Ordered my Alien Bees

[DVC Jen]

They should be here Tuesday or Wednesday.

I am so excited!

Just had to share.

 

[jann1033]

waiting to see the results i'll pour another cup of coffee....

 

[DVC Jen]

waiting to see the results i'll pour another cup of coffee....

LOL I hope that is a BIG cup considering they won't be here for a few more days.

I am really excited and have already warned the family they will be "modeling" for me a lot of Christmas break. I may even call in the reserves (kids friends).

Hey Janet - how does a nice relaxing trip to Dallas sound for the holidays - you have always wanted to be a model - right?

 

[Amy]

Ok, I'll bite. What are "alien bees"?? Since this is the photo board, I'm assuming they're NOT the buzzing stinging things.

 

[geetey]

Ooo! You must be so excited, Jen! What kind of set up did you decide to order? 2 800s? Until your thread I didn't realize there were so many different things to consider with lights.

Of course, I would have really liked it if you would have ordered a new lens so I could have your review.

Can't wait to see the results of your sessions when the bees arrive!

 

[SharonLowe]

Enjoy them! Don't forget those hard boiled eggs for practice - they don't talk back!!

 

[Lizziejane]

or do what I've been doing since I got mine last week - 3 guys in the house and no one will "play nice" with me - I've been shooting a doll!

 

[SharonLowe]

or do what I've been doing since I got mine last week - 3 guys in the house and no one will "play nice" with me - I've been shooting a doll!

That's another good one. An egg works well because it doesn't have edges that give funny shadows but once you are happy with an egg, it is good to work with something more face like. I have a wonderful mannequin head - Bertha is her name - that I like to experiment with. I have an old wig from chemo days and love trying hats and other things with her to see how I have to adjust the lights.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Great news. Just be forwarned that lighting is hard (at least I find it hard). My first attempts were so awful that I didn't show them to anyone. I certainly wouldn't have posted them here with all the harsh critiques!

The book that really helped me is Light: Science and Magic. It's a bit on the geeky side in that it explains things rather than just telling you what to do. It is not so geeky that it's full of formulas.

 

[Amy]

Will SOMEBODY please tell me what these alien bees are????

 

[AndrewWG]

Will SOMEBODY please tell me what these alien bees are????

I think that they come down from space and light up your studio for you. I don't think they sting. Nice Bees.

 

[Amy]

Fine, since nobody would tell me, I googled it. Now I know. SO THERE!

 

[AndrewWG]

Well, believe it or not, I have no idea. Although my last post WAS very informative, I fear it may have been a bit incorrect. At least I hope it was!

I know it has to do with lighting, and since I am not into lighting YET, I have not given it the time in a good google search.

Actually, I don't know exactly what these are because I'm afraid to know what they are. I'm afraid because I'm sure that when I do find out what they are, I'll want to spend money on them. I really don't have any extra money right now. Oh well. I'll google them next year, I guess! I just like the name "ALIEN BEES". Sounds real cool!

 

[Amy]

Andy, I didn't spend much time on the Alien Bees website, but what I saw could get expensive - $224 for ONE light. But they did look nice....

 

[AndrewWG]

Andy, I didn't spend much time on the Alien Bees website, but what I saw could get expensive - $224 for ONE light. But they did look nice....

Oh my! That is not too cheap. However, I am sure they are very good and worth the money. Maybe someday I'll get over my portrait photography "fear" and get some lighting, but for now I'm happy with just not taking portraits. I dread the NYIP assignments that will be portraits... I don't think I will run into them for awhile though.

 

[Master Mason]

yes they are somewhat expensive, but the come in pretty colors....

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Andy, I didn't spend much time on the Alien Bees website, but what I saw could get expensive - $224 for ONE light. But they did look nice....

Alien Bees, as you have now seen, are studio lights. They may look expensive, but they became popular for costing about half (or less) as much as similar lights from other makers. They do cut a few corners to keep prices down, but most of the differences are in things that amateurs are not likely to worry about.

 

[DVC Jen]

Sorry Amy for not getting back to you. It has been a pretty crazy, busy, hectic weekend around here. My mother in law is flying in next Friday and we have JUST started Christmas shopping - had to get stuff for my youngest DDs Christmas dance recital next weekend -she has an extra rehearsal today - cleaning carpets. My head is spinning.

Glad you were able to find out what they are.

The lights were shipped the same day they were ordered - I am impressed - fast.

The hubster is a definalte keeper - he let me get quite a bit of stuff.

I won't list it all here - but this is a basic rundown. The area I have to work in is really limited so I went with..

2 AB400's (in pink )
2 AB800's (black)
I have some decent stands from my hot lights so I only got a backdrop stand and one heavy duty stand to hold the large softbox I got.

I also got 3 umbrellas - 2 shoot through and one silver/white

I got 2 grids a 10 degree and 30 degree. I am not sure how often I will use them - but if I want the 20 and 40 degree grids I can always order them later.

I got a set of barndoors

I got the 4 channel wired remote. Hubster is asking for yet another ham radio and antenna/tower for Christmas so the remote stuff may not work well with all of those radio waves floating around our house.

I also got a stand bag and four light bags

I think that is it. I am really looking forward to school being out so I can beg, plead and bribe my girls and a few of their friends to model for me. I will also have the hubster and my mother in law. And when they get tired of it I will more than likely break a few eggs and grab some stuffed animals.

I know this is going to be like starting all over again. I think I just about got my continuous hot lights down (keyword almost). I am looking forward to the challenge though.

I have discovered one thing about myself this past year - especially since I quit teaching. I LOVED to be challenged.

I will post my practice shots as I go along - I welcome any comments, suggestions, glowing praise and maybe even the occasional criticism (or not so occasional ) you have to give.

I hope it doesn't take as long as I think it will for me to get it all figured out. Oh - and I have some books on lighting that were suggested on my Christmas list.

Cross your fingers for me.

 

[jann1033]

since i'm with andy in the chicken department, i am awaiting a step by step tutorial so i can learn vicariously through you

although the more i think about it the more i think portraiture is not really for me, i'd probably make them all look like something Picasso did and get sued

 

[AndrewWG]

since i'm with andy in the chicken department, i am awaiting a step by step tutorial so i can learn vicariously through you

although the more i think about it the more i think portraiture is not really for me, i'd probably make them all look like something Picasso did and get sued

Yup. I agree with this completely.

I look at it this way. My DD will be in school another 9 years (plus hopefully college). School pics for those 9 years will probably only run me about $500 even if there is a 10% price hike each year, which there generally isn't. I could spend $1000 EASILY on a lighting setup. Since my DD would most likely be the only one I could drag in front of the camera, that would not be worth it to me. However, if I decide that I like to do portraits at some time and there is the possibility of someone paying me to do them, well, I may just change my mind on the cost effectiveness.

At this point though, I am just happy for DVC Jen as I know that she has wanted this type of setup for some time now. I can't wait to see how well they work for you Jen! Here's hoping that it is an easy learning curve for you!