OT - Light Control Options

Jim H wrote on 2/24/2006, 8:09 PM

I picked up a 4 set of quartz lights cheap on ebay but no barn doors or umbrellas or anything. I'm limited on budget so I want to pick up some light control fixtures. For a standard 3 light set up, what would be most useful? These 12" filter frames and difussion filters advertize themselves as good alternatives to softboxes. Here's what I'm thinking I could get away with (and afford):
1. Barndoors & Filter frame for key light
2. White umbrella only for fill
3. nothing for hair light? Maybe barndoors?

I'm getting smith victor lights. 2 765UM and 2 700SGs, 2 stands and a case for $85. I have one stand already.

Any thoughts?
Thank you.

Comments

farss wrote on 2/24/2006, 10:25 PM

Cinefoil and french flags are cheap, flags you can make yourself. Just marine ply painted matte black with a short bit of pipe or rod affixed so they'll fit into grips.
For diffussion make a cheap frame (electrical conduit and 4 elbows will do) and stretch chinese silk over it, or Lycra (watch for heat if using the latter)

Bob.

rmack350 wrote on 2/24/2006, 11:26 PM

You can use wooden clothes pins to clip sheets of gel to barn doors. This has several advantages:

--It's faster than gel frames
--The gel is farther from the hot lamps and should last longer
--If you put diffusion on barn doors you can spread the gel wider. For any given grade of diffusion, the larger the panel the softer the light will be.
--You can also reduce the output of a fixture by squeezing the doors tight. Quick and easy.

So I'd get the bardoors over the gel frames. In addition, get a roll of blackwrap. It's heavy black foil and is very useful for trimming up the spill from a light.

Rob Mack