This sample three-light setup uses three AlienBees B400 or B800 Flash Units to light both your subject and your backdrop, but gives you the effect of a "four-light" setup with the use of the reflector panel. This setup could be used for portraits and/or headshots.
One flash unit (shown in
Alien Green) is used as a
Main Light, softened with our OB47 Large Octabox. Using the octabox produces a soft, diffused light source with a rounded catchlight. The closer that the octabox is placed to the subject, the softer the output will be. You can begin by placing this light as close to your subject as it can get while still being outside of the framed shot, then adjust forwards and backwards. This unit is set as the most powerful flash in the setup, positioned at roughly a 45-degree angle.
The second “light” is the CRK42 Reflector Panel. The silver bounce side of this 5-in-1 reflector panel kit is used as a
Fill Light, to "fill in" the shadows cast by the main light (the soft white or gold bounce surfaces may be used here as well). The panel is positioned on the opposite side of the subject, also positioned roughly at a 45-degree angle so that it catches light from the main light and bounces it back towards the subject. The CRK42 can be held by an assistant or used with our RBH2566 Reflector Kit Mounting Arm on either a 10-foot or 13-foot light stand.
The third and fourth flash units (shown in
Martian Pink and
Mello Yello) are used as the
Back Lights, each with U32TWB Shoot-Thru Umbrellas. The units are positioned on opposite sides of the backdrop on the short LS1100 backlight stands, angled up towards the center of the backdrop behind the subject’s head. Depending on the size of the backdrop area that will be visible in the frame, you can adjust the positioning of each unit left and right. Using the “shoot-thru” white umbrellas will soften the total output while spreading it out to cover a wider area. Using the same umbrella with the same output setting will make the total coverage even between the two lights. Adjust the placement of the two lights together so that they overlap evenly in the center of the backdrop behind the subject. Begin by setting the output of the two units at full power. Adjust the output as you take your meter readings, metering the background separately. To ensure that the background is bright white and that the shadows from the subject are overpowered, the background should meter approximately two f-stops brighter than your subject.
Using three units with the same power model (either B400s or B800s) allows you to get a true
"What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get" modeling preview, as you can set each unit's modeling lamp to the "track" setting and maintain the accurate preview despite output adjustments and various accessory use.
To connect your setup, you'll simply plug each flash unit into your standard Ac power source (or Vagabond system). You can then connect one flash unit to your camera with the provided sync cord, and allow the other units to fire simultaneously with their built-in slaves. You could also use the CyberSync Radio Remote Control System or LG4X Wired Remote to control triggering and/or output.
