Leroy Dickson wrote:
Studio .. location?

Doesn't matter - I'm after the stuff that you use again and again and again.  I'm asking because I have a long list of gear I would like, but I'm going to have to prioritise.

Leroy Dickson wrote:
Studio .. location?

Jim Berriman wrote:
Doesn't matter - I'm after the stuff that you use again and again and again.  I'm asking because I have a long list of gear I would like, but I'm going to have to prioritise.

Actually, it does matter:

  * There is stuff that is absolutely essential in
     a studio but absolutely irrelevant in the field.

  * There is stuff that is absolutely essential when shooting nudes
     but pointless when shooting macro.

etc. Would love to help, but need more details about what you shoot and how you shoot.

Rob Domaschuk wrote:

Leroy Dickson wrote:
Studio .. location?

Actually, it does matter:

  * There is stuff that is absolutely essential in
     a studio but absolutely irrelevant in the field.

  * There is stuff that is absolutely essential when shooting nudes
     but pointless when shooting macro.

etc. Would love to help, but need more details about what you shoot and how you shoot.

OK

Let's try location fashion shooting

Shelby Chan Photography wrote:
-Beauty dish
-Grids

Both on my list - thanks

Adam_A wrote:
I virtually always use a 36x36" square SB for my mainlight.

Yup - got one of those, well a metre square one

Casi Sandeman wrote:
Almost 70% of the work in my port is done with a reflector. They're the sweetest.

A big one, like a Skylight, or a collapsable round one?

Fotticelli wrote:
This is very subjective. Get one of each and try which one you like best.

Some photographers love softboxes some think they suck and wouldn't touch one with a ten foot boom arm.

I like working with reflected light so you could say that my favorite light modifier is my studio wall.

Yes, this is all very subjective, but you have mentioned your favourite "tool" and that's the point of this thread - thanks

Jim Berriman wrote:
Hey all,

Just wondering which light modifiers you consider to be absolutely essential kit. Yeah, I know it'll depend upon what the shot calls for, but just give me an idea please of the kit you find you just can't live without

Thanks!

Depends...

I can't live without umbrellas! Those are key, silver ones at that.

In the studio I can't live without 3 gridded strip softboxes, and a few sets of grids on 2-3 other lights.

Jim Berriman wrote:

A big one, like a Skylight, or a collapsable round one?

Collapsable, although I would like to get a larger one in the near future.

Casi Sandeman wrote:

Collapsable, although I would like to get a larger one in the near future.

Don't we all?

I too need to scale up.  I've got a sunfire/white one at the mo.

Daniel Garay wrote:
I second the beauty dish.

collapsible round reflectors too.

oops - i thought that was one in the same.... the beauty dish - is a ring flash?

Jim Berriman wrote:
Hey all,

Just wondering which light modifiers you consider to be absolutely essential kit. Yeah, I know it'll depend upon what the shot calls for, but just give me an idea please of the kit you find you just can't live without

Thanks!

Beauty dish and grids. Grids on everything.

Anzalone Photography wrote:

oops - i thought that was one in the same.... the beauty dish - is a ring flash?

A beauty dish is one of these:

http://www.bowens.co.uk/catalog/product … 9fa6b5c201

Eduardo Frances wrote:
honeycomb grids those are a must

Oh yes, I'm with you on that one

Jim Berriman wrote:

Oh yes, I'm with you on that one

+300 points for that !

Julian Marsalis wrote:
Whats the big difference in the lighting beauty dish vs softbox of the same size???

Same shadow transfer region with a higher specularity and markedly different penumbra behavior. A silver-lined softbox of the same size with a thin diffusion screen gives similar but not identical results.

Julian Marsalis wrote:
Whats the big difference in the lighting beauty dish vs softbox of the same size???

Kevin Connery wrote:
Same shadow transfer region with a higher specularity and markedly different penumbra behavior. A silver-lined softbox of the same size with a thin diffusion screen gives similar but not identical results.

In non-technical terms I'd say that a BD gives a crisper, prettier light with softer-edged shadows assuming roughly the same diameter and distance from the subject. When you put it really close the sharp falloff tends to make skin 'glow' rather than glare as it can with a softbox. 

The fact that it's round rather than square also makes a difference and, of course, you get that nice round catchlight with the hole in the middle

Jim Berriman wrote:

Oh yes, I'm with you on that one

Ditto. Love honeycomb grids.

Tim Little Photography wrote:
I just got a new radio trigger and 45 inch soft silver umbrella for location shooting. I'm looking forward to getting my flash off camera.

Get some HEAVY sand bags... trust me.

Casi Sandeman wrote:

Collapsable, although I would like to get a larger one in the near future.

I recently drooled over scoring 3 40"x60" collapsable ones... I'll be happy for awhile.