[LargeFormat] lighting tricks

[Clive Warren]

At 08:21 15/01/02 +0200, Dave Southwood wrote:
>i work for a magazine called COLORS  and i have to embark on a long road
>trip next week. i will need to light truckers and prostitutes in the night,
>and fill-in in the day, so i am trying to organise myself a good light
>source.
>
>1. some quantum packs. ideal but expensive. might run out
>2. flash heads and a generator. too bulky and noisy
>3. candles. would introduce a sinister air
>4. make a soft box for some cigarette-lighter driven spots
>
>i think i will go with 4. please offer advice on the feasibility of this
>last option. ill just procure some corrective gels and try and make a
>splitter so that i can run two simultaneously. i recall vociferous dialogue
>on four wheel drives and thought perhaps some of you might have ideas on a
>bright solution.
>
>whats the deal with cooling opened packs of 4 by 5 film? does condensation,
>on warming, make for problems? i try not to cool film too much if its been
>opened but have never clarified my suspicion

Dave,

You might try using plain old fashioned flash bulbs as Uncle Dick 
suggested. They are still available, try Bill Cress who specialises in 
supplying old flash bulbs at Flashbulbs.com. The car halogen light and 
softbox is an option - but you may be dealing with people who do not want 
to be photographed. Could be a bit dodgy unless you tend to wander around 
with some protection........

The suggestion has been made to use a smaller format - but I guess you like 
the challenge :-)

I keep opened packs of 4x5 film in the wonderful American invention - 
Ziplok (?) bags  - these work superbly at either keeping moisture in or 
out.  I usually allow the film at least a little while to warm up from the 
cooler bag before opeining the Ziplok bag.

Cheers,
            Clive

PS - we definitely want to read a travelogue of this adventure on the f32 
web site!