Thomas Oed wrote:
Is there a site or a link anywhere that someone can point me to that shows all of the various types of lighting modifiers available, with good demonstrations of what each of them does individually?

Here's photo.net's 5 part series on studio equipment:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08XTe&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08fxc&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08tv0&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 092qL&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 09KEb&tag=

Brian Diaz wrote:

Here's photo.net's 5 part series on studio equipment:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08XTe&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08fxc&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 08tv0&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 092qL&tag=
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-m … 09KEb&tag=

Nice, Brian... THANKS!!  : D

I like in how the first one they show the 12 different photos with the varous modifiers... exactly what I'm looking for, EXCEPT they should have done that with a SUBJECT in the photo!!  Would be better to see the light fall-off, etc, with a 3-dimensional subject in the image... like the couple of face shots they have down below, but the same face and the same shot with each of the modeifiers...  know what I mean?

LightLab Studios wrote:
This is a very simple outdoor setup from a recent shoot in the Arizona desert.

How much editing? Just trying to get a feel of what comes out of the RZ with a digital back. I'd rent one but I'm kinda in the middle of NoWheresVille lol. They don't rent that kind of equipment round here.

JM Dean wrote:

How much editing? Just trying to get a feel of what comes out of the RZ with a digital back. I'd rent one but I'm kinda in the middle of NoWheresVille lol. They don't rent that kind of equipment round here.

There's still a lot of editing in this picture, but the digital back makes a huge difference, especially in terms of a 12-stop tonal range that is rich with detail and info waiting to be tweaked in photoshop. I couldn't have gotten all the fine details in the sandy road, etc with my Nikon sensor (12 MP). The edits were almost all selective curve and color adjustments (about 10 adjustment layers) with a heavy unsharp mask at the end (also selective). There is lots of masking and brush work.

LightLab Studios wrote:

There's still a lot of editing in this picture, but the digital back makes a huge difference, especially in terms of a 12-stop tonal range that is rich with detail and info waiting to be tweaked in photoshop. I couldn't have gotten all the fine details in the sandy road, etc with my Nikon sensor (12 MP). The edits were almost all selective curve and color adjustments (about 10 adjustment layers) with a heavy unsharp mask at the end (also selective). There is lots of masking and brush work.

Thanks for the info. I gots to find somewhere to rent one lol.

Bumping it up...

Thomas Oed wrote:
Is there a site or a link anywhere that someone can point me to that shows all of the various types of lighting modifiers available, with good demonstrations of what each of them does individually?  Softbox vs. Grid vs. Barn Doors vs. 'Beauty Dish' etc?  That part always confuses the hell out of me, and it's probably one of the reasons I almost always stick to the good ol' outdoors!  : D

The Bron Elektronik website has a nice light shaper comparison page:

http://www.bron.ch/vt_pd_lg_sc_en/index.php

You can select a light shaper from the drop-down list and see how it looks. Further, you can select an additional light shaper and compare it side-by-side with the first (note that I've had issues with the side-by-side function in Firefox, IE worked fine, though).

Thomas Oed wrote:
Nice, Brian... THANKS!!  : D

I like in how the first one they show the 12 different photos with the varous modifiers... exactly what I'm looking for, EXCEPT they should have done that with a SUBJECT in the photo!!  Would be better to see the light fall-off, etc, with a 3-dimensional subject in the image... like the couple of face shots they have down below, but the same face and the same shot with each of the modeifiers...  know what I mean?

This is another interesting tool to show how different light modifiers effect the subject:

http://www.bron.ch/vt_pd_lg_sc_en/index.php

EDIT: Oh brother, I'm an idiot. I didn't see this post directly above before I replied. Sorry about that.

criderphotography wrote:
This is another interesting tool to show how different light modifiers effect the subject:

http://www.bron.ch/vt_pd_lg_sc_en/index.php

EDIT: Oh brother, I'm an idiot. I didn't see this post directly above before I replied. Sorry about that.

Jinx!

Legacys 7 wrote:

Brandon? Some have hated on the AB lights. Show them this model and you'll change some opinions about the AB lights.

hehe yeah i am a user of alienbees and its awesome!

LightLab Studios wrote:
simple one light setup on location.
i've included the original capture and final image so you can see the post work.



original capture:


final image:

I love the before and after the post work.  This so truly shows the impact of the lighting as opposed to what is done after the fact and that many people try to pass off as purely a result of "lighting".  Good stuff.  As I have said before, and still maintain, I wonder how many great images wouldn't be so great without Photoshop.

LightLab Studios wrote:
who's ready to step up to the plate, next?

thanks,
tom

I'll step up!

here's the setup:


and the pic (sorry, it's kinda large):

The image was given a cross processing effect in photoshop that shifted colors and increased contrast.

A less manipulated version:

Sean Armenta wrote:
WOW how cool is this little diagramming thing!  sweet!

this:





gets you this:





and if you want to see the video of it, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oftbXkMw0NA

This is gorgeous Sean, thanks for sharing. Cheers