Images of people lit by LED panels with Airbox Inflatable Softboxes on them

Lit only by LED panels wearing Airbox Inflatable Softboxes

People ask me, so why an  Airbox? What's it do?  This post is long overdue, some work samples of shooting I've done using just LED panels and Airboxes. It is notable that much of the time I light with my panels and Airboxes, I do use an extra layer of diffusion in the front pocket when I don't need all the output and I do want it a bit softer. Good thing precut gel + diffusion kits are available to fit our softboxes then!

Lighting used: 2 1x1 Litepanels with Airbox Model 1x1 Softboxes with extra sheet of diffusion in front sleeve and eggcrates), Switronix TorchLED with Airbox Macro, Dracast 160 with Airbox Macro kit with eggcrate

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Litepanels Astra review

Litepanels Astra Review

 4.5/5 stars

If you're into lighting with LED panels at all, you must have heard about the Litepanels Astra that came out last year. Litepanels were the first in the field of LED panel lighting for video, and after being thoroughly and extensively copied over the years, they've now released a spiffed-up design of their original product. They were also kind enough to lend me one, and here are my impressions after playing with it around the house and using it on several shoots.

•Output

What I noticed first is how bright it was. 
  

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LED panel comparison: color charts, vectorscopes, light loss

People ask me all the time, "what LED panels do you recommend?" "What's the color like on that panel?"and ""Does putting an Airbox Softbox on the light affect the color?", so I decided to do some testing, as scientifically as possible.  What you're looking at is footage shot of the DSC labs OneShot chart, where each of the color patches is carefully calibrated to match up to the six points on a vectorscope, as well as four skin tone patches that line up with the "skin tone" line on a scope.  A perfect light source and a perfect camera would land each of the dots right on the vectorscope targets.

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More lighting and camera gear 2014: FS7, Sourcemaker blanket, Twintube Dolly, Gruvgear Muver

New lighting and camera equipment from 2014 that bears mention:

Sony's Fs7 has been one of the most ballyhooed releases this year. I recently got the chance to do some testing Adam Wilt and Art Adams. Adam Wilt wrote some thorough articles about it which are worth reading. I'm looking forward to reading Arts writeup when its done, but here's my really quick .02 - like the smarty handgrip. All those controls you can operate without taking your eye of the eyepiece! I was also very impressed with the dynamic range. S-log 3, we were actually short of hard pressed to create an indoor situation that exceeded what camera could still resolve. Granted,  our biggest light was an 800 joker, but it was still impressive that the camera could still see detail on the t/45 white curtains where the beam of light was hitting them as well as in the unlit T/1 patch of dark wood in the foreground, about eleven stops apart.  We'll wait and see the actual test results though once Art has done the edit.

Sony FS7, test shoot w/Art Adams and Airbox Lights

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Custom Catch Lights or Eye Lights

Lighting Exercise: Custom Catchlights

I've always had this thing for unusual catch lights in people eyes, something other than the usual rectangle or dot.  Catchlights, also referred to as eyelights, are generally understood by photographers and videographers to be important; people's eyes seem a little dead when there's no light reflected in them. Not coincidentally, the times there's no light reflected in someone eyes is usually when there isn't any light source in front of them, so they're usually a bit backlit or sidelit anyway, which might lead people to feel that the person looks a little gloomy. 


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A Sneak Peek of Amsterdam's International Broadcast Convention.

IBC Attendees in Action (Image Courtesy of IBC)

This weekend marks the start of the International Broadcast Convention (IBC). The annual meeting serves as the premier world-wide event for professionals directly involved with the creation and distribution of visual entertainment.

So, just how big is this year’s convention? Well, they’re looking to host over 50, 000 attendees from over 170 countries before the conference wraps up on September 16.

The best thing about IBC? It's the place where companies go to roll out innovative new products. And this year's convention doesn't disappoint as Sony used it to debut the new Sony FS7.
Intended to compete with the Canon c300, the FS7 does some nifty stuff the C300 can't do.
For example, the camera has a built-n handgrip on an articulating arm for ENG-style shooting. It also has zoom control for eng style lens with user-definable shortcut buttons. You can read a detailed review by the guys at Newsshooter.com (who love our Airbox Inflatable Softboxes!) at http://www.newsshooter.com/2014/09/12/sony-pxw-fs7-4k-super35-camera-the-best-of-all-worlds/.

Yes, IBC 2014 is definitely going to packed with new lighting equipment and video gear, no doubt. But... we of Airbox Inflatable Softboxes aren't going, sadly. You might be able to see some of our cool inflatable softboxes for LED panels at the Dracast booth or the Litepanels booth, if you ask them!  Both of those companies do have some samples, since we have partnered together on several business projects. But you'll probably have to ask.

Our Model 1x1 fitted over Astra Panel

Speaking of  Litepanels. we’re huge fans of their new Astra 1x1 panel. Which, incidentally, works perfectly with our very own Model 1x1 as you can see here.You'll be able to see these at Booth # 11-E55, in the Vitec group area.

 I like the improved ergonomics of the yoke, that the heavy parts like the battery mount or power supply are mounted on the yoke where it meets the stand, rather than on the back of the panel, which has always been an annoyance since the weight cause s the light to tilt. I liked that the yoke is now angled forward, so the yoke doesn't get in the way of tilting the light down.  This is particularly handy when you've got a softbox on the front of it. It's truly a great product from the people pioneered   LED panel lighting.  Plus, it's reasonably priced,  costing around $1500.

If you’re not able to make it to the festivities, don’t fret as it you’ll be able to view  the 24-hour live stream on their site. You can catch all the excitement of the IBC  at http://www.ibc-tv.org.

Although we're not going to the convention, we're still offering up a pretty big deal for our valued customers. From now until September 18, every purchase of the Model 1x1 earns you 20% off on the Model 126. Just go to our Amazon store and use offer code I2432KA8. It’s a perfect way to really save big on two of our most popular products. 

Until next time!

Tom

Make women look beautiful!

This is proof, right?  That Airbox Inflatable Softboxes transform women from haggard to gorgeous in under 30 seconds!

 Exaggerations aside, Airboxes do work. And I hope people agree with me at NAB 2014, where I've got my own booth this year.  Exciting.  Expensive.  Wish me luck.