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Finally updated my website!

  • Jan. 20th, 2008 at 8:00 PM

blaneyphoto
Finally updated my website! As if it was even possible, its less sophisticated... but easy and clear, I think (hope). Let me know what you think!

http://www.blaneyphoto.com/


Thanks!

Comments

( 8 comments — Leave a comment )
rpeate
Jan. 21st, 2008 01:54 am (UTC)
I think it's good, in a professional-yet-fun way.

I also think you can help me. What is your lighting setup? Do you use a strobe? If so, which? If not, what do you use?
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blaneyphoto
Jan. 21st, 2008 02:05 am (UTC)
My lighting varies quite a bit depending upon what I'm trying to do, but in its most basic form, its two Alien Bee 800's with softboxes as key and secondary lights, and two others on the background. Arrangement and power settings vary obviously.
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rpeate
Jan. 22nd, 2008 10:13 pm (UTC)
I've never owned flash lighting. Assuming I had the money to buy such things, how would I connect them to my camera? I haven't the first idea about it, but I desperately need to learn. At this point, my photography is being hindered by my ignorance. Please note that I do not expect you to teach me a course, but any pointers you are willing to share would be wonderful.
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blaneyphoto
Jan. 22nd, 2008 10:20 pm (UTC)
Great thing about strobes is you can buy one, learn, add another, learn some more, and so on. Alien Bees are cheap and reliable - Less than $300 each, so I'd start there. Maybe that's still outside of your budget, but not nearly in the $1000+ range of other lights.

Connection? easy - There's a cord that plugs into your camera (assuming dslr) and into the back of the light. Got more than one light? you only plug into one - the one light trips the others. From there, its simply a matter of some experimentation to learn where you want to set your camera and lights. For instance, I typically shoot with my AB's at 1/4 power and in my studio this lets me shoot at iso 100, f/9, 1/160th - which is perfect for 90% of the portrait work that I do. Vary the light power and camera settings for different results!

Hope that's helpful!


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rpeate
Jan. 22nd, 2008 10:25 pm (UTC)
That is very helpful. Now I am setting my sights on the ABs. I use a Canon 20D.

I am going to explore your site more to see examples.
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rpeate
Jan. 22nd, 2008 10:23 pm (UTC)
Would such equipment enable me to do this?

http://www.jlchriststudios.com/htmlver/galleries.php?sec=1&galnum=1

I want very much to be able to shoot dark backgrounds that WILL STAY DARK and subjects that are adequately lit, and I find myself unable to combine the two with hot lights.
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blaneyphoto
Jan. 22nd, 2008 10:32 pm (UTC)
Certainly. And after a quick look, much of that work seems to be one or two light set ups. Heck, even one light and a reflector can do a good job.

What might be useful to you, even before buying equipment would be to visit my friend Ed's site http://www.studiolighting.net/category/photography-video-tutorials/ and listen/watch some of the podcasts. Its all how-to lighting. Ed's a big AB fan also.
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rpeate
Jan. 24th, 2008 03:41 am (UTC)
Evidently the link I provided went only to the gallery's main page. I'd intended for it to result in the fourth one down on the left, which features a dark background. But I will assume your comment stands.

I thank you for the help. I will watch and listen to some of the podcasts, because I am finding them to be good.

It's not that I don't have an artistic vision; it's that I don't know what I need to execute it. And that is VERY frustrating, as I'm sure you can imagine.
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