 Dawn T. Palmerley |
Strobe lights I just got a strobe with a softbox. Tried using it connected to my camera and it worked sometimes but didn't at other times. Anyone know why this might be happening? I've never used one before this. And what is usually a good set up for portrait photography? Thanks! Dawn
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Mark Feldstein |
Greetings Dawn: Your second question first: There's no single "usual' set-up for portrait lighting other than the unoriginal "cookie cutter" approach some take over and over again. Experiment with your single light using (and not using) a single fill card to boost a little light from the side back into your subject to fill shadows a bit. As to your light, you didn't say if this is a monolight or working off a pack, or what kind it is. Is it new or used? Is there a warranty? Nor did you say what kind of camera you're using. These things are all useful to diagnosing your problem without actually seeing the light. Your intermittent firing problem could be anything from a defective PC or sync cord, to a bad trigger circuit in the power pack or monolight, to a loose flash tube or using an incorrect sync speed or a bad sync terminal on the lens if its medium format. It might also be a loose wire on the flash tube if it uses an external ground wire as older units did. If you're using a remote radio or IR triggering device, check the batteries on the transmitter and receiver. Also, remember you need to let the strobe recycle between shots back to its preset power setting, as that may cause misfires or no-fires as well. Check what you seem to be doing right when it does fire and try to duplicate it. Or, start eliminating things like camera settings and work from the strobe back to the camera. Does the flash have a test button? Can you trigger it manually and consistently after it recharges? If so, your problem is somewhere beyond the light. And, for my own peace of mind, if you think it's the trigger circuit, don't try to fix this yourself. It's a very high voltage unit that could hurt you badly if you don't know what you're doing. :<0( Check it out. Drop us a note with more specific info. I'd be glad to take another look and offer some suggestions.
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Thanks Mark for responding! It's a strobe unit that came on a stand with a small softbox and the sync cord. I got them from ebay and they are new. I bought that attachment for my cameras hotshoe to connect the two. I use a Pentax MZ-30, 28-90mm lens. (film) camera. And I was using it in automatic when I tested my lighting with the strobe. It does have a test button (the strobe) that seems to work everytime I push it. How long do they need recycle time usually? I hope this info helps.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Dawn, I want to invite you to join us on the thread "Studio Photography" there are 12 parts but1-11 are listed there as well. We have helped so many get started and you will see through the last 6 mos. of the thread People develop into a working and payed Studio. I do hope you will join us , I am sure we can help you out. Dawn: try setting your camera to : 200/22 f22 and expose,These are the settings I teach people to start out with and then you can develop from there, but these should get you a good start. For light set ups and more -it's all there on the thread. I do hope this helps, Debby Tabb
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Debby A. Tabb |
sorry Dawn, Please try these settings with the camera on manual. Please post back an dlet me know-and hopefully with a image to show us.
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Mark Feldstein |
Hi Dawn: The definitive test for your light is to short out the PC cord at the end that plugs into the camera or hot shoe. To do that, just take something metal, like a screwdriver or pocket knife and touch the pin in the middle and the outer edge of the connector at the same time. If the cord is good and the light, the light should fire. No, you won't get killed doing this. So if that trips your light, your problem is somewhere with the camera. Clean the contacts on the base of the hot shoe using a pencil eraser. Try it again. Double check your Pentax camera manual for the settings for electronic flash. OH, and double check to make sure if the camera has two settings on the flash sync terminal that you can change, make sure THAT is set for electronic flash. If your camera has a focal plane shutter, the sync speeds should be down at less than 1/100th sec, around 1/60th of a sec. or less. If you've still got the intermittent problem at those speeds, take it to a camera repair shop and have them test the connections between the hot shoe and the camera. You may have a loose connection inside that you can't see. Should be a cheap fix. Recycle times vary with the flash output and their power supply. I have lights that put out 2500 watt seconds and at full power, they recycle in a few seconds. AND since you seem to be a dedicated FILM user, I invite you to take a look at http://www.apug.org. It's the site for the Analog (film) photographers users group. I think you are gonna love it. You can get tons of accurate info there, participate in the forums on lighting, film, technique, etc. And for free downloadable studio photography lessons, check out the ones at http://www.photoflex.com (which I'm proud to have contributed to) and if you want more on the subject, just let me know. Okie dokie?
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Justin G. |
Dawn, I highly recommend www.apug.org. It's all film and you will like mark said get a TON of information there, from exposing, types of film, printing, developing, etc. Anyone who shoots film should check it out, it's an amazing site with a totally different feel.
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Mark, Thanks so much for all this information. Wow! :) I'll definetly try all the your suggestions. Although I am a bit worried about killing myself. LOL I will look at that site also. Sounds fun!! And the photoflex one also. (My husband's name is Mark) :) Again, thanks alot for this!!
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Thanks also to you Justin!! Will check it out. Nice gallery!!
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Debby, thanks also for your advice. I checked out that thread lastnight actually. I find it very helpful. Just wondering if there are titles to each lesson. I'll have to try that setting on my camera. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again for the help.
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Mark Feldstein |
Now Dawn, since you're a potential subscriber to APUG (although you don't have to be to use the site) why would I tell you to do something risky. Tsk tsk. I'm shocked !!! Yep, Justin has some good stuff in his gallery. Hey, let us know what you find out and how your problem gets fixed. Be well.
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Justin G. |
Hey Dawn check out Mark McCall's PhotoSig gallery. he's got about 20 little visual tutorials only using one barebulb. granted the majority of it is wedding work, but if you go through them and notice the trends you can find patterns as to how he is working with both the ambient and artificial. some great info in those. which brings me to my quick smart elic question. why mark do they call it artificial light, isn't all light, light? and it's all real, there's no fake light! hmm oh well. they world may never know!
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Justin, Thanks for sending me to Mark McCall's gallery. It is very useful and he has some great photos. I love how he shows how he set up the lighting. That's something I've been looking for.
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Justin G. |
Me too as I just got my lights late December.
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