I'd concur - don't waste $ on hot lights. If she wants studio lites, check out Alien Bees - http://www.alienbees.com/ - lots of bang for the buck.
Example - http://home.earthlink.net/~allaround6/371581-R1-25%20web.jpg - One Alien Bee w/umbrella and a white reflector. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Mustarde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 10:48 PM Subject: Re: Lighting for ebay sales? > On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:30:48 -0500, you wrote: > > >A friend of mine is upgrading her photo setup for ebay sales in response > >to higher volume and increased variety of lighting requirements. She > >asked me if this was a reasonable deal: > > > ><http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3860&item=382456074 5&rd=1> > > > >She doesn't have the space and experience (and money) for a more > >elaborate setup, and this seemed like a good deal for her at the buy it > >now price. I told her that I normally don't do this type of shoot, so I > >don't have any experience with manufacturers, setups, etc. Do any of > >you have any experience in this area that could give a quick thumbs > >up/down to this offering? > > > >TIA, > > > >rg > > Thumbs down, just because they are hot lights, which I think will be > an unexpected and unwelcome addition to her workflow. > > I would not buy them for photographing ebay items. They're hot, pure > and simple. Notice the category is "Continuous Lighting" which means > they are on all the time rather than being a flash unit. Big, hot > light bulbs. Tungsten, meaning tungsten-balanced film is required, or > white balance for 3200k if using digital. Did I mention hot? > > I'd just use a good on-camera tilt-swivel flash bounced off the > ceiling or sidewall, and maybe a cheap peanut slave or even a lamp for > highlights or backlighting. For large items, use the pop-up flash on > the camera for fill, and fire the big flash into an > umbrella/wall/ceiling placed off to the side. > > Plus don't forget the wonders of indirect window light... big, soft, > and absolutely free. > > Heck, you can buy a big old Sunpak potato masher auto flash > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48549&item=3824562785&rd=1and > a couple of pieces of white foam core for 50 bucks, add another buck > at the Goodwill store or flea market for any book on photography, and > that's plenty of lighting help needed for a whole lot of photographic > situations. > > > -- > John Mustarde > www.photolin.com > >
