What’s in Your Lighting Kit?
Light is the most important element in photography, yet it is also one of the most difficult to master.
There are thousands of tools available to help you capture, create, and shape light, but you cannot realistically afford to buy and carry them all. As a mobile photographer, you need to stay flexible and fit the essentials into a relatively small bag.
Rick Friedman has been refining his lighting kit for more than 30 years and has used it to photograph some of the world’s most influential and innovative figures. From the Dalai Lama to U.S. presidents, Rick has photographed them all. Earlier this week, we took a look inside Rick’s lighting backpack while he was preparing for his Quick Location Lighting course on CreativeLive.
Here’s what we found:
1) 3 Speedlights with external batteries powered by rechargeable AA batteries.
Powerful and portable essentials for any field lighting kit.
2) Rick Friedman Location Lighting Kit by Rosco.
This compact kit includes Cinefoil, Tough Spun, and a full range of gels. It is small, but it packs a lot of punch.
3) 2 Rogue Grid Sets.
Small and portable, Rogue grids provide a focused spot of light with gradual falloff for adding depth and highlighting important features. These are simple, straightforward, universal flash attachments.
4) Small Rogue FlashBender with diffusion panel.
5) Large Rogue FlashBender with diffusion panel.
Ideal for shooting on location with Speedlights, a Rogue diffusion panel creates a larger, softer source by producing even light across its surface.
6) Chimera 24x32 Softbox.
A versatile choice for portraits, the Chimera sets up in under a minute and includes a white interior and flush front for a wider spread of light.
7) Chimera 24-inch beauty dish.
This collapsible modifier combines the unmistakable, dramatic lighting of a beauty dish with added convenience.
8) 3 PocketWizard TT-5 units.
These transceivers are an industry standard in radio control of Speedlights. They can function as either transmitter or receiver, enabling control of one or more flashes in manual or TTL modes.
9) PocketWizard TT-1.
The TT1 is a transmitter-only version of the TT5. It also allows TTL control of remote flashes.
10) PocketWizard AC-3 Controller.
Used with the TT1 transmitter, the AC-3 enables control of up to three zones, or groups, of flashes right from the camera position. It allows independent control of the power output of each zone with a simple turn of a dial.
11) SunBounce MicroMini Reflector.
A versatile and lightweight reflector that offers excellent control of light. The tensioned surface makes finding the light especially easy.
12) 3 8-foot light stands.
A basic essential unless you have multiple full-time assistants.
13) 2 umbrella clamps.
Used for attaching lights and modifiers to the light stands.
Optional gear:
1 Dynalite Roadmax 800 power pack
2 Dynalite heads
1 Dynalite Uni moonlight
1 Jack Rabbit battery
To learn more about Rick, visit his website. You can also find out more about his CreativeLive course.