Britek Lighting

[photobuff]

I am considering buying the Britek 3800 watt fluorescent light kit which has 2 lights using the Pro5000 light bank. It used 8-120watt fluorescent bulbs. I want to get a background light (50Watt) as well. My question is: Is this enough lighting for a home studio for portraits? I am so confused as too how much lighting is needed (watts) not number of lights. Can anyone help me decide? I don't know nor do I understand strobes for flash since I am a beginner.

[johnbiondo]

Hi Photobuff,

I have no clue myself as to lighting because I do not do studio stuff, but there is a good thread here: http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/showthread.php?p=43267&highlight=studio+lighting#post43267 Make sure to scroll the thread as a lot of posts are in it.

Jerry will probably post on your thread for answers... He is very good at explaining such setups.

[jerryph]

In general, I advocate staying away from constant on lighting and going towards starting off with speedlights, because:

- portability, no need for me to look for plugs or power packs
- quality of light
- less heat for speedlights = less danger of burning your models
- one speedlight can, under the right conditions overpower the sun... let's see any fluorescent light do that.

People say that because you don't have a modeling light, you will have additional issues setting it up. I say it encourages to make you a better photographer because you will fast learn to see the light BEFORE you even set up. Light travels in straight lines. ;)

Every person without exception that I know that bought constant on lighting went to flash. No one I know that has a flash ever uses constant on lighting.