Fluorescent lighting Vs Flash lighting

[Ben Harris]

I have been asked to set up a photo studio for taking photos of products like
large sculptures down to small arts. I have been advised to get fluorescent lighting
as working with these are better than flash as you can see what you are getting.
I don't intend to shoot people but is needed i understand that they need to not move
around to much.... What are your thoughts??

[Jacco]

Studio strobes with 5,000 wattseconds plus and continuous lights, very large softboxes (octobox). Forget fluorescent lighting! It will 1) wreak havoc with the color temperature, 2) cause you to misjudge colors (which is not the same thing!), 3) cause red shift, 4) require inconveniently long shutter speeds, and 5) make handheld exposing impossible (tripod all the way!).

[Ben Harris]

Its interesting to hear what there is to choose from I asked 2 different studio lighting supply stores and they both recommend fluro lighting 5400k daylight light box's. I'm not doing models "Damn" but because of the reflective qualities of the materials they suggested the fluros.. they are a lot cheaper so its not like the stores are trying to get the dollars of me...Hmm more to ponder.

[joshman]

hye bloke, i live not allthat far from you! i'm over in kenmore!

anyway, if you have any hot shot flash, just tape a small torch to the top of it to act as a modelling light, that should get you pretty close, but i do believe that flash is the better way to go

[Songman45]

I think there may be some confusion about flourescent lights. There are some daylight balanced bulbs and fixtures with electronic ballasts. Do not confuse these with the "cool blue" lights that made our pictures look green back in the 70s. There are other lighting options out there for continuous lighting. If you can, get some test shots with them before you commit to buying.

[JimH]

Originally Posted by Ben Harris

I asked 2 different studio lighting supply stores and they both recommend fluro lighting 5400k daylight light box's.

Really depends on the quailty of the light. Recently saw an instructional video where the host built a giant 8'x8' (i think - might have been bigger) softbox using these bulbs and manoman did it take a lot of them to get the shutter speed out of the basement. Granted he was shooting people not product ... but I think you get the gist.

[Brooks]

Professional studio flash has consistent color temperature, power output, and allows the choice of many different light modifiers. Flash can be projected from fresnel spots and grids, diffused and controlled easily by softboxes and dialed up or down in output without changing color temerature.

Look for 2-1200ws or 2400ws power packs and 4-6 heads to start. You'll also need a flash meter, medium and large softboxes, perhaps several grid spots, a boom, light stands and small and large white foan-core reflectors.

I'd recommend Profoto or Elinchrom for your location. If you do want to use fluorescent lighting, look at the professional fluorescents from Kino-Flo. They'll be very dim and inefficient compared to flash. They won't be usable with many modifiers other than a silk or scrim and they will cost much more than a good set of Profoto Strobes. Other than that they'll be fine.

[HUMMER_MAN]

Hi Ben,
Get some "DAYLIGHT" (6500K) color compact flourescent bulbs, as many as you need to provide adequate light, they are inexpensive(about $5 each US) connect them to a Snap Strip multi- recepticle bar, I bought the bar with 6, the energy consumption is very low, no noticible heat, you can hold these bulbs in your hand after hours of use.

GE LIGHTING 89082 "ENERGY SMART" T3 SPIRAL FLUORESCENT BULB 10W - DAYLIGHT COLOR

Here is a link to the Snap Strips.

12 Outlet 15A RM Surge Strip - DHDRS1215 by: Tripplite - Jumbo Market

Here is the link to the LIGHT SOCKET ADAPTER-PLUGS

http://www.electronicplus.com/images...s/738W-BOX.jpg

You can use these 3 components to build a 12 bulb light source with a total cost of about $150 US for each 12 bulb strip. These bulbs provide a very bright & white short light ray, ideal for lab work, extremely energy effecient without the heat(26 Watt Compact flourscent bulb is equal to 100 Watt standard candescent bulb). The GE bulbs are rated at 8000 hours, there are several MFR's.

Set the color temperature in your camera as near 6500K as possible 6300-6700 ect and you will produce remarkable true color images with a constant light source that uses about 1/4th the energy and is very easy to manage.

Regards,

[Jacco]

Originally Posted by Ben Harris

[...] they suggested the fluros.. they are a lot cheaper so its not like the stores are trying to get the dollars of me...Hmm more to ponder.

Makes you wonder why they would do that, doesn't it? Well how about 1) a better margin and 2) the secure knowledge that you're going to be back for studio strobes and spend yet another shltload of money anyway?

[Ben Harris]

These are the lights i am looking at this might make things a bit easier





dragonimage