Amateur Photographer - UK (2019-09-13)

subscribe 0330 333 1113I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI 7 September 2019 55

Tech Talk

Our experts suggest

Ask the ex erts

InterfitHoneyBadger

TwinHeadsoftboxkit

Despitecomingin at underhalf

yourbudget,Interfit’sHoney

BadgerTwinHeadkitcouldbea

greatoptionto sitat thecentre

of a homestudio.Itstwo320W

headswillilluminatemoststudio

subjects,withcontinuouslighting

optionsforversatilevideouse,

andtheycomewithlighting

standsandpop-upsoftboxes.

Compactandlightweight,they’re

portableandwon’ttakeuplots

of storagespace when not in use.

ElinchromBRX500/500

SoftboxToGoSet

Packinga fantastic500Wpunch,

thisElinchromlightingkitprovides

plentyof powerforprofessional

results.It comescompletewith

everythingneededforwireless

triggeringin-box,aswellas

lightingstandsandsoftboxesfor

flatteringresultsstraightoutthe

gate.Witha fullyfeaturedcontrol

panel,you’llbeabletospecify

thelightingdesiredforyour

images,whileit allpacksdown

intotwoincluded carry cases.

BowensXMT500 Twin

HeadKit

Shootingforupto 500 shots

ononerechargeablebattery,

Bowens’XMT500scanbe

convenientlyusedwithoutmains

powerin a studio,oronlocation

fortotalflexibilityona shoot.

Despitethis,theystillcarrya

huge500Wflashoutputand

boastTTLandhigh-speedsync

flashfeatures.Easilypacked

downintotheircarryingrucksack,

thiskitincludesstandsbut

unfortunatelynot softboxes.

£499

●Compactdesignforgreatportability

●Kitincludesstandsandsoftboxes

●Inbuiltradioreceiverfor

wireless triggering

£944

●Impressive500Wflashoutput

●Includessoftboxesfordiffused light

●Inbuiltradioreceiverfor

wireless triggering

£1,399

●500-shotbatteryforportablepower

●High-speedsyncpossibleat 1/8000sec

●LEDmodellinglightfor cool

continuous light

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Lookingfora newcameraoraccessoryandneedsomeadvice?TheexpertsatWexPhotoVideo

areheretohelp.Contact us [email protected] or on Twitter at@AP_Magazine and#AskAP

Q

I’manenthusiastportraitphotographer

whosometimeschargesforshoots,and

amgettingincreasedinterestin more

paidworkasI continuetodevelopmyportfolio.

I’vejustmovedintoa largerhouseandfinally

havethespacetostartbuildinga bitof a home

studio;upuntilnow,I’vemainlybeenusing

naturallight.Withthisin mind,I’mlookingto

purchasemyfirststudiolightingkit.What

wouldyourecommend?Mybudgetis around

£1,000,butI’dconsiderspendinga bitmore

forsomethingthatreally stands out.

Jennifer Scott

A

Youcaneasilypickupa near-professional

studiokitwithyourbudget.Nowadays,

mostincludeinbuiltoptionsforwireless

triggeringandcarryfastrecycletimesformultiple

burstsofflashin quicksuccession.You’llstillwant

toconsideritsmaximumpoweroutputasmore

powerfullightswillallowyoutobetteroverpower

ambientlightorpositionthemat furtherdistances

froma subject.You’llprobablyalsowantone

whichincludesstandsforthelights,andsome

initialsoftboxestohelpyougetthebestresults.

Herearethreeofourfavourites:twofallunder

your budget and one is a curveball option.

TheCalumet2.4WirelessTriggerKit
is both versatile and affordable

Lighting kit to build a home studio

Getmorecreative

withflash

Q

Irecentlyboughta
flashgunformyNikon
camera,butoftenfindits
lightlooksunattractivelyharshand
dullonsubjects.Is thereanycheap
equipmentouttherewhichcould
helpmetogetmorecreative
results?I alreadyowna small
diffuserwhichattaches to its front.
TonyBostock

A

Flashgunsarea fantastic
toolforbringingadditional
illuminationtoa sceneand
freezingfast-pacedmotion,but
you’rerightthatwhenusedon-
camera,thehead-onangleof
theirlightcanoftenleadtoflat
results.Formorecreativeimages
youcantrychangingtheangle
anddistancethatlightcomes
frombytakingyourflashgunoff-
camera.In ordertodothis,and
stillhavetheflashfirewhenyou
openthecamera’sshutter,you’ll
wanttoinvestin somewireless
triggers.Comprisinga transmitter
thatattachestoyourcameraand
a receiverthatis fittedtoyour
flashgun,you’llbeabletoposition
yourflashgunwhereyoulike,
givingyoumorecontroloverthe
lightin yourscene.In factwith
multiplereceivers,youcouldeven
incorporatemultipleflashguns
intoyourlightingset-up.We’d
recommendtheCalumetPro
Series2.4GHz4-Channel
WirelessTriggerKitavailablein
NikonandCanonfits.Despiteonly
costing£65,it allowsyoutotrigger
your fl ash from up to 100m away.