pamela_reed

"You can't expect to use them all day every day and you can't expect the colour and output consistency of pro lighting."

 

I disagree completley. I work with my lights on a daily basis in a studio setting for clients and agencies and they have nothing but made me confident in Alien Bee. You can get professional results from them and I do. If you're on a budget, just beginning or in general looking for a light kit - I'd recommend Alien Bees.

Give SVA (School of Visual Arts) a look too.

Everything Jaques said.

http://www.mixonic.com/

 

I get all of mine made there - amazing quality, fast turn around.

800 x 633 is fine.. Mine are always 800 x 629.

 

Yeah, you don't need 2 copies if they aren't published. One is fine. All of the work I send in that isn't published only gets sent in digital format and it's always accepted.

Yeah, fall off.

VH1 showed the whole season (3) last weekend, back to back to back (etc). Try looking at their guide, they'll probably repeat. :)

I use silver umbrellas for the majority of my work.. they do me good. Email me if you have any questions.

"In my view, the higher the ceiling the better."

 

I couldn't agree more. I'm always struggling and wishing my ceilings were higher.

Kudos to Sabrina's answer. Why wouldn't you want to learn?

I will have to try this. Thanks. :)

David, Alien Bees are great.. I highly recommend them. I shoot with Alien Bees for ALL of my work (http://www.pamleareed.com) , they never let me down. Currently, I just have 800's but they do the job and could do more if needed. As for lighting, check out various fashion magazines, modeling portfolios, go to your local bookstore one night and get a good lesson. Have fun! If you need any help, feel free to email me.

I found this helpful link to butterfly lighting since when I typed out what it was, I realized I'd never be a teacher. :)

 

http://www.infodotinc.com/photography1/ph209141.htm

Get a big piece of foamcore, cut it to your preference, attach it with butterfly clamps and ta-da.. the poor woman's (or mans) barndoor :)

In the August, 2004 issue of PDN Javier gives away alot of his lighting techniques. There's diagrams of a few of his works which lists where the lights were placed, what size soft boxes, what type of gels he uses, what he shoots with (mostly color negative film) etc etc - it's a great article.

Not cheap, but if you want quality and you want your work to show it, then I really recommend Nikon Super Coolscan 8000 or 9000. It's worth the price.

1. If you live in US, do you have to pay anything when Alien Bee package arrive to your home ? (using UPS carrier like Alien Bee have on their site)

 

No. My whole lighting system are Alien Bees and I have never had a problem. In fact they have been extremely helpful.

I'm a Velvia lover and it's generally all I use - and I see no real difference.

Oh, and for my settings - I scan my slides at 4,000 DPI, Digital GEM (1) and Super Fine.

Nikon Coolscans are GREAT scanners. I have the Coolscan 8000 and I can't get over the results after changing from a lower-end scanner some time ago. The only thing I would recommend is that you download a sharpening plug-in, and apply it to your work when you are done editing. I have prints of all sizes, but mostly 11x14 and 16x20 - and they are simply beautiful (that also depends on how/ where you are getting them printed). Also, I do use medium format so the quality is there, if you are using 35mm - you still are going to get 35mm results.

I am currently attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh - and I am doing great for myself. When it comes down to it, it's your work that matters - not the school. If you walk into an office with a kickass portfolio, let it be that you graduated from Brooks or the Art Institute - you'll stand out because of your work. Personally, the Art Institute taught me the technical basics - I'm still in school but everything is done on my own time now and it's all conceptual once technicals are covered - it's all about what you can do and what drive you have.

So this December I'll be graduating from the Art Institute of

Pittsburgh with a Assosciates Degree in Photography. I'm interested

in pursuing my Bachelors at the School of Visual Arts in New York

City. I visited the school yesterday and got a tour of the

photography building and liked what I saw. Besides being a great

school, it appears being in New York City and doing commercial work

goes hand in hand. I'm not expecting to graduate and become "IT"

but the contacts you make I'm guessing is crucial.

 

Im curious if anyone has any other information on SVA or any input

they can say about the school. You know, the truth. Not just what

a tour guide wants me to hear. :)

 

Thanks.

 

pamelareed.com

Im curious about something. That something would be how to go about

getting that old time vintage feel captured on film. When you watch

an old time movie, everything tends to be more pastel and has a

different color scheme than today's world. I'm curious if there is

a type of film out there that tends to be ALOT more pastel like?

 

Ive seen photographs with that feel to it, and Im wondering how it

is done. Im sure some of them have a bunch of photoshop behind it,

but I want to do it traditionally.

 

How about cross processing? I've gotten effects somewhat in that

palette, but some areas tend to be blown out.

 

Any suggestions at all would be great. Thanks :)

 

Pamela

pamelareed.com

It took me a few tries to get the software up and running. I find it still has some bugs in it. When I upload photographs, I tend to juse open the folder, and then youll get a thumbnail and the option of opening them somewhere else - for example photoshop. The only reason I used the Nikon software in the beginning was for the thumbnail, I feel much more comfortable editing in PS.

I have the SB800 - I use it for my D100 and N65. No complaints.