StephenEastwood wrote:
Now I am including many samples, mainly because I figure if I gave some examples it would show some range of a BD without a major variation in photographer style vast difference is technique or majot model quality location shifts that cloud the issue more, so hopefully you get more of a feel for what the dish can do for you.








































Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

-- Stephen Eastwood --
http://www.PhotographersPortfolio.com

KEKnight wrote:

Wonderful, I love the blue gel for the hairlight, great touch.

Bad Karma Photo wrote:
Stephen! Thank you, there is magic in that dish...

I can say I prefer the speedotron one to all even the broncolor one and molas, I have modified it slightly and basically only use it with a grid, the link above has the modification description.

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

Bad Karma Photo wrote:
Stephen! Thank you, there is magic in that dish...

It's not just the dish, it's how you use it and Stephen really knows how to use it.

Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano

Stefano Brunesci wrote:
It's not just the dish, it's how you use it and Stephen really knows how to use it.

Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano

sshhhh.....I just point it toward the model, the dish does the rest of the work 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

Bad Karma Photo wrote:
Wonderful, I love the blue gel for the hairlight, great touch.

Thanks!!!   Just study all StephenEastwoods stuff.  That's what I did. 

Edit:  I'm not the only one, I see.   I also used a 22" speedotron grid on a AB deauty dish.  Again,  Stephens idea. 

Stefano Brunesci wrote:

It's not just the dish, it's how you use it and Stephen really knows how to use it.

Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano

Oh absolutely No doubt about that

StephenEastwood wrote:

I can say I prefer the speedotron one to all even the broncolor one and molas, I have modified it slightly and basically only use it with a grid, the link above has the modification description.

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

StephenEastwood wrote:

I can say I prefer the speedotron one to all even the broncolor one and molas, I have modified it slightly and basically only use it with a grid, the link above has the modification description.

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

Thank you! I am reading through the link right now, great advice, can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

Bad Karma Photo wrote:
Oh absolutely No doubt about that

FWIW there are a few examples with a beauty dish in my beauty port too.

Ciao
Stefano

So tell me some about Beauty Dishes and grids ?
   (Stephen Eastwood's consolidated answer thread. Read this first.)

Speedo Beauty Dish Modification? (Stephen Eastwood’s mod)
Any suggestions on a beauty dish?
Beauty Dish (47+ posts)
Beauty Dish (40+ posts)
Beauty Dish Comparison
beauty dishes
Beauty Dishes & Grids
How do you use your Beauty Dish?
Beauty dish placement - advice please ("Sweet spot")
Any suggestions on a beauty dish?
Alien Bees "beauty dish"
Beauty Dish vs. Softbox
Beauty Dish - Best Practices
traveling w/ a beauty dish (Cases)
alien bees beauty dish (22" Grid [Speedotron and Hensel grids fit])
Beauty Dishes (Which brand do you use/like?)
Anyone use this ebay Beauty Dish?? (40 cm Radar Reflector)
The Big Mola Beauty Dish- Is it worth using it?(33” Euro / 43” Mantti)
Mola Beauty dish size (33” Euro: what’s it good for?)
Mola Demi and Profoto
Shooting with a beauty dish (Mola Demi 22”)
Examples with a Beautydish (Many examples)
Beauty dish from above (Examples, especially for full-length)

Vanishing Point Ent wrote:
Note to Mr. Eastwood.

You should try a Mola 22 in. beauty dish.  The difference is like a lens with an

aspheric front element, vs. one with the normal convex shape.  The compound

curves, of the Mola, focuses the light better.  The white paint, is of a higher

quality & the mount is universal.  That is, it takes a Chimera size Strobe Insert,

from their speedring.  They make these to fit everyone's strobe.

You can find them at www.Dynalite.com, the distributor.

The manufacturer is:  www.Mola.com.

I have all 3 molas, and broncolor, and elichrom, and balcar, plus hensel (all variations) and have yet to find a dish I like as much as the speedotron one (except its big/deep and a pain to carry)

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

Stefano Brunesci wrote:
Stephen! Thank you, there is magic in that dish...
It's not just the dish, it's how you use it and Stephen really knows how to use it.

Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano

Stephen Eastwood and Steve Brickles are real masters of the grid/eggcrate formula - Steve Brickles profile is here;

https://www.modelmayhem.com/63988

M5A1 Photography wrote:
I have a related question for anyone who might like to answer this one (ahem, Mr. Eastwood):

What are some examples of the difference between a beauty dish and a ring flash?  Clearly the BD throws light on a wider scale, but for actual beauty shots or closeups (eyes, lips, etc) what might be the benefit for one over the other?

Sorry for the bitty hijack...

ringflashes are not for beauty unless its half a face or less.  They are designed for macro, if using it that close to get a ringflash effect you are distorting a face by standing too close.  When you move back far enough to get a good perspective on the face, the ring is more of a point light source and not much better than a on camera flash.

A BD with grid can control the light to a much tighter spread, a ringflash really does not control the spread unless you grid it as well.  The BD can also be moved in close to make the light larger and softer as its a bounced light rather than a direct light.  Also can be moved off axis to create a dimension and depth to the image which a ringflash, used as intended, loses as its inherently a flat light source.  Shadow is really what makes images have depth and dimension and feeling/emotion, not to mention character and stand out.



for some reference on distance and distortion on a face check this http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … ective.htm

for a longer ringflash discussion check this one http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … gflash.htm

and overall check out these  http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/

since they are already there 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

StephenEastwood wrote:

ringflashes are not for beauty unless its half a face or less.  They are designed for macro, if using it that close to get a ringflash effect you are distorting a face by standing too close.  When you move back far enough to get a good perspective on the face, the ring is more of a point light source and not much better than a on camera flash.

A BD with grid can control the light to a much tighter spread, a ringflash really does not control the spread unless you grid it as well.  The BD can also be moved in close to make the light larger and softer as its a bounced light rather than a direct light.  Also can be moved off axis to create a dimension and depth to the image which a ringflash, used as intended, loses as its inherently a flat light source.



for some reference on distance and distortion on a face check this http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … ective.htm

for a longer ringflash discussion check this one http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … gflash.htm

and overall check out these  http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/

since they are already there 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

You remember that song from the Partridge Family?  "I think I love you..."  Well, it fits.    Thank you!!!

M5A1 Photography wrote:

You remember that song from the Partridge Family?  "I think I love you..."  Well, it fits.    Thank you!!!

OK, thanks, now I have that song in my head, and I feel really, really old.  I swear I only know it from reruns 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

StephenEastwood wrote:

OK, thanks, now I have that song in my head, and I feel really, really old.  I swear I only know it from reruns 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

Uh... me too. 

StephenEastwood wrote:
ringflashes are not for beauty unless its half a face or less.  They are designed for macro, if using it that close to get a ringflash effect you are distorting a face by standing too close.  When you move back far enough to get a good perspective on the face, the ring is more of a point light source and not much better than a on camera flash.

A BD with grid can control the light to a much tighter spread, a ringflash really does not control the spread unless you grid it as well.  The BD can also be moved in close to make the light larger and softer as its a bounced light rather than a direct light.  Also can be moved off axis to create a dimension and depth to the image which a ringflash, used as intended, loses as its inherently a flat light source.  Shadow is really what makes images have depth and dimension and feeling/emotion, not to mention character and stand out.



for some reference on distance and distortion on a face check this http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … ective.htm

for a longer ringflash discussion check this one http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … gflash.htm

and overall check out these  http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/

since they are already there 

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

*echoes agreement here* I found that out unfortunately. Luckily the model knew it was a test of new equiptment, but I still feel bad, because she got into some awesomep oses, and stayed naked for a while...lol. I'll wind up selling the damn thing, because I don't really do much macro/small things shots. BUT, it does make for a nice "off camera" flash if you work at it right. I was forced to improvise when a light fell at a group shoot. I didn't have a back up bulb, and my trusty little light was there for me.

Connor Photography wrote:
Will 16" BD will do the job or just don't bother just get the 22"  ?

22 is much, much better.  Get a grid.

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com