Early results from some new toys...

[luca brazzi]

Of course....the first thing I shoot when I get a load of studio flash equipment from Ebay is.....



Shot with the 300D in RAW, just tweaked the exposure, brightness and saturation...no sharpening.

Love the clarity.

In case you want to see this big...here are larger jpegs of the same photo.

Big Freddie at his most handsome

3.85Mb
www.sleepyfish-images.com/images/animals/Freddie_profile.jpg

390Kb
www.sleepyfish-images.com/images/animals/Freddie_profile_2000.jpg

LB

[Graham.J]

Awesome photo, Steve. The full 3.5mb pic is fantastic the clarity

What kit did you get out of interest?

Graham

[luca brazzi]

Thanks Graham,

Got the cheapest stuff basically….the Portaflash range (Jessops own brand). For the amount of garage space I've got, I don't need anything more powerful. Add a softbox, and away you go.

LB

[whittaker52]

Amazing detail! the colour tone and everything else just looks absolutely perfect!

[jeremyc]

Freddie won't thank you for leaving that reflection of the output from your new toys in his iris.

[simpo two]

jeremyc said:

Freddie won't thank you for leaving that reflection of the output from your new toys in his iris.

IMHO that highlight is important. Great shot LB. How many times did you have to dab his noce with cream?!

[luca brazzi]

simpo two said:

jeremyc said: Freddie won't thank you for leaving that reflection of the output from your new toys in his iris. IMHO that highlight is important. Great shot LB. How many times did you have to dab his noce with cream?!

Just left a few biscuits on the cupboard, and each time he finished them, he just sat that there looking around. He's always with me when I'm in the garage, always watching what I'm doing and wanting to get involved.....like a dog really. He's so used to being photographed now, he isn't bothered by it at all.

LB

[GregE240]

Thats one heck of a photo Steve.

What camera, just out of interest?

[luca brazzi]

EOS 300D, 70-200 2.8 L, shot in RAW, tripod + remote firing. One light to the side, and one small unit behind and below him to get the fur to light up a little.

Probably one of my best ever pictures of him.

Some of you may notice the picture is on a slightly different website to usual...I'm building an images website where I'm putting all my very best pictures.

Huge thanks to Joust and Easynet as always for setting up:

www.sleepyfish-images.com
(only a holding page for the time being, while I learn how to do Dreamweaver)

[david010167]

Hi, its been a while since I been here it has been a bit busy of late.

Portaflash from e-bay Luca, it was not last week was it, as I was bidding for a portaflash3 set on e-bay as well.

David

[luca brazzi]

AH may have been me then.....if Luca Brazzi won the bid, then that was me

The big stuff arrived this morning, but I got loads of bits too....so was messing with the 3 initial lights.

Will call you shortly...
Steve

[Mad Dave]

Forgive me for being a bit 'fick', but what kind of setup would I need to create nice even studio shots, similar to your Cat, but also some portrait stuff?

[luca brazzi]

Mad Dave said:

Forgive me for being a bit 'fick', but what kind of setup would I need to create nice even studio shots, similar to your Cat, but also some portrait stuff?

Tricky question to answer...as I'm a complete novice at it.

You can spend 1000's on the best stuff, with lots of power, lots of control and light modifiers (umbrellas/softboxes/reflectors), or you can go real cheap (all things are relative) like me and go for entry level stuff.

Got virtually everything off ebay. The picture above used one main light (£60), plus 2 smaller slave lights, one for filling in the shadows on the left, and the other for lighting him from behind, together costing about £40. The background was a large black sheet. Add in light stands and umbrellas and that's the lot. Forgot to add the lightmeter, which is needed to measure the brightness of the flashlight landing on Freddie to input into the camera for the right exposure.

Got a whole load more stuff arrive this morning (another 4 lights, softbox, brolleys, reflector), so I've got lots to play with and try out.....anyone want to model for me )

Its all Jessops own brand (Portaflash), which is the budget entry level end. It has its limitations, but is fine for me. If and when I get fed up with it, it goes back onto Ebay.

If you wanted to get an idea for overall costs, check out the links below. The Jessops links show you what you get for your money, then go to the microsystems link and pay a whole load less for the same equipment...brand new.

Hope this helps
LB

Jessops - set 2
www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=PORSK2&BRAND


Jessops - set 3
www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=PORSK3&BRAND

The price to pay:
www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/photo/portaflash.htm

[Mad Dave]

Brilliant! Thanks Luca, very informative

If/when it goes back on Ebay, pls let me know, I may buy it from you!

Dave