Alien Bees...

Anyone have any knowledge or experience with them?

Does anyone know of any other units that are better?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

I've heard nothing but praise about them, Cleo...but no real experience. I've looked at them and they look pretty good.

I just bought the B800. I'll let you know how it goes.

I actually got it because I have two nude shoots coming up and wanted to try & repeat a shot that Weston did. I kept reading about techniques & style and the one name that popped up over & over was "Alien Bee". You'll know if I hate it if you see it listed in the "classifed" section. :)

LOL...I've worked with them and will probably get some eventually myself. They're nice b/c they're lightweight. Some better, also by Paul Buff are his White Lightnings. Alien Bees are just more compact.

What other lights are you using besides the 320ws B800?
I like the Alien Bees design by Paul C. Buff and they are a hundred bucks less than the new White Lightning X series with comparable features.

Cleo,
I've done quite a bit of research on them and have yet to find someone who dislikes them. Everyone especially likes the 800's. Hope to get a set one day soon. Please let us kow what you think.

What other lights are you using besides the 320ws B800?


I am going to use available light & the bee on one. And then I am thinking of just the available light in the studio. Have any suggestions? I am open to help.

I have two very large 1000 watt softboxes, 2 smith-victor 500 watt lights with umbrellas and now i have added the bee to the collection.

Onw woman is older and wants to surprise her husband with a shot for his birthday. The other woman is 22. I am thinking that I want to photograph the first in low key and the second in high key.

They are two different shoots that I booked on the same day.

For the high key, I was also going to experiment with colored gels.

The studio I am shooting in is in NYC on the 10th floor with a fullside of south facing windows, no obstructions, so available light will be plentiful.

With all that light you already have on hand the low key shoot will be a breeze. Do you have a pose in mind for the older woman? What do you have for posing aids? Bed? Sofa? Grand piano? Standing pose? Does she have the same objectives for the shoot that most middle-aged women have for their boudoir shoot (younger, thinner, taller)? If not then try to bring out her character with posture and facial expression. Try a "Hollywood" lighting technique with your main at 45 degrees above and to the side of your camera. Use the south windows as fill and set your main to 4X over the natural light value.

The younger one wants a full frontal. I was thinking maybe an arched back full frontal, high key & possiblly some colored gels.

The middle-aged woman wants more of a "hi I'm naked but you cannot see me" type of thing. The pose would be of her naked but all parts hidden by her legs which would be crossed in fron of her, her knees to her chest.

As far as posing aids, nothing. I am tempted to try the "Hollywood". Neither has ever posed nude before so I wanted to make it quick & comfortable.

The younger one should be an easy turn and burn, just use your large softboxes either side of the camera and your new B800 for your main above your camera... Oh that Edward Weston pose from the 30's. Are you going to modify that pose at all? Lower the viewpoint slightly? Expose her facial expression maybe looking past the camera at a scene in through the window perhaps.

Oh that Edward Weston pose from the 30's. Are you going to modify that pose at all? Lower the viewpoint slightly? Expose her facial expression maybe looking past the camera at a scene in through the window perhaps.


Exactly what I had in mind. I was messing around with the lighting today, but I couldn't hit it with what I have. I'll have to wait for the bee to arrive. I just hope I can nail it before her shoot.

Post the nudes you shot today and we might be more help with your ratios and lighting positions.