"Learning to Light: My First Steps with Paul C. Buff AlienBees (Self-Portrait Practice)"

The Journey into Artificial Light

Stepping into the world of artificial light might seem simple, but it’s a nuanced journey. While a basic flash can get a suitable shot, truly crafting one-of-a-kind photos that perfectly match your vision requires a deeper understanding.

My comfort zone has long been shooting outdoors, leveraging the Pacific Northwest's abundant ambient light. Our overcast days are a gift for evenly lit photos, and I've even found success with tiny on-lens flashes for macro work. But as my passion for photographing people grows, I've realized the need for more control over my light.

Shooting runners outdoors is a comfortable place for me and the more and more I do it, the more I realize I love taking photos of people. This realization has steered me towards portrait and headshot photography. Not only am I an introvert and will have to come out of my shell, I will also have to learn more about lighting my subjects.

Why Strobes? My Path to Paul C. Buff AlienBees

So, why not continuous lighting? Simply put, strobes offer far more power and versatility for your investment. If continuous lights could deliver the punch I need for outdoor work, my journey might be different. But to truly shape light and overpower the sun, my path leads to strobes. So, my journey begins with using strobes to properly light my subjects.

AlienBees, released in 2001 by Paul C. Buff, are known for their colorful housings and incredible simplicity. While some might call them 'outdated' by today's wireless, TTL standards, I appreciate the straightforwardness of older technology – a perfect match for my classic camera gear. This simplicity makes them ideal for truly learning the fundamentals of light.

What would this bee (lol) if I didn’t take photos of my strobes and create a flyer mockup? I thought that was a lot cooler than just a plain photo and I think it embodies Paul C. Buff vibes.

My First AlienBees Session: Setup & Learnings

This week I decided to set up a single light with a 7’ umbrella w/diffuser and see what I could come up with. I took loads of photos, messed with settings, tested my Radiopopper’s (another old school product) wireless trigger system. Once I got into the mood of being the model for my own photos I was able to capture a few I liked. I don’t think I’m quite there yet, but this felt like a positive first step. I wish I would have had my Neutral Density Filter with a much shallower depth of field. There were a lot of frustrating moments, but wrapping my head around it was important and this exercise in patience was necessary.

One of my goals is to be able to shoot outdoors with strobes and create some really fun photos.

Final Shots

I wanted to see if I could handle the possibility of reflections in my lenses. The white triangle in the corner is actually part of the umbrella.

I edited another as B&W - I love B&W.

A LITTLE ON THE NOSE

Just in case anyone was curious what I do. I take photos.