[pure-silver] Re: need advice for purchase of flash meter
- From: Ryuji Suzuki <rs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 01:30:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jeffrey Krenzel <jkrenzel@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [pure-silver] need advice for purchase of flash meter
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2004 21:38:32 -0700 (PDT)
> Hello everyone. I need advice regarding the purchase
> of a flash meter. For twenty-some years I have used
> only available light. Because of a portraiture
> project I have in mind I have begun to learn to use
> studio lighting (in both a class and while assisting
> an architectural photographer). Although I am
> starting off with hot lights -- so that I can see what
> I am doing -- I am progressing to strobes. So I would
> appreciate some recommendations regarding a flash
> meter.
It is not quite low tech, but Sekonic L-408 is my favorite meter for
general use. It has a 5 degree spot mode and an incident mode. In
studio setting I use incident mode almost exclusively. The meter can
be used to read light-shadow contrast by retracting the dome, which
works fine for coarse setting, but I like to use a mannequin head for
fine tuning. Meter can tell you the ratio of multiple lights, but it
won't tell you how directional/soft the light is. If you look at the
mannequin head, you'll get much better idea.
Also, get or borrow a digital camera and set up a laptop in the
studio. I think one of the fastest ways to learn lighting is to play
with the light and a digicam. Of course you'll need model(s), but
while setting up the light, you can set up a mannequin at various
angles, or use self timer/remote control and do silly things in front
of your camera yourself. (And you'll know how bright the lights are!)
If you are shooting models, be sure to look at the light at various
positions because it's easy to get good light at one point and crappy
light at other points. It's hard to get good light in large areas.
Standard headshots of one person on a stool is much easier in that
sense.
--
Ryuji Suzuki
"Keep a good head and always carry a light camera."
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