If she can sync strobes with her camera, a couple of shoe mount strobes (mounted on stands) with ratio control would probably be the most economical solution.
--
Paul Sorenson wrote:
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
-- graywolf http://graywolfphoto.com/graywolf.html
