Studio & Location Lighting: how do you do it?

[Asher Kelman]

Let’s present how we like our lights set up in the studio or at an outside location. I will start with my own system, developed over decades where I started with Lumedyne, made in the USA and designed to be simple to use and reliable.

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Lumedyne portable strobes I have transitioned from a total manual Lumedyne setup. This was made up of power packs thst get thr DC power from either batteries or a custom A to D converter.

Everything Lumedyne is made of black bricks they stack up with intervening “boosters”, (either 200 or 400 watt-seconds), so that on can increase the total power to 2400 or even 3200 watt seconds divided to 2 or more light heads attached by cables. Any cable can be further split to divide tgst power equally to two lights instead of just one.

So the system is very flexible.

Below is the 3200 Quad head that holds 4 800 watt second flash tubes each with its own modeling light

Sadly they are out of business but thousands remain in circulation. Although these are mostly manual, they also made an TTL version with Metz TTL adapters to fit Nikon and Canon cameras.

Although somewhat expensive when new, they are wonderful to use and available on eBay for a song and can be repaired.

I use the latest lithium batteries and I have two chargers.

Older batteries are nickel-cadmium and need a different charger. Dysfunctional batteries can be rebuilt by a number of companies found online.

The advantage of Lumedyne is low price, availability of various modules on the used market. In addition they are lightweight and the flash heads are adaptable to standard Bowen S light modifiers, beauty dishes, light boxes and Octadomes!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Lumedyne in my studio: Although all mr main studio lights are now Godox AD 400 self contained units, thr hair light, back body lights and lighting thr backdrop are with Lumedyne as these dont need fine adjustment with TTL.

The power pack with lithium battery hangs from a Manfrotto floor to ceiling compression pole.

The flash head is small and has a grid to keep light going straight and not spreading and barn doors to trim its coverage.

I also have several 200 watt second Lumedyne lights to illuminate the back drop seamless paper as needed.

Once one has a single power pack, one can subdivide that power to 4 or more heads with splitters as well as intervening booster modules adding up to 400 WS each, and these can come with extra sockets for further flash heads.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Shortly, I will add next my sets of Godox AD 200 and AD 400 pro integrated strobes.

I will share pictures of my studio setup too.

 

[Asher Kelman]

In the meanwhile, you are invited to share your own lighting systems and the good and bad characteristics!

Asher

 

[Will Thompson]

Here is one of my location night shoots setup!

These flash units are custom modified by me Norman LH500 heads connected to Norman 400B battery powered portable flash packs that bee converted for Radar Speed Traps prior to my modifications! (They did half the work needed)

I should mention that I used a Canon MR14 EX RingLight set for auto flash exposure set to FEC of -2 stops for fill.

 

[John Miller]

FYI

I use some Norman 1250D packs and Norman 2400 strobe heads plus some Norman 200Bs for location work. Great lights with constant lighting but they're heavy.
Also I use a little Dynalite 500XL pack and 1030 Dynalite strobe heads. They're half the weight of the Normans, they're a little fussy but they have good constant lighting.

Here's a Norman set-up in a dance studio that I rented. All Norman equipment.

John

 

[Asher Kelman]

John,

I am very supportive of using the Norman flash as they are excellent and I hate to think of them ending up in a landfill!

I am so impressed thet you have the initiative to rent a dance studio. How expensive was that? It looks so spacious.

You have the luxury of moving your lights anywhere you wish.

I have my lights on rails hanging from the ceiling as my space is restricted, but then I can move loads of 40 Lb with one finger!

Asher

 

[John Miller]

FYI

I use some Norman 1250D packs and Norman 2400 strobe heads plus some Norman 200Bs for location work. Great lights with constant lighting but they're heavy.
Also I use a little Dynalite 500XL pack and 1030 Dynalite strobe heads. They're half the weight of the Normans, they're a little fussy but they have good constant lighting.

Here's a Norman set-up in a dance studio that I rented. All Norman equipment.

John

View attachment 10599

John,

I am very supportive of using the Norman flash as they are excellent and I hate to think of them ending up in a landfill!

I am so impressed thet you have the initiative to rent a dance studio. How expensive was that? It looks so spacious.

You have the luxury of moving your lights anywhere you wish.

I have my lights on rails hanging from the ceiling as my space is restricted, but then I can move loads of 40 Lb with one finger!

Asher

 

[John Miller]

FYI

I use some Norman 1250D packs and Norman 2400 strobe heads plus some Norman 200Bs for location work. Great lights with constant lighting but they're heavy.

Also I use a little Dynalite 500XL pack and 1030 Dynalite strobe heads. They're half the weight of the Normans, they're a little fussy but they have good constant lighting.

Here's a Norman set-up in a dance studio that I rented. All Norman equipment.

John

View attachment 10599

John,

I am very supportive of using the Norman flash as they are excellent and I hate to think of them ending up in a landfill!

I am so impressed thet you have the initiative to rent a dance studio. How expensive was that? It looks so spacious.

You have the luxury of moving your lights anywhere you wish.

I have my lights on rails hanging from the ceiling as my space is restricted, but then I can move loads of 40 Lb with one finger!

John,

I am very supportive of using the Norman flash as they are excellent and I hate to think of them ending up in a landfill!

I am so impressed thet you have the initiative to rent a dance studio. How expensive was that? It looks so spacious.

You have the luxury of moving your lights anywhere you wish.

I have my lights on rails hanging from the ceiling as my space is restricted, but then I can move loads of 40 Lb with one finger!

Asher

Asher

It's not too expensive as long as you rent during the day, Monday thru Friday. The studios aren't using the space and a little extra cash for them is much appreciated.
You just to call around or email until you find something you want and just ask them. But backdrops are limiting to what you can carry, set-up and use.

I've used Norman gear for years! They're still being made.

John

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

John,

My light modifiers are very large and heavy. I’d need a crew of two for that and an hour of preparation and breakdown. So renting is only worthwhile for a shoot that must have large space.

Asher