----- Original Message -----
From: "David"
Subject: OT: Lighting Advice Needed
Here's her questions:
Here is what I am trying to figure out:
1. I have a pair of Smith Victor A100's bought on Ebay. The listing said
that they would take up to a 500W bulb but the lights themselves list only
bulb types for 250W. I emailed Smith Victor and they responded that the
500W light extends past my 10" reflectors which is why they don't
recommend using them. Other than the need to be very careful that nothing
touches the bulb, is there any reason why I can't use the bigger light
bulb?
Lots more heat, not a lot more light.
If you are going to use hot lights, you are going to have to filter it to a
certain extent, unless you shoot tungsten film (even then, some filtration
might be needed, depending on how accurate the colour has to be.
I wouldn't bother with blue photofloods. I'd just get a couple of big ass
normal light bulbs and an 80A filter, and shoot daylight slide film. It will
be surprisingly close.
2. I want to use a dimmer switch to conserve the color of my tungsten
lights between shots. Smith Victor recommends a DC-1 control but doesn't
say how much wattage I can run through it. Can I use a heavy weight
multiple outlet extension cord and put all 1000 Watts (both lights)
through the same dimmer?
I would build an inline dimmer using electrical hardware and a dimmer switch
like what is used in household applications. That'll carry the load, and
will be pretty cheap as well.
Use a two up box, and you can put the dimmer on one side and the outlets
beside it.
3. I am shopping for a cheap solution to buying a soft box for each light.
My objective is to photograph flat art up to four feet square on an
occasional basis (when I can't count on Seattle sun) and I would like my
equipment to be very storable. I found on-line patterns for
non-collapsible soft boxes but they are cumbersome - also couldn't find a
source for diffusion fabric in small quantities (except for 18" X 24"
sheets which I think would be too small). One source said to make frames
out of lathe, attach the cloth, them clip them to posts anchored in cans
full of plaster of paris. Cheap, could work, but need source of fabric and
recommendation for size!
Be careful mixing soft boxes and large hotlights.
I'd just put a diffuser on a frame in front of the light. Forget the box,
it's a heat trap, and could easily catch fire.
If you really want to make a box, foamcore lined with aluminium foil is
probably as good as anything.
Check anything you put over hot lights often to make sure nothing is
overheating.
Ripstop nylon is a good diffuser fabric, any fabric shop of decent size
should sell it by the yard.
William Robb
