Hello, new here

[John Prendergast]

Hello folks,

Stumbled across this site and thought it looked interesting (well, the lighting section seemed so, anyway).

The site came to my attention while I was frustratingly trying to make some kind of sense of the problems I was having, trying to profile a sekonic 758 and in my search, Frank Doorhof's name came up. One thing led to another and here I am.

I'm a professional photographer, primarily involved in the wedding market but I am interested in diversifying.

My current obsession is lighting, especially trying to create studio quality set-ups in the field and on location etc, using battery powered portables such as Lumedyne and Quantum and whichever modifiers that may be applicable and practical in the field (given wind, mobility etc).

I want to move my work away from the pretty informal approach that is now in vogue (which I have also been doing and to some extent, will continue to) and develop further, what I call "proper" photography at least for some portion of the day as part of our drive to make the work stand out (more than it does now) from the masses in this challenging time we find ourselves in.

Hope I've come to the right place as there are a myriad of sites where one sees "I've got my first paid job tomorrow.....now how do I do it".

Hoping here is different!

Dont know whether this is permitted or not, but here is what we are about.

http://www.johnprendergastphotography.co.uk

[Asher Kelman]

Where are you located? In a large city you can rent almost anything. Lumedyne is great (Norman is the same). simple light and reliable. I recently rented a Hensel Porty with a light box and stand for about $100 for a day and was so impressed. They also have wonderful beauty dishes. I use that from the front in a large box and a 36" box with the Lumedyne on the side. The Hensel gives me the power needed for a great front light with no compromises.
With just lumedynes I have to pile up more modules and the Lumedyne is best for more portable work, I think. I often have one or two strobes aimed at the ceiling when I shoot from my camera attached flash for reception and other less formal parts of events.

Here's the picture of it from B&H:



I have lots of Lumedyne, howevever we do have lighting hot shots here and let them tell you their own ideas.

For more money, the Elinchrome Octa gives a great light and one has to merely open it.

Renting is amazingly efficient. In Los Angeles, for $8 they will even deliver it!

Hope you find that we're the place you wanted to hang out in. Show your work and get and give feedback. When you get to know folk here then you will get out of this much more!

Asher

[John Prendergast]

Hi Asher, thanks for the reply.

Perhaps I didnt make myself clear enough. We already have several Lumy and Qflash heads plus power packs, pocketwizards, FreeXwire etc and have been using them since last summer.

Just want to swap, discuss and exchange info, working practices, setups with similar people. People who are using portable flash in the field or on location.

Hope there here. I've a feeling they will be.

[Asher Kelman]

Hi again,

The point I was trying to make is that the Hensel is one of the most modern units and really well built. Because it also has one of the best beauty dishes too, and it goes to 1500 WS to two heads, it seem to me to be an ideal solid investment that complements my the Lumedyne units. I prefer not to have to go over 4-800 WS with the Lumedyne so the time is not extended and the thing does not become to elongated as the boosters are stacked.