Studio Flash or Regular Light (i.e. Theatre Spots)

[MarcusK]

I can not stress just how much i dislike on-camera flash and my devotion and absolute worship of low-light photography!

But I can't exactly remain in the realm of darkness.

So, first i ask for your understanding and patience, since i am not quite literate in studio equipment terminology!

Second, for those who had the experience, which would you think is better if any difference actually exists:

Studio Flash or constant light? I am looking for something that is not too expensive (not more than $400-$500) and somewhat portable ( not planning to use it outdoors )

Any help is more than welcome!

[Greg McCary]

B&H Photovideo has lessons on studio lighting and what to buy if you go to their web site and click on the ad to win an Olympus evolt e300. take a look and see if that might help....

[Asylum Steve]

Studio Flash or constant light?...

Marcus, I asked Steve (the mod in Help) to move this thread to the Studio forum. I think you'll get more discussion there. You should also look in that forum's archives as this subject comes up a lot...

There is no easy answer to your question. Some folks are more comfortable with one over the other, but there are strengths and weaknesses to both.

One thing I can tell you is that electronic flash gives you more power (and more consistent light output), but at a higher price and the disadvantage of not being able to see the exact effect in real time (modeling lights are never perfect).

Hot lights definitely make it easier to learn lighting, but other issues arise (mostly heat and continual power usage).

At some point, most pros learn to mix the two, and the cheaper hot lights become useful for certain things (and effects), and the more high-tech electronic flashes are used to take advantage of their strengths.

You basically "paint with light" with both types of lighting, and in the digital age, I think the abstract method of light meter and histogram that flash requires over the human eye element that hotlights use has gotten much easier...

[MarcusK]

Thanks guys...that was a lot of help!

Will keep you posted should anything come up!

Regarding hot lights, i just feel they put the model into the mood required (since i am not a working professional photographer, can't afford to pay experienced models) i know i should do most of the mood preparation for the model, but i figured the hot lights will replicate "normal situations" otherwise, since i can't really experiment with both, wanted to know if there was any visual difference between both!

Anyways, thanks for the replies...