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#339362 - 11/11/2010 09:43 Building a photo studio
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
We need to create a photo studio at work, this will be in a windowless room approx 2x3mtrs, with a dark wooden floor. Colour rendition is important because we work in ladies fashion, what colours should we paint walls/ceiling and which kind of lighting should we use?

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#339363 - 11/11/2010 09:59 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Wow, what a question.

Well, don't paint it white, that would be bad. I'd go with a mid grey as with the right lighting you can make that white or black. Darker is better as you can always add light but it's hard to control light bouncing all over the place in a little white box.

Sounds like a very small room for a studio, I use Profoto gear myself I think that would be over kill. Get yourself down to the Flash Centre and try out some Elinchrom gear. They do a really great try before you buy service and will be able to give you specific advice on what you need.

If you are really serious about colour rendition and consistency then Broncolor or Profoto are the pro option but be prepared to shell out A LOT of money for it. I don't even want to think how much money I've spent!

I'd also make sure you have a decent wireless trigger system, in such a small space cables will soon become a real pain.

Cheers

Cris.

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#339364 - 11/11/2010 10:28 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Size isn't an issue really as we're mostly taking pictures of stuff on a bust, not live models. What about ceiling colour?

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#339366 - 11/11/2010 10:35 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
And sorry, meant lighting as in room lighting, not flashes. At the moment it's more about constructing the space than the kit we use, although I need to look at that too.

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#339367 - 11/11/2010 11:00 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
You may be better off going black since the room is so small. You can easily put up backdrop to change the colour. With such a small space I would worry that it would be difficult to light the subject without also spilling light onto the walls. 2x3m is very tight - you're going to have a hard time fitting in softboxes or umbrellas, even if only shooting a bust. Before finalizing anything you might want to see if you might be able to stretch out the space a bit.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339368 - 11/11/2010 11:17 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
OK, will see what size it could be

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#339369 - 11/11/2010 12:09 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
If you are planning on using flash then the lighting you select for the room doesn't matter as you can just cut that out. Just make sure it's flush fitting so it doesn't cast any shadows.

If you are shooting the same shot over and over again, you may want to look into not using flash at all. There is nothing wrong with shooting longer exposures and using tungsten/HMI's you may have more problems with controlling the colour using that method though.

How good are the people taking the pictures, are they pros ???

Cheers

Cris

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#339370 - 11/11/2010 12:21 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Originally Posted By: Cris
are they pros ???


No, I was thinking a basic DSLR with a tripod + Flash, we don't need high definition, accurate colour rendition is more important.

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#339371 - 11/11/2010 12:26 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
We can go up to 2.3x4mtr for room size.

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#339376 - 11/11/2010 13:51 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
That's much better than it was before. But it's still the 2.3m (7.5 feet) that I'm worried about. If you could stretch that to 3m you'd be much better off. But, it's still workable.

You should most definitely consult strobist.com for lighting on a budget and potentially some great info on close-quarters shooting as well.
_________________________
Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339377 - 11/11/2010 14:14 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Do you already have a picture of what you'd like the final output to look like ???

From another company who is already doing this for example.

Cheers

Cris

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#339378 - 11/11/2010 15:07 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31572
Loc: Seattle, WA
Originally Posted By: tahir
accurate colour rendition is more important.


Remember to white-balance the camera each time you alter the lighting in any way, including moving the position of a light. If you do that, you should be good with your colo(u)r rendition. (Well as good as the CCD of the camera can be.)
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Tony Fabris

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#339379 - 11/11/2010 15:58 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Originally Posted By: Cris
Do you already have a picture of what you'd like the final output to look like ???

From another company who is already doing this for example


All the images we receive are crap, no detail on black garments, poor colour rendition etc... We want our images to be better.

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#339380 - 11/11/2010 15:58 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
You should most definitely consult strobist.com for lighting on a budget and potentially some great info on close-quarters shooting as well.


I'll take a look, thanks

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#339382 - 11/11/2010 18:27 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Originally Posted By: tahir
we're mostly taking pictures of stuff on a bust, not live models

Boooooo

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#339387 - 11/11/2010 22:17 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tman]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Hey, you try getting a pretty girl in a windowless, black-walled 2m by 3m room. They're not as excited about that as you might think.
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Bitt Faulk

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#339389 - 11/11/2010 23:25 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Technically speaking, since the room's black, with the lights out, she probably doesn't need to be pretty.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339390 - 11/11/2010 23:31 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Originally Posted By: wfaulk
Hey, you try getting a pretty girl in a windowless, black-walled 2m by 3m room

We still talking about photo studios here?

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#339399 - 12/11/2010 12:44 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tman]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
laugh thanks guys. So I'm looking at a grey painted box with a tripod mounted DSLR and a flash, right?

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#339400 - 12/11/2010 12:55 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Multiple flashes if you're not going to set up more powerful lights/strobes.

Also.... Make sure the room is well ventilated - it's going to get hot in that small space, especially if you bring in any modeling lights or any type of big light.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339404 - 12/11/2010 15:51 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
A couple thoughts:

I agree that the room seems a bit on the small side, and that black-painted walls (matte, not glossy) will make your life easier if you're trying to control the lighting. If you want to bounce light, you can always add a reflector or whatever later.

You'll definitely want to have one of those window-shade contraptions that lets you pull down backdrops of different colors. You may want to spring the extra bucks for longer ones that can also spread out on the floor, allowing you to shoot full-size floor-standing things from a variety of angles.

There all kinds of fancy lighting "systems" you can get into, some wired, some wireless. Some built around standard camera flashes and others built around dedicated strobes with external power supplies. Some add "modeling lights", which are low power bulbs that let you make sure you're getting your shadows how you want them when you adjust the lighting. Then you get the high-power flash only when you pull the trigger.

To some extent, your best bet is probably to arrange to tour the photo studios of several local photographers and ask them to demonstrate their stuff. Ultimately, once you've seen and dorked with the equipment directly, you'll have a much better idea of what you want and you'll be more prepared to justify the cost.

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#339406 - 12/11/2010 17:48 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Originally Posted By: tahir
laugh thanks guys. So I'm looking at a grey painted box with a tripod mounted DSLR and a flash, right?


I would go for a black painted box. Flat black, not glossy.
This lets you isolate subjects from the background easily, and you could still hang backdrops (big rolls of coloured paper) or even white sheets to get any other type of background.

The small pro-studios I've seen, admittedly few, used black.

Cheers

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#339411 - 12/11/2010 20:43 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
Also.... Make sure the room is well ventilated - it's going to get hot in that small space, especially if you bring in any modeling lights or any type of big light.


... or the pretty girl. smile

It is great learning all this (lighting, I mean). Thanks Bruno for linking stobist.com . I am considering my first speedlight, and this is all very amazing. smile
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MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#339419 - 12/11/2010 22:17 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Taym]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
I use a Metz-54Z (? something like that) with my Canons. Works wonderfully.
The current model is probably a 55Z or something like that. wink

Many, MANY operational pluses over the Canon EX speedlights, but the downside is that it lacks Canon's wireless multiflash protocols.

Cheers

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#339424 - 12/11/2010 22:35 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
Again, thanks for all the help! smile I had only looked at Canon so far.

I read on their website that Metz mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital seems to be the top of the line today, an improvement over the winner of best flash unit in EU 2008:
http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/...nformation.html

I don't think I need the Canon's wireless multiflash protocol, being a novice. Or do I want it (still a novice)?! smile
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= Taym =
MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#339425 - 12/11/2010 22:43 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Taym]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
Quote:

The Metz top model works with all camera-specific system flash modes from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus/Panasonic or Sony Alpha cameras including their respective wireless TTL modes

Do I understand correctly that the 58 AF-2 does support Canon wireless protocol, now?
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= Taym =
MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#339427 - 12/11/2010 23:51 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Taym]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Originally Posted By: Metz
# E-TTL remote mode (Master, servo and slave mode)

That's the feature. Cool!

No brainer, then, unless it's horrifically more expensive or something. When I bought mine, the Metz was cheaper than the top of the line Canon EX speedlight. And WAYYYY better. smile

The model here has old-fashioned "Auto" exposure built-in. Which means it has a puny little photocell for self-metering the amount of light it needs to provide. This is very useful in many many situations where Canon's fsck'd E-TTL algorithms (in the camera body) b0rk things up.

Cheers

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#339428 - 12/11/2010 23:54 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
The way Metz does their flashes, is they manufacture a top unit that provides all of the flash functionality. This is then paired with an interchangeable mount, or shoe, that adapts the flash to a specific manufacturer's system. Eg. Canon, or Nikon.

One can purchase additional mounts to use the same flash body with multiple cameras from different vendors.. so in theory I could keep/reuse my flash if I switched over to Nikon cameras.. for the cost of a new mount/shoe. Not that I would switch at this point.

EDIT: I have had the firmware in the shoe upgraded twice since initial purchase, to help the flash implement the latest new Canon EX features. That new model appears to have a USB interface to make upgrades much simpler now. Great!

Cheers


Edited by mlord (12/11/2010 23:56)

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#339429 - 12/11/2010 23:59 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
Best price I found is €359 on eBay seller. Here in EU, I mean, Maybe more search will bring some better price, but it does not seem bad, compared to Canon EX... It seems pretty much the same price of a Canon 580EX Speedlite.

Yes, USB firmware upgradable. It seems nice.
Very interesting.


Edited by taym (13/11/2010 00:03)
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MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#339430 - 13/11/2010 00:01 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
MMmm.. that new unit appears to have done away with the vendor-specific shoe/adapters.. looks like perhaps a single unit can be reprogrammed to work with any of the major brands.. nifty.

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#339431 - 13/11/2010 00:05 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
MMmm.. that new unit appears to have done away with the vendor-specific shoe/adapters.. looks like perhaps a single unit can be reprogrammed to work with any of the major brands.. nifty.

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#339476 - 15/11/2010 10:49 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
it's going to get hot in that small space, especially if you bring in any modeling lights or any type of big light.


It'll have AC

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#339507 - 16/11/2010 08:48 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tman]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1900
Loc: London
Sooo, does it matter what lighting I use in the room? I'm looking at fluorescents at the moment

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#339510 - 16/11/2010 10:57 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
FLUORESCENTS !!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I think that covers that point smile

Unless you get some really really nice ones you'll get a lovely green cast to your pictures which is really hard to get rid of and can leave photos looking flat.

Cheers

Cris

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#339513 - 16/11/2010 12:37 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
A green cast won't be a problem with a correct WB setting - which can remain locked on the camera to be used in that room. And if the lighting will remain constant you can gel your strobes to match as well (read strobist.com smile . It's when you start playing with mixed ambient lighting that you're going to run into nightmare situations.

Whatever lighting is decided upon, it would be a good idea to have the capability to dial it back so it doesn't contribute to the photograph and instead the photo is lit by your strobes or other purpose-positioned lighting. Overhead lighting alone isn't gong to produce the most flattering images, especially in a room painted black or grey. You're going to get unflattering shadows.

But if you're gong to use the lighting only for when you're setting up equipment, it doesn't really matter what you use as long as it doesn't alter your own perception of what you're looking at. Use something with high CRI if you want to see an accurate representation (with your own eyes) of the garments.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339514 - 16/11/2010 12:41 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
He'll only get a green cast if he mixes lighting types. If *everything* in the room uses the same colour fluorescents, then the camera's manual white balance feature will give colour correct images.

But usually there is a mix of lighting.. in which case beware the green cast.

And WTF is with the BBSFirefox trying to tell me I'm spelling colour and fluorescent incorrectly??? This is an international forum with an international mix of people, and it really shouldn't be inflicting one country's poor speling on the rest of us! smile

EDIT: fixed by installing a British English dictionary extension.


Edited by mlord (17/11/2010 00:48)

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#339515 - 16/11/2010 12:44 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
The BBS spell checks? I think maybe it's your linux computer dong it.. wink
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339523 - 16/11/2010 15:17 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tahir]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
Originally Posted By: tahir
Sooo, does it matter what lighting I use in the room? I'm looking at fluorescents at the moment

As Cris said, florescent lights aren't something you probably want to use to illuminate the things that you're shooting. They're just fine to have in the ceiling for other non-photographic purposes. When you're ready to do a shoot, you turn them off and go with your fancy strobes.

Among other things, overhead lighting casts odd shadows on people's faces. Do you want dark eyes and shadows under the nose? No you don't. If you're shooting inanimate things, you still want the flexibility to rearrange the lighting to emphasize or deemphasize things. For example, if you're shooting some kind of deliberately wrinkled cloth, then you want to light it, at least in part, from the side so you get lots of shadows that emphasize the depth of the wrinkling.

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#339524 - 16/11/2010 15:41 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: DWallach]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Thanks Bruno for the photography tips. I'll have to remember them for my next paid assignment. So far I'm really lucky that all the weddings I've ever shot have only had one type of lighting in each frame. Not.

Fluorescents are ok for plain lighting, but most have a very narrow spectrum, which may not work very well if colour reproduction is key. There are good ones out there of course, but cheap just doesn't cut it when it comes to lighting.

Has the decision been taken if you are going to use flash lighting or not ??? If you are then the ambient light in the room is totally irrelevant.

Cheers

Cris

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#339525 - 16/11/2010 16:22 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Originally Posted By: Cris
Thanks Bruno for the photography tips. I'll have to remember them for my next paid assignment. So far I'm really lucky that all the weddings I've ever shot have only had one type of lighting in each frame. Not.


Do you do a lot of wedding shoots in a studio? Wedding photography is nothing at all like studio photography. We might as well be talking about portrait painting and house painting.

BTW, no need to be sarcastic, there are plenty of (I'd say "many") working professionals that don't know half as much about photography and lighting as the people in this BBS.

A studio implies control and given the space we're talking about it also implies some compromise. Even with AC it would probably be foolish to light "the room" with hot tungsten. Fluorescents can be used very effectively and won't produce as much heat. Put them on a fancy thing called a light switch and they can also *gasp* be turned off. I recall saying something about that earlier.

It's doubtful they'd be used to light the subjects for the reasons already given by Dan, Mark and myself.

As I'm sure you know, every light source will produce a colour cast if you don't set your camera appropriately. And if you're using strobes along with any other non-strobe light source (excepting daylight), you've got to (or should) contend with balancing and filtering your light no matter what. Do you want an orange cast from tungsten?

IMO, a low-cost, portable and very straight-forward way to shoot in that small room would be to use remote speedlights. Use them with the Canon or Nikon built-in remote systems, PocketWizards, Radio Poppers or even eBay triggers. Get at least 3 speedlights and some modifiers for them - plus of course light stands.

In such a small room it would be a PITA to be messing around with power or sync cords.
_________________________
Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339528 - 16/11/2010 18:23 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
Do you do a lot of wedding shoots in a studio?


Umm, actually yes. I shoot in the studio all the time. I shoot using available light too, and I mix that with flash on just about every job. Here is a recent example of my studio work using a simple 3 light setup...



If you've ever shot in the studio you'll know that the whole idea is to control the light using the flash and to cut out the available light altogether, from what is being discussed here I get the impression that continuous lights are being considered to light the subject. This is not such a good idea. You start getting a mix of colour casts as you suggest, using a simple flash lighting setup will be a much better option.

Speedlights are ok, and I use them a hell of a lot, but for prolonged use by inexperienced people they are not a first option. Something with a modelling light in will allow the inexperienced user to climb the learning curve a lot quicker. On the whole studio flash units recycle quicker and stand up to heavy use better, if purchased via somewhere like the Flash Centre, as I suggested in my original post, you also get a level of support that even CPS (I'm a Canon user I'm sure Nikon will do something too) can't match.

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
Do you want an orange cast from tungsten?


Sometimes yeah...



When the subject is lit with a cold source the tungsten background can be very welcome indeed.

If you are Canon shooter choose pocketwizard, they are worth the money. Nikon has a really nice wireless system that hasn't ever let me down the few times I've used it recently, so stick with that if you can until pocketwizard finally release the new TT5's for Nikon. While you may not need to shoot TTL now they are a much better investment than the Plus II's as they are pretty much future proof. eBay triggers are ok for strobists but not in a professional environment.

Cheers

Cris

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#339531 - 16/11/2010 20:27 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31572
Loc: Seattle, WA
Originally Posted By: Cris
If you've ever shot in the studio you'll know that the whole idea is to control the light using the flash and to cut out the available light altogether, from what is being discussed here I get the impression that continuous lights are being considered to light the subject. This is not such a good idea. You start getting a mix of colour casts as you suggest, using a simple flash lighting setup will be a much better option.


This interests me. I've never used a DSLR other than to play with friends' cameras at parties. So I don't know what kinds of settings they have. But how do you white-balance the camera for a flash? All of the point-n-shoot cameras I've seen with manual white balance features don't fire off the flash when you hit the white balance menu option. So they can only be white balanced for available light, not for the flash. Do the DSLR's have an option for white balancing with the flash?
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Tony Fabris

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#339532 - 16/11/2010 20:42 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tfabris]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
I always shoot RAW so the camera is left to auto white balance, fine adjustment is done in Lightroom 3. You can set either one of a few pre sets or a kelvin value, unless you have a colour meter with you I think shooting RAW and AWB is the best way to go most of the time.

Cheers

Cris.

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#339534 - 16/11/2010 21:18 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
So Cris, you're pretty much, saying what I've already said. wink I don't have any first-hand experience with any modern studio lighting, so I can't make brand recommendations, but I'd still recommend a few speedlights in addition to studio strobes. They're not terribly expensive (in the grand scheme of things) and have tremendous utility.

And BTW, neither of those shots are wedding shots.

I don't know if I'd ever risk touching PocketWizard's new stuff. They seem completely outclassed by Radio Popper stuff in the past few years. The whole TTL product release was a complete shambles first for the Canon and then the eternity of waiting for the Nikon kit that was supposed to come out "next month." So Canon users can now put a sock on their speedlights and cross their fingers that the triggering will work, and Nikon users can keep on waiting like they have for well over a year already (it was due Q2 2009).

Honestly, (personally) I'd probably go with RP JrX with speedlights that support quench to allow manual remote control from the RP mounted on the camera. For TTL and compatibility with what the manufacturer already offers, I'd probably stay with RP as well (PX system), since their stuff seems to have already proven itself. For complete manual use and an easy no-brainer setup once you've got enough experience with the product, I'd probably go with a set of older PocketWizards - and I'd buy them used. smile
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339535 - 16/11/2010 21:31 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3995
Loc: Manchester UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
And BTW, neither of those shots are wedding shots.


Why do you always have to behave like an absolute prick Bruno?

As an enthusiastic amateur and having seen the work Cris produces, I can't see why I'd ever want to take photography advice from you. Unless you'd like to show us some examples of the work you produce? Otherwise I don't see how you're even in a position to comment on this topic.
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Cheers,

Andy M

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#339536 - 16/11/2010 21:38 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: andym]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Andy, I felt Cris was the one being a prick. But I *still* didn't treat him badly. I *still* didn't use sarcasm.

He came at a point I made and tossed it out by misquoting and bringing up a wedding example which wasn't at all applicable to the studio. Then in the latest post everything except using speedlights is in complete agreement with the points I've been making all along.

And that's fine. It's part of participating in a forum.

The latest post quotes my "wedding shots in the studio" question with a "yes" answer and then pictures which are anything but wedding - one is a studio shot and the other is a location shoot. A location shoot, but a planned and well executed one, where Cris has controlled the lighting. Not related to the studio setup that was being discussed.

Is there some problem where english on this BBS gets understood differently once it crosses to the UK?

When I'm talking out my ass, you can feel free to call me on it. I wouldn't make a recommendation if I didn't know what I was talking about. I'm not a professional photographer - It's just not something I find pays well enough for the investment, though I thoroughly enjoy the hobby and have a lot of education and experience in it.

Your post on the other hand is just out of place, antagonistic, rude and completely off-topic.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339537 - 16/11/2010 21:40 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: andym]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
FWIW, there's an ignore feature on the board. "Ignore this user" on the user's profile page. It's not a terribly good implementation, though.

Bruno's reality distortion field has changed, for me, though, from really irritating, to absolutely hysterical. It helps to guess what his response is going to be before you read it, and see how close you come.

I'm batting about .850 these days, I think.
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Bitt Faulk

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#339539 - 16/11/2010 21:46 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
So Cris, you're pretty much, saying what I've already said. wink I don't have any first-hand experience with any modern studio lighting, so I can't make brand recommendations, but I'd still recommend a few speedlights. They're not terribly expensive (in the grand scheme of things) and have tremendous utility.


So you're basically saying you have no experience in this area, but yet are offering advice and questioning others ???

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
And BTW, neither of those shots are wedding shots.


Without doubt the stupidest thing I have ever seen you post on here. I think those shots both prove I have a very good understanding of studio lighting as well as using speedlights on location. And how the hell do you know that Ron & Dorothy were not renewing their vows ??? If you want to see some wedding photography check out my blog and try and tell me where I used flash and where I didn't.

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
I don't know if I'd ever risk touching PocketWizard's new stuff.


Yet again, any actual experience with PocketWizard? I own and use MultiMax, Plus II and TT5's. The TT5 are the most reliable and feature packed triggers out there, remember we are in the UK where the RF problems are not so evident. I use them almost everyday, in all sorts of situations. I've tried eBay triggers, Skyport, broncolor and Profoto triggers. PocketWizard every time. If you are weekend warrior I'm sure that the other solutions are ok, but in a professional environment there is nothing better out there.

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
For complete manual use and an easy no-brainer setup once you've got enough experience with the product, I'd probably go with a set of older PocketWizards - and I'd buy them used. smile


Getting a little tired of saying this, but yet again have you ever used the TT5 in a studio? It does everything that the others in the range to, and if you buy the new elinchrom units you can do a hell of a lot more. See my original recommendation that a visit to The Flash Centre who stock all these solution for specific advice.

Cheers

Cris.

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#339540 - 16/11/2010 21:57 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
Andy, I felt Cris was the one being a prick. But I *still* didn't treat him badly. I *still* didn't use sarcasm.


No, but you are now openly calling me a prick in a public forum. Nice.

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
When I'm talking out my ass, you can feel free to call me on it. I wouldn't make a recommendation if I didn't know what I was talking about. I'm not a professional photographer


Ok, you are talking out of your arse, you always talk out of your arse, but the people here are generally to polite to say it. You don't know what you are talking about in this area as you have already said you haven't shot in a studio.

Can you not see my point, the language you choose to use is very confusing, in once sentence you say you know what you are talking about, in the next that you are not a pro. Very confusing.

Originally Posted By: hybrid8
Your post on the other hand is just out of place, antagonistic, rude and completely off-topic.


Or totally spot on you prick. Now that is being rude. Lets take it from now on if I am being rude to you I'll be that blunt, if I'm not that blunt I'm not being rude, does that make it a little simpler for you to understand ???

Cheers

Cris.

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#339541 - 16/11/2010 22:05 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3995
Loc: Manchester UK
Bitt, my argument is that knowing Cris, working with him, and seeing the work he produces makes it hard for me think that Bruno genuinely knows better. Especially since he doesn't seem to have any work to back up his statements/opinions.
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Andy M

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#339542 - 16/11/2010 22:12 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Cris, let me jump back because I want to clear the air here and would really rather not continue this conversation. Why do you feel you have to prove that you have experience? At no point in time did I, or anyone else that I noticed, question your experience. I offered suggestions based on what I had experience with and based on some of the points made previously.

I understand that as a professional you might not want to read recommendations from those who aren't and may not even respect them. That's fine too. But since Tahir posted this for everyone to read, I believe it's fair game for anyone to contribute to. I value your opinion as a professional and I certainly at no point in time tried to indicate otherwise, even when I had some recommendations that may not have aligned precisely with what you mentioned.

Everything I've mentioned from a technical standpoint you've agreed with - you can go back and read the posts again if you'd like to double-check. Ok, you recommend a grey room while I recommend black (due to the size). The most recent being that both of agree that room lighting for setup doesn't matter much when it's not going to be factored into the shot, and that all artificial lighting will have a colour cast that must be dealt with by the camera, filters and/or post.

This isn't a pissing contest, so please take it easy as no one is calling into question *your* experience. You should know from dealing with other people in your field that there are wildly varying opinions on all manners of gear, even for photographers that otherwise overlap in professional focus. So when someone in a forum that has been participating along side you for many years has some different thoughts, you shouldn't be offended by them.

Incidentally, the last time I used studio strobes was with film, B&W and colour from 1991 to 1994 while at university, studying, among other things, Photography. Since I decided not to enter a commercial photography career, I've never invested in studio strobes. With regards to triggers, I briefly used an original Plus almost 10 years ago. I have been following the RP and PW line very closely for some 3 years and was really excited about the Flex line. Only let down by reviews and the perpetual vapor status of the Nikon kit. I don't shoot Canon. So today, the Flex is off the table, maybe next year it won't be. The RP stuff works with studio lights and speedlights, making them very attractive - plus they've had remote power control working longer than PW have. The smaller package is a bonus, price is somewhat irrelevant (in this instance).
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339543 - 16/11/2010 22:12 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: andym]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I wasn't commenting on your argument, Andy; I was just providing some, uh, workarounds for the issue involved.
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Bitt Faulk

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#339544 - 16/11/2010 22:15 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3995
Loc: Manchester UK
Agreed Bitt, thanks.
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Cheers,

Andy M

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#339545 - 16/11/2010 22:24 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
The RP stuff works with studio lights and speedlights, making them very attractive - plus they've had remote power control working longer than PW have.


Ummm so do the TT5's. Do you see what I find what you say so irritating when you clearly don't know what you are talking about. And sure you never said the TT5's don't work with studio flash, but that's not my point.

And for the record we are not saying the same things at all, the difference between a grey and black room is massive. A grey back drop/wall will give the photographer way more options, from blown out white to black.

I'm not going to take this conversation any further, but I will say when I clearly don't know much about a topic on here, like the boxee one, I read and follow with interest without the need to comment on every single thing.

Cheers

Cris

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#339546 - 16/11/2010 22:46 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Cris, the RP JrX are not TTL, which were the units I mentioned being interested in and the ones that have been able to connect to studio lights since they came out. I don't find it irritating that you're not familiar with this product line and have a preference for your own gear.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but the Flex transceiver only works with Canon Speedlights, not studio strobes. You'll need adapters such as the AC9 for use with Alien Bees strobes or a different receiver, like the PowerST4 for others. These adapters are also a lot more recent than the ControlTL system itself, and in some respects, an answer to the proposition put forth by the RP product line. The Control TL was PW's answer to RP's PX series which was the first aftermarket kit to work with Canon and Nikon's proprietary remote/slave systems.

Oh, I know that black and grey are completely different. Worked with both in school and for a small space much prefer black, especially when doing still work, like mannequins, plants, etc. It allows one to control much more easily, light spill bounced from other walls. In such a small room it's still trivial to throw up a background of one sort or another, but not always trivial to reduce light output enough so the walls appear black if including them in the shot.

But because I don't have my own studio set up right now, everything I'm saying must be wrong. And any professional photographer who happens to agree or have something like this set up is also wrong. Though I'm not sure why.

Anyway, peace, this thread is yours. I try my hardest to understand things I may not be initially familiar with, but while it's pretty straight forward to master things of a technical nature, it's impossible to always figure out people. At least specific people.

BTW, please feel free (and welcome) to contribute in the Boxee thread. You don't need to have a Box to have an opinion on UI design and features.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#339547 - 16/11/2010 22:50 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Just a little more info on radio triggers.

RadioPopper PX price for a set plus an STE2 (needed as a canon shooter) is approx £540. A PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 will cost you £388 and have full UK dealer support and offer you a smaller overall physical size than the RadioPopper system. So smaller and almost 30% cheaper.

I really can't praise PocketWizard enough, they are the one single piece of kit that has transformed my photography. Just the other week I was shooting a timelapse airside at Heathrow, I was able to use my MultiMax to remotely control the camera and the frame rate from just about anywhere I went on the site. Very useful. As a system it's so flexible and all interchangeable. As your needs grow you'll find it was money well spent. And if your needs don't grow they seem to hold their value quite well too.

Like I've been saying all along, get yourself down to http://www.theflashcentre.com/ they know their stuff, I'm so lucky to have a branch here in Leeds 10 minutes from my house.

Cheers

Cris.

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#339548 - 16/11/2010 23:01 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: hybrid8

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but the Flex transceiver only works with Canon Speedlights, not studio strobes.


I thought I had just corrected you, but I'll do it again. The pocketwizard flex system can do everything the MultiMax/Plus II system can as well as TTL. It even uses the same cables to the large part. Cables are cheap and standard. The AC9 and the like allow remote control of power but you can use manual without buying that. So to be clear the TT5/TT1 can control a manual studio flash with the correct cable (the same one as if you were using a Plus II).

It's also worth mentioning that PocketWizard is built into lots of Pro Gear, for example my light meter and studio pack have it built right in. I'm totally wireless, you can't do that with any other system at the moment. While not everyone will use these features I think it goes to show how flexible the system is.

Cheers

Cris

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#339551 - 17/11/2010 00:31 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
The BBS spell checks? I think maybe it's your linux computer dong it.. wink

Oh.. I suppose it could be something in Firefox, then.. so the dictionary it uses is likely replaceable.. I'll have a hunt for it.

Thanks

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#339552 - 17/11/2010 01:37 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Also, I'm pretty sure that there's only one way to spell "fluorescent". Chances are that you actually misspelled it.

en_CA dictionary for Firefox
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Bitt Faulk

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#339554 - 17/11/2010 12:51 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Originally Posted By: wfaulk
Also, I'm pretty sure that there's only one way to spell "fluorescent". Chances are that you actually misspelled it.

No, I spelled it exactly as shown in the post above. The USA spell-checker wanted the "u" removed.

I've got a British English dictionary in there now, and it's much happier with the international English spellings, though oddly it does insist that the words English and French be capitalized. I don't know if that's normally required or not.. Bitt?

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#339556 - 17/11/2010 13:35 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
"Florescent" is a word, but it's a completely different word from "fluorescent". It's related to "flourish", not "fluorite". (Firefox is not marking any words in this paragraph as misspelled.)

And, yes, "English" and "French" should be capitalized when referring to the countries and/or languages. For counter-example, there is a verb "to french" that refers to trimming into thin strips in a culinary context, thus the "french fry". (Notably, Firefox wants me to capitalize those instances.)
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Bitt Faulk

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#339559 - 17/11/2010 14:06 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: wfaulk]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Peachy. Thanks again for being our resident spelling/grammar consultant!

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#339560 - 17/11/2010 14:22 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5914
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
We have no need for Bitt now that the StackExchange empire is on on the act http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/381/when-should-the-word-english-be-capitalized

wink
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday

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#339561 - 17/11/2010 14:41 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: andy]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5541
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
Originally Posted By: wfaulk
And, yes, "English" and "French" should be capitalized when referring to the countries and/or languages.
If you are writing in English (which, of course, we are) then yes. Pero, si estamos escribiendo en español, nosotros escribimos "inglés", o "español", o "francés", sin capitalización si se refiere a la lengua.

tanstaafl.
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"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

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#339562 - 17/11/2010 16:55 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: tanstaafl.]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Okay. So should North be north, or should east be East ?

Inquiring minds want to know!

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#339563 - 17/11/2010 16:59 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
If it's used as a proper noun or as an adjective directly related to that proper noun, then it should be capitalized.

"I wish all those yankees from the North would go back home." vs. "I wish all those yankees would head back north."
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Bitt Faulk

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#339564 - 17/11/2010 17:26 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
canuckInOR
carpal tunnel

Registered: 13/02/2002
Posts: 3212
Loc: Portland, OR
Originally Posted By: Cris
Can you not see my point, the language you choose to use is very confusing, in once sentence you say you know what you are talking about, in the next that you are not a pro. Very confusing.

I really hate to jump to his defense, since he does often come across as a pompous know-it-all, but I didn't find it confusing.

You can be well-versed and knowledgeable about sex, without being a hooker or sexologist.

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#339565 - 17/11/2010 17:40 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: hybrid8]
canuckInOR
carpal tunnel

Registered: 13/02/2002
Posts: 3212
Loc: Portland, OR
Originally Posted By: hybrid8
no one is calling into question *your* experience.

Without speaking for Cris, I suspect the problem may have started when you asked if he shoots weddings in a studio. The implication from my perspective was that you thought he's "only" a wedding photographer with no studio experience, and doesn't really know what he's talking about with regards to a studio, i.e. you were calling into question his experience. If that's how I interpreted it as a non-involved 3rd-party, I can only imagine how much more magnified the (unintended) insult might have come across to Cris. That's why you got a studio picture posted in response.

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#339567 - 17/11/2010 18:42 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: canuckInOR]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: canuckInOR
That's why you got a studio picture posted in response.


Thank you, at least someone gets it.

Cheers

Cris.

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#339568 - 17/11/2010 18:44 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: canuckInOR]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Originally Posted By: canuckInOR

You can be well-versed and knowledgeable about sex, without being a hooker or sexologist.



Yea, but it helps right ??? Would you take sex advice from a hooker or a dried up old hag who sits at home with her cats and virginity intact? Not that I'm calling Bruno a hooker of course smile

Cheers

Cris.

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#339570 - 17/11/2010 19:31 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
... ultimately, this forum is always amazingly pleasant to be part of. Even when people argue and call each other a "prick", they do so using properly conceived arguments and witouth preventing a lot of interesting and technically informative facts to be shared at the same time. smile
As a DSLR (and possibly photography altogether) novice, I am impressed by Chris' work examples - which well illustrate two concepts discussed in this thread: professional studio lighting and pretty girls in small windowless rooms -, I keep learning a lot about studio lighting and professional equipment, and also about spelling differences between British and American English. Amazing, isn't it? smile
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MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#339572 - 17/11/2010 20:06 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
canuckInOR
carpal tunnel

Registered: 13/02/2002
Posts: 3212
Loc: Portland, OR
Originally Posted By: Cris
Originally Posted By: canuckInOR
You can be well-versed and knowledgeable about sex, without being a hooker or sexologist.
Yea, but it helps right ??? Would you take sex advice from a hooker or a dried up old hag who sits at home with her cats and virginity intact?

Well, there's a pretty broad spectrum between the two.

I think there's a band name in there, somewhere... Hookers and Hags.

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#339573 - 17/11/2010 20:07 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: Cris]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14483
Loc: Canada
Originally Posted By: Cris
Originally Posted By: canuckInOR
You can be well-versed and knowledgeable about sex, without being a hooker or sexologist.

Yea, but it helps right ??? Would you take sex advice from a hooker or a dried up old hag who sits at home with her cats and virginity intact? Not that I'm calling Bruno a hooker of course smile


Okay, that post definitely wins as "most amusing post thus far in this thread!" smile

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#339574 - 17/11/2010 20:39 Re: Building a photo studio [Re: mlord]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
One of the things I like about the empegbbs is that we never seem to descend into Godwin's Law. This thread seems to be inching ever closer.

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