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From flashlights and top-of-the-line studio electronic flashes to light stands and battery/inverter packs, this all-encompassing survey evaluates the vast array of lighting and equipment options available to professional photographers. Beginning with a basic history of the role of lighting equipment and the interplay between advances in capture and lighting technologies, the emphasis then shifts to advances made within the past five years that have enabled photographers to consider more low-powered and cost effective options than ever before. In addition to identifying the wide range of gear currently on the market—as well as those photographers may devise on their own—this reference examines the pros and cons of the various technologies and provides suggestions for their most practical use. Photographs of the equipment surveyed as well as real-life images created with the different pieces of equipment are interspersed throughout the text. Other helpful hints include tips for maximizing versatility, investment in each piece of equipment, and a “Top-Ten Must-Have List.”
E-Book Content
PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING EQUIPMENT A Comprehensive Guide for Digital Photographers Kirk Tuck Amherst Media ® PUBLISHER OF PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS Check out Amherst Media’s blogs at: http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/ http://weddingphotographer-amherstmedia.blogspot.com/ Copyright © 2010 by Kirk Tuck. All photos by the author unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Published by: Amherst Media, Inc. P.O. Box 586 Buffalo, N.Y. 14226 Fax: 716-874-4508 www.AmherstMedia.com Publisher: Craig Alesse Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins Assistant Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt Editorial assistance provided by John S. Loder and Sally Jarzab. ISBN-13: 978-1-58428-993-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009911197 Printed in Korea. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher. Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the author’s experience and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book. CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . .8 Flash Powder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Photo Floods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Flashbulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Tungsten-Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 A Flash of Brilliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Fluorescent Lights: A Different Kind of “Flicker” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Hydrargyrum Medium-Arc Iodide (HMI) Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 1. THE EVOLUTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING . .17 On-Camera Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Monolights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Pack and Head Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 The Hybrid Battery-Powered Studio Flash Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Flash Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Synchronization Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Flash Duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Color Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Safety Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Choosing a System for Your Style of Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 The Photojournalist/Magazine Editorial Photograp