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Barndoors, Snoots and Grids...
Forgive me if I'm repeating another much discussed topic, but I didn't find a definitive answer to my questions in a forum search or on google. Since this is by far the best place to learn (for me) here we go... I have been shooting for under a year and my photography growth has been 100% trial and error. I have no formal training or mentors so I'm just trying to guess or google at how to get better lighting and take my port to a different level... Now my question...can you kind professionals show me the effects of each modifier (barndoors,snoots,grids) in your work and how my photography can improve using it? I love most of you all's work and I enjoy seeing actual samples of the methods in question. I'm interested in emphasizing shadows, lighting my scenes better and establishing mood to my shoots to name a few things. I am using a 3 light Alienbee strobe set up with two Octaboxes and a set of umbrellas (white and black). I tried to mimic some lighting setups I saw without these modifiers with no luck before I realized I was missing something...lol.. I picked up a grid for the softbox, 30 degree honeycomb grid, a barndoor and snoot from the Alienbee website today and I'm eager to see where I can take my photography this year and some of the samples I see on this forum are very inspirational. Jan 14 09 04:02 pm Link I would suggest continuing your trial and error experimentation when you receive the new modifiers. I'm sure you'll get lots of information here, but until you actually USE the things, you won't know for sure. Jan 14 09 04:05 pm Link most of the product websites show the lighting patters and samples taken with each light modifier and you can judge from there. Better yet, join your state's professional photographer association and go to the convention. The vendors in the trade show will be very helpful. Jan 14 09 04:09 pm Link Jan 14 09 04:09 pm Link For general info and basis of barndoors, snoots and grids... Google is your friend, or get a book in studio lighting. For specific question or effect that you are seeking, MM is good. The lighting concept is not so complicated, but experience take time. Good luck. Jan 14 09 04:16 pm Link Snoot - Function it works for, macro photography, or narrowing face lighting. example  Note the falloff after the neckline - Also, if closer, the beam would be narrowed even more. It was up at an angle, so produces under-chin shadows (and under nose) without fill Barn Doors - Function it works for - flagging the light to adjust beam width and to block spillover etc. I use it manly to light model and keep background dark example  Only thing about barn doors is they usually cover bare bulbs, or the likes so the light is harsher. I have flash panels which diffuse better and with the barn doors it gives me strong light control. (except I'm a bit hot on the right side of the model .. LOL) Grids - Function it works for - narrowing the light Typical grid I use - 10 degree - 20 degree (for hair lighting) example  Jan 14 09 04:16 pm Link DSP Productions wrote: Honeycomb grid for the light behind the model (18+): Jan 14 09 04:17 pm Link if you grab a lite mod mainframe for your alien Bees then you can use the grids and the barndoors at the same time. You can also go hog wild and use the gels also. I would also suggest a boom, so you can position the lights above and out of the way, with out the stand getting in the shot. I just purchased the white lightnings, and I love them! Still experimenting and learning. If you have any questions PM me. I am not an expert, but I will gladly share what little I know. Jan 14 09 04:39 pm Link JT Hodges wrote: You can also use the barndoors to get a controlled fade. For example, if you want the bottom of the shot to fade to a black just adjust the bottom barn door to black the light. The top will be lit well, but the bottom will fade to a dark color. Jan 14 09 04:43 pm Link Great info, I think I understand a lot more now. My searches werent giving me what I was looking for exaclty. Are any of these modifiers used in lighting up the background on location? Jan 14 09 05:21 pm Link none of these discussions about modifiers really have any ground unless you detail the distance from the source to the subject. There is no difference between a 1K with or without doors at 40 feet, its getting all over everything at that distance more or less. Putting a flag or diffusion 8 feet from a head is a completely and totally different effect than putting it 8 inches (hanging off the doors) from the head when your subject is 12 feet from the head. Much of the advice you'll get in this and every other thread on this board in regards to grip is not particularly relevant until you start talking about distance between the head and subject. Then you are learn something. Jan 14 09 07:26 pm Link Check out the Lighting, Flash, Ring, & Battery Strobe Reference thread, which has a large section on Lighting Equipment, including a section on grids and another one on other hard light sources. (That thread is listed in the forum FAQ.) Grids LIGHTING: what is a grid?] Jan 14 09 10:18 pm Link This was shot with a #30 grid... Speedotron 400ws in a dark studio... bounced off a white wall...   Jan 14 09 10:22 pm Link Kevin Connery wrote: For some reason, I couldnt get most of these threads in my searches. Thanks. Jan 15 09 05:25 am Link Select Models wrote: Great shot & awesome port! Jan 15 09 05:26 am Link |
