tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post3197603020171056123..comments2023-08-08T06:33:45.649-06:00Comments on Calanan Photography: How I Lit It: Heidi at The Great Salt Lakecalananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15008765478104023257noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-30059395916504007782009-02-26T21:11:00.000-07:002009-02-26T21:11:00.000-07:00Ok so tonight for the very first time in my life I...Ok so tonight for the very first time in my life I slaved my SB900 to the D90 :) I still haven't the foggiest what I am doing but it was fun. I've got a million miles to go with this lighting stuff, landscapes are so much easier!<BR/><BR/>I also bought the three recommendations, I won't know what to do with it when I get it either but I'll be able to start learning and this year at the Santa Claus setup at the church Christmas Party I'll be ready!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the help guys.<BR/><BR/>cheers<BR/>mbgMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05442856640346613550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-85946388170150463272009-02-26T16:15:00.000-07:002009-02-26T16:15:00.000-07:00Hmm, the original Westcott 45" Optical White Satin...Hmm, the original <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Westcott-Optical-White-Umbrella-Removable/dp/B00009UTZJ/" REL="nofollow">Westcott 45" Optical White Satin Umbrella with Removable Black Cover</A> link is bad (thanks, Zig) but this should work.calananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008765478104023257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-42923567725636529302009-02-26T15:49:00.000-07:002009-02-26T15:49:00.000-07:00Another photographer, Zig P asked me offline about...Another photographer, <A HREF="http://ziggypphotography.wordpress.com" REL="nofollow">Zig P</A> asked me offline about how much I had invested in my lighting setup minus the Speedlights.<BR/><BR/>In addition to the equipment above, here's the info on the cheaper lighting setup I referred to: <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/PHOTOGRAPHY-CONTINUOUS-LIGHTING-UMBRELLA-Fluorescent/dp/B000GX484U/" REL="nofollow">Photography Studio Continuous Lighting Umbrella Kit</A> for $33, which included the stand, umbrella and the umbrella adapter - however the light source is a continuous compact florescent hence it doesn't have a hotshoe adapter so I had to spend about $15-$20 for a cheap plastic umbrella bracket.<BR/><BR/>All said I spent about $150 or so in the non-speedlight portion of my setup. I also spend smaller amounts of change on sheets of lighting gels (about $5 for 2'x2' sheets locally), a roll of Velcro to use to stick the gels to my Speedlights and maybe $10-$15 on a Sto-Fen diffuser dome for my SB-600 (the SB-800 comes with one).calananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008765478104023257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-56010906263517761002009-02-25T09:29:00.000-07:002009-02-25T09:29:00.000-07:00Thanks so much for the comments and questions. To...Thanks so much for the comments and questions. To answer Mark's question on his new Nikon SB-900 Speedlight (congrats!), I realise the temptation is there to start off with some cheap lighting gear, especially after spending so much on a new light but you must resist!<BR/><BR/>My first setup was a flimsy cheap stand, a mostly plastic umbrella adapter and a small, flimsy white shoot through umbrella. Sure I saved a few bucks but less than 2 years later the knob that secures the stand's legs won't tighten, the knob that locks down the umbrella shaft has broken off and the umbrella itself is tearing at the seams.<BR/><BR/>To add to that, the cheap stand is much too light and is prone to being knocked over at the slightest nudge.<BR/><BR/>What a waste of money.<BR/><BR/>I have since added to my kit a proper - and yet not overly expensive - setup for my Speedlight, which has served me very well. Here's what I use:<BR/><BR/>Stand: <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Giottos-Cushioned-Lightstand-Reversible-Mounting/dp/B000KF6B2G" REL="nofollow">Giottos 8' Air Cushioned Lightstand with Reversible 1/4" and 3/8" Mounting Stud</A>, $43<BR/><BR/>The stand is much more durable and beefy (and heavier, which is fine by me) and has an air-cushioned shaft, which softens the fall of the extension tube once you release the tension.<BR/><BR/>Clamp: <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Bogen-2905-Swivel-Umbrella-Adapter/dp/B0000AE64T/" REL="nofollow">Bogen 2905 Swivel Umbrella Adapter</A>, $30<BR/><BR/>This clamp has since been replaced by <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-026-Lite-Tite-Umbrella-Adapter/dp/B001ENW61I" REL="nofollow">this model</A> but the 2905 is cheaper and I don't really see the difference between the two.<BR/><BR/>The clamp is all-metal and my only complaint about it is that the hole for the umbrella is far enough away from the top that when used with Speedlights the head of the lights fires to far away from the center of the umbrella. I don't think this is as much of a problem with studio lights and is a function of how tall the Speedlights are, which places the bulb so far away from center. I've read that there are other models of umbrella adapters that place the hole closer to the top, like <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Umbrella-Adapter-Hot-Shoe-Mount/dp/B000TL3IPY/" REL="nofollow">this one</A> but I haven't used any of them yet.<BR/><BR/>Umbrella: <A HREF="" REL="nofollow">Westcott 45" Optical White Satin Umbrella with Removable Black Cover</A>, $29<BR/><BR/>I love this brolly, it's big, tough and flexible since you can use it either as a shoot-through or a bounce (with its removable black cover mounted). It's also a very neutral fabric and doesn't cause any color cast problems.<BR/><BR/>Total cost is around $100, not cheap but the durability is definitely worth the extra money.<BR/><BR/>Anyone else have thoughts or questions?calananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008765478104023257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-23175512277563434272009-02-25T00:46:00.000-07:002009-02-25T00:46:00.000-07:00These are simply amazing. The lighting looks like ...These are simply amazing. The lighting looks like it comes straight out of a movie. Thanks for posting these tips for us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-33639997703477022312009-02-24T22:51:00.000-07:002009-02-24T22:51:00.000-07:00Amen, great stuff for posting the how to's on this...Amen, great stuff for posting the how to's on this. So here is my next question for you. :)<BR/><BR/>1) I bought the monster Nikon SB-900 AF light, which as I understand can be fired remotely from the D90<BR/><BR/>? What light stand/umbrella cheap/entry level can I get to go with this?Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05442856640346613550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-54929412499594596802009-02-24T21:08:00.000-07:002009-02-24T21:08:00.000-07:00I love the blue background photo - but even the "n...I love the blue background photo - but even the "normal" one is gorgeous.<BR/><BR/>That is my kind of photowalk... I can't wait for some more outdoorsy photowalks.<BR/><BR/>Great Stuff!Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04059673299496149227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89136022553027022.post-79952242004183879912009-02-24T20:43:00.000-07:002009-02-24T20:43:00.000-07:00I'm really sad I missed that event (tried but was ...I'm really sad I missed that event (tried but was lost wandering the salt flats alone). Nice little article!Nathan Marxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01381069358549596111noreply@blogger.com