Lighting

This entry is out of chronological order - it should be before the entry with Jessica's shoot with an alleyway photo illuminated by the Balcar AQ Pack self-contained studio lighting system. Anyhow, here's a photo from my first shot with the Balcar AQ Pack.

Nikon D2X, 2s, ISO 400, F/8, 17mm, one Iris head stopped down five stops on the Balcar AQ Pack, focused at 20degrees w/ Balcar LFX 30 12" reflector and area of illumination further reduced with large set of barn doors. Processed in Pixmantec RawShooter Essentials 2005 and scaled and exported in Adobe Photoshop CS2.

I don't enjoy having my photo taken but without a proper model I didn't have much a choice. I composed this photo and chose to showcase it in this entry for a number of reasons: it demonstrates how one can have accurate, effective control of lighting anywhere (all lighting, camera gear, a boom stand and a tripod were hauled up to the roof of the studio, up a ladder and through this roof hatch without assistance); it shows that artificial lighting can be achieved without the inconsistencies of using a standard TTL flash and without the harsh and difficult-to-control nature of such a flash; the flash can be used to achieve sharp detail with perfectly white-balanced colour for neutral skintones thus eliminating the need to unnaturally-alter the white balance of the photograph to achieve this neutrality and; I look so damn good in my hat.

I am making this Balcar AQ Pack (1200W/s) available for rent with one focusable Iris light head, your choice of Balcar reflector and your choice of umbrella or softbox plus a light stand or boom stand for $150/day or $400 per week for the package. The pack allows power adjustment over a six stop range in 1/10th stop increments throughout which the pack holds colour temperature consistent within 1-2% variance of the median. Refreshes to full power in about three seconds and has enough power for about 200-250 full power flashes. In realistic usage I have yet to fully empty the battery even hafter a 350+ flash discharge with ample use of the modeling light and lots of idle time with the pack and fan on.