Lighting Setups? Flashes?

[328iGuy]

Hey

Just wondering what everyone is using for lighting setups and if you do shooting other than aquarium, what you have in you're studio?

I am looking at putting together a "low budget" studio for taking portraits here and there.

Considering on picking up the 430EX flash, can an off camera shoe cord be used with the 430EX for doing aquatic photography?

Anyone else using the 430EX? Opinions?

Any help would be greatly appreciated guy's!

Thanks

[Loubard]

I have about the same questions, someone care to answere?

[328iGuy]

I have since picked up the 430EX along with an Alienbees studio light setup....and last but not least...the Gary Fong Lightsphere II diffuser for the Canon Speedlite flashes, WHAT a GREAT investment......

If anyone is interested, I have an extra one brand new in box! :)

http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4282948&showprevnext=1

[hir0]

i've been thinking about picking up a ls2pj, if you have a chance, could you post some comparison samples? thanks :)

[328iGuy]

Here..this thread is just posted and has some good comparisons....also check out Gary Fong's site for some good comparisons and wedding comaprisons as well:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=114900

[paradise]

I have never noticed this thread :) Dont know what happened.

Great questions 328. Let me answer some first.

Yes, you CAN use a synch cord for overhead aquatic shots, but I would not seriously recommend it. it really restricts moving around and gets in a way. If you can spend the $$$, STE2 wireless controller is awesome for that purpose. I have actually used it for studio portraits also.

http://aquatic-photography.com/gallery/files/1/flower-wedding-04.jpg

I actually use a very "ghetto" setup. Camera on tripod, timer, two flashes (580 and 420) handheld at different angles with omnibounce on them (which is not too great for this stuff). A velum background on a frame, all bought at B&H for about $125 or so. I need to get some studio lights and better diffusers for flashes. The one you have looks interesting, I may be interested in something similar.

[Ibn]

From the Nikon perspective, I use two SB-800s and use the onboard flash to trigger both of them off remotely (Canon's ST-E2 will allow you to do the same thing).

The same setup allows me to shoot with a portable portrait setup. Here's a shot using a similar setup. In this case the SB-800 was attached to my tripod, placed to the left, and bounced off the ceiling. The second SB-800 was on camera and used as a master to control the power of the first one (left the 3rd SB-800 at home). The third flash would have been about right and light the subjects better with a minimal amount of shadows.

http://i.pbase.com/v3/35/597035/1/51454902.DSC_8432.jpg


It can work as shown in the above picture. It would be better if strobes were used instead due to the amount of power that they put out.