50inch westcott JS softbox

Some time ago I bought the bigger Westcott softbox (the 50inch / 125 cm) version, I liked the smaller 27inch so much that i had to own this one too...

It is big! very big! but even with big light modifiers correct placement is crucial so i fixed it to my light stand using the same method as my smaller 27 inch only the extension rod is now 450mm long to cover the bigger distance. (See this previous post)

These are some results from my first shoot with it in the studio, i fitted one of my "mono bloc" heads (Linkstar 600Ws) so i could use the modeling light, the entire head fitted nicely into the big light source...

I would like to thank Uniqmix for her patience while I was at my favorite play-field... fooling 'round with light.

This is One light setup, shooting in front of the softbox, look at the catchlights!

50inch camera right and the 27inch as a hair light camera left

50inch used to create "window light"

I have something for girls with glasses... should shoot more of this

50 inch camera right front, 27 inch camera left behind

and without back light, just trying to feather out the light on the white! seamless

because of the recessed front it is very versatile and light control is easy.
An egg-crate would make a nice option

The 600Ws head was powered down to it's minimum because I wanted to shoot at f:2.0 to get the really shallow DOF, had to set my D700 to Lo-1 = ISO100 but even then I couldn't get lower than f2.5. With an SB-900 at low power i guess you could go much lower than f:2 but this will be tested on some future shoots!

Jessika at the Studio

For one of our workshops a few months ago the foreseen model (Sanne Boons) let us down by text message at 4:38AM stating that she decided to quit modelling, for whatever reason.
The evening before she did send me a message trough my facebook stating "you can count on me, I'm ready!" , models do act strange from time 2 time!

But this was a huge problem because at 10:00AM we had a workshop with 10 people and we needed a model to point our light on...
Luckily facebook provided me with a solution... I posted it on my wall and within 1 hour Jessika was ok to model for our workshop, this studio shoot was a gift to thank her for really helping us out that day!

But Jessika also did a wonderful job on the styling wich contributed greatly to the results :-)

Make-up and Hair did by Sanne de Wolf from sdw-styling!

I new I needed an ethereal look for this series so i set my light in a not so standard position.

2 Striplights left & right aimed at the white background and set at f:11 (as I intended to shoot at f:8 and i wanted it pure white and overwhelming)

The hair light was close behind Jessika on a Boom (500Ws studio head with reflector and a wide grid)

The hair light was pointed towards the camera very close to her head so it would produce a serious amount of lens-flare (intended!)

Hair light set at f:8, but then I measured the front side of Jessika, the "not-lit" side....

When you light the white paper, it acts as a giant soft-box but the light is coming from the wrong direction (what is wright and what is wrong anyway)

And she was only at f:4... problem!

So I added some white bounce panels to kick back a part of that great soft light coming from the back.

This set her front side up at f:6.3 and i kept the Hair-light at f:8 for greater effect.( Because all the light is already coming from behind)

Oh yes, we used a fan too ;-)

Thank you Jessika and Sanne!

Natacha

Early morning shoot with Natacha, Make-up and Hair was done by Sanne de Wolf from sdw-styling.

All is lit using the still amazing Westcott Apollo Softbox powered by the SB-900 at 1/4 or 1/2 power, triggers are Elinchrom Skyports, for some shots i also used a reflective panel to bounce some flash-light back or the cut of the hard light rays from the sun, Strobist Style ;-)

Less frontal positioning of the softbox (side left 90° angle) combined with good natural fill gives a nice result, don't you think?

Please send more sunshine our way

On a sunny friday afternoon we went into the nature for a small shoot, time was not on our side, we only had 3 hours but I think we did a great job together.

85mm f:2, ambient & reflector

24mm (dangerous for portraits ;-) )
+ Shadow fill flash, 800Ws head in the Westcott 28" softbox

Back to the studio

The studio is not favorite working place for photography, my choice for light and creativity is fed by the environment, so if i decide to go into the studio with a model, it has to be a strong one ;-)

Peggy asked me to work out some idea's before she retires as a model, she thinks she's too old for modeling... women I'll never understand them!

At least she knows how to smile!

And how to yell.

And even be more serious ;-)

LBA strikes again!

A few weeks ago I got the use the Nikon 24-70 AFS 2.8 zoom lens during a wedding. I fell in love with it no, not with the bride, but with the lens :-o !!

In the past i worked with a prime 50 and a 24 wich is fine if you don't mind switching lenses from time 2 time but in confined spaces there's not always the possibility to move around so when you can't zoom with your feet you have to seek another solution, never thought I'd buy this lens as I'm sure it's way OVERPRICED but anyway I have one!

Enjoy



picture taken with my smartphone in auto mode "lol"

First meeting and shooting day

A few days ago we, as strobistworkshops.be organized out first meeting and shooting day in the old Waterschei coal mine building.

Our idea was to have some models available for a small amount so that every photographer has a chance to work with a fine and experienced model, this concept was new, i never saw or heard anyone do this before. After a slow start we soon had not enough models, we will have to look into that for next editions...

Our security guy Bart ;-) also fooled around with my dad's DV-camera so there are some images left to show you :