Help/Suggestions for Lighting kit

wa5am · 11-23-2008, 07:43 AM

One thing I've never really done much of is the use of artificial lighting in photography, other than incidental lighting in some indoor shots. I would really like to get something that would be portable for taking anywhere practical, in the woods, homes, etc.

First thing that comes to mind are strobes since I will not always be in places with AC mains. So, in that regard, all I have is the on-camera flash on the K20D and a shoe mount Nikon SB-16.

I hear a lot of folks talking about remote control flash. I do know what a slave unit is, but beyond that I am totally ignorant on this subject.

I would really appreciate it if any of you lighting experts could send me in the right direction on some minimal (to start with) strobe equipment, reflectors, diffusers, slave units, or whatever it takes for a fairly decent setup to use in most settings. I primarily want to use this for portraits, and casual people type photography.

Does anyone make a "starter type kit"? Any help on this will be most helpful.

Good books you can suggest on strobe lighting would be great too!

Thanks!

Morg

Venturi · 11-23-2008, 09:01 AM

Hi Morg,

I got most of my lighting setup from MPEX thanks to recommendations/links on Strobist. Their prices are pretty good and they do have some kits "designed" for Stobist newbies: MPEX Strobist Kits.

(I'm not a big fan of the eBay/Cactus remote triggers for use in situations when you need good reliability, but they're fine for knocking around and learning.)

As for reading material, I'd recommend starting out here: Strobist: Lighting 101, and then continuing on with Lighting 102 to learn the ropes. I've also heard really good things about the book Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting and it is on my shopping list for December.

wa5am · 11-24-2008, 04:33 PM

Thanks for the reply Jim! This will help me a lot.

Morg

Venturi · 11-24-2008, 05:36 PM

Totally welcome. By the by, I should have pre-qualified my reply stating I am not a "lighting expert"; merely an aspiring noob that six months ago literally hated flash photography until I finally saw the light*.

* (sorry, I just had to got there)

Mike Cash · 11-25-2008, 04:42 AM

There are all sorts of options out there. Personally, I use old Pentax flashes (AF200T and AF280T), Flash Waves radio triggers, a 2 meter light stand, and a 45 inch dual purpose umbrella, with a lightweight tripod sometimes joining the mix.

The great thing about it is how extremely portable it all is. I ball-bungee the umbrella to the outside of the light stand case, which slings diagonally across my back. The flashes and triggers go into a cheapo fanny pack I bought for 10 bucks. Lightweight and I still have both hands free.

11-23-2008, 07:43 AM	#1
wa5am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 244	Help/Suggestions for Lighting kit One thing I've never really done much of is the use of artificial lighting in photography, other than incidental lighting in some indoor shots. I would really like to get something that would be portable for taking anywhere practical, in the woods, homes, etc. First thing that comes to mind are strobes since I will not always be in places with AC mains. So, in that regard, all I have is the on-camera flash on the K20D and a shoe mount Nikon SB-16. I hear a lot of folks talking about remote control flash. I do know what a slave unit is, but beyond that I am totally ignorant on this subject. I would really appreciate it if any of you lighting experts could send me in the right direction on some minimal (to start with) strobe equipment, reflectors, diffusers, slave units, or whatever it takes for a fairly decent setup to use in most settings. I primarily want to use this for portraits, and casual people type photography. Does anyone make a "starter type kit"? Any help on this will be most helpful. Good books you can suggest on strobe lighting would be great too! Thanks! Morg

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11-23-2008, 09:01 AM	#2
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Hi Morg, I got most of my lighting setup from MPEX thanks to recommendations/links on Strobist. Their prices are pretty good and they do have some kits "designed" for Stobist newbies: MPEX Strobist Kits. (I'm not a big fan of the eBay/Cactus remote triggers for use in situations when you need good reliability, but they're fine for knocking around and learning.) As for reading material, I'd recommend starting out here: Strobist: Lighting 101, and then continuing on with Lighting 102 to learn the ropes. I've also heard really good things about the book Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting and it is on my shopping list for December.

11-24-2008, 04:33 PM	#3
wa5am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 244 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply Jim! This will help me a lot. Morg

11-24-2008, 05:36 PM	#4
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Totally welcome. By the by, I should have pre-qualified my reply stating I am not a "lighting expert"; merely an aspiring noob that six months ago literally hated flash photography until I finally saw the light. (sorry, I just had to got there)

11-25-2008, 04:42 AM	#5
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	There are all sorts of options out there. Personally, I use old Pentax flashes (AF200T and AF280T), Flash Waves radio triggers, a 2 meter light stand, and a 45 inch dual purpose umbrella, with a lightweight tripod sometimes joining the mix. The great thing about it is how extremely portable it all is. I ball-bungee the umbrella to the outside of the light stand case, which slings diagonally across my back. The flashes and triggers go into a cheapo fanny pack I bought for 10 bucks. Lightweight and I still have both hands free.