Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Mobile Lighting Solutions
Build the location lighting setup that suits your style
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| Battery-Driven Power Packs: The Good And The Bad |
| Note: Features listed may not apply to all battery-driven power-pack systems. Advantages: • One mobile pack can drive up to two flash heads • More compact heads, which are easier to carry, position and maneuver • Often more powerful and more energy-efficient than a monolight, with enough juice to drive modeling lights for short periods • Easy to see at ground level • Centralized power control in power pack applicable to all connected heads • Some battery-operated power-pack kits may be easier to tote than a comparable monolight kit Disadvantages: • Power distribution may be limited, hence restricting what you can do (check the limits of symmetric/asymmetric distribution) • Flash durations may not be optimized to your needs Primary Use: • Lifestyle & portraiture • Fashion • Dance/performers/action (short flash durations may be required) • Architectural photography |
| The Advanced Location-Lighting Kit |
| While geared primarily toward portraiture and fashion, this kit should easily handle diverse needs. You can do quite a lot with just one head, depending on how it’s employed, and it’s much easier to carry; but add a hair light or backlight if you can manage two lights. Or go the distance with a third head. If your lighting exceeds these needs, then you may do better with an AC system and find the necessary means to power the lights. • Option 1: battery-driven power-pack system, including 1 power pack, with 1 or 2 heads • Option 2: monolight system (1 or 2 heads) + battery packs (as needed) • Option 3: pure sine wave inverter + any AC power pack or monolight system • Chargers & cables for above (spare batteries, if applicable) • Light stands (as needed) • Spare flash tubes & modeling lights (as applicable) • Standard or umbrella reflectors (as needed) • A variety of umbrellas • Medium softbox • Barn door set • Radio remote system (infrared, if you need to economize) • Collapsible reflectors (variety set) • Gaffer’s tape (you never know when you’ll need it) • Sturdy wheeled/roller case • Electrical cords (just in case, and possibly heavy-duty extension cords) • Color-calibration target: for example, X-Rite ColorChecker Passport (www.xrite.com), Datacolor SpyderCube (www.datacolor.com) or PhotoVision Digital Calibration Target (www.photovisionvideo.com) |
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