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Indoor/outdoor ABR800 shooting tips..
I know a lot of you have got them from the threads crowing about yer new toys (and I'm right there with ya.. It's shiny and fun..) Just thought a thread on shooting/metering tips for Alien Bees new ring light might be useful... Or at least pass some time.. Jul 20 07 11:23 am Link for now, it's mounted on the light stand for ease of use, i wish the "handle" was more ergonomic, ya know? What kind of camera do you use and how do you trigger you ABR? Jul 20 07 12:13 pm Link Georges S wrote: Canon Rebel XTi (and Rebel D2).. Right now I'm using a hotshoe adapter, but it makes it a pain to meter (my meter has a pocket wizard transmitter).. It sounds ridiculous, but I'm contemplating strapping the receiver next to the transmitter just so I can meter it the same way I meter the rest of my lights.. (Also, so I can trigger all the lights in tandem for more complicated setups).. Jul 20 07 12:33 pm Link I put mine on a tripod with wireless triggers. This way I can meter if I choose to do so. The whole unit is a little tough to handle if not on a tripod. Metering is a problem obviously if the distance from the model changes. The if you are shooting outdoors there is a new set of issues to deal with. Jul 20 07 01:23 pm Link Gibson Photo Art wrote: Does make it interesting, though.. Jul 20 07 01:28 pm Link I mount mine on my tripod with a ball head, it allows me almost all the freedom I want with a steadier support. 3001pro bogen, nothing special but it really helps. Jul 20 07 01:41 pm Link Trent Chau wrote: What's the mounting set up for tripod? (Got mine on a light stand at the moment..) Jul 20 07 01:47 pm Link PROZAiC Studios wrote: Should be the same as putting on a stand. But depending on the head you have on there will allow you to pan and tilt. Jul 20 07 02:07 pm Link I'm including the PM WG and were having. WG Rowland It's not something I can self test because it blocks the remote trigger on my camera (so I can't focus).. Which leaves me little room to test.. Wondering things like relative distance for halo shadows and the eyecandy catchlights everyone loves so much.. And all sorts of curiosity for outdoor stuff.. But no Vagabond yet, so no rush there GPA: Why not just use the timer? Mark off some distances and see what effect you get. The catch lights only appear with a modifier like the moonunit. I have it and it works well, but makes it so much more difficult to handle. Jul 20 07 02:09 pm Link Since I spent all my money on the ringlight itself, I can't afford a flash-meter... So do what I do: Guesstimate, then take a digital shot and readjust based on the historgram readout. It takes a little time, but it's all I got... Jul 20 07 02:14 pm Link Max Johnson wrote: Nevah! Jul 20 07 02:31 pm Link I use a 15' synch cord and attach it from my light meter to the light. The light I put on the tripod and then I meter the light. I like shooting f11. Then I tape mark the floor to make sure I know where my distance is when shooting. I hand hold the sucker wihout the handle attachment. I have to read the instructions everytime I pull that thing out. I wish the handle was a snap on/off type dealy. Focusing is a pain. But once I get it sharp I leave it. That is also why I have the floor taped. Oh, I have it coed synched from camera to ABR800. I use the small jober it comes with. Well, I did. Untill I lost it.  I don't go outside. I need too this summer. To get food and stuff. Or visit real people. Other than photographers, models and MUAs. At least that is what the online psychologist tells me.... LOL!!!!!!!!! -S Jul 20 07 02:33 pm Link Do the same thing Minox did. Minox cameras came with a two foot chain attached. Along the chain are some small beads. They are located at 8", 10", 12", 18" and 24". This would allow you to set the focus on the camera while photographing documents. Tie a string to your light with knots at each F-stop distance at full power. So now you know what f-stop to use at each knot. Adjust the power and aperture from there to get what you want. This can be done with regular lights too. Just borrow someone's light meter and make strings up for your lights. Different modifiers? use a different color string. Malodave Jul 20 07 05:46 pm Link I trigger my ABR800 using a pocketwizard transceiver attached to my hotshoe (and a 1/8" to 1/8" mono cable connecting the pocketwizard directly to the flash. In other words, the pocketwizard acts like an overglorified hotshoe adapter). Doing it this way, any other lights I may use are perfectly synced to the ring flash. I can also just hand my Sekonic light meter (w/pocketwizard module) to the model and have her pop the flash for me to take a reading.  Jul 21 07 03:15 am Link W.G. Rowland wrote: Georges S wrote: Funny you should ask because I just started a thread asking about the wireless transmitters on ebay because I'm looking for an additional way to trigger the ABR800. Jul 21 07 03:32 am Link |
