you get a meter with a spot utility (like the lovely, but expensive, Sekonic
L508) you can use incident to set the ratios and reflected spot readings for
the exposure for the best accuracy in both circumstances - it's possible
with wide angle reflected meters, but less precise and more difficult, and I
use the incident setting on mine.
The final issue with this set-up is that a flash with a guide number between
25 and 40 give fairly weak light once nicely diffused, so you may have to
set the diffusion panel and reflectors quite close to the subject, which is
often OK, but can restrict your options when it comes to moving or directing
the subject...
Good luck!
Andy
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