Steve Aves
Steve Aves - photographic lighting expert
Product Reviews
"WexPro have recently introduced a new range of Softlite reflectors, the perfect accessory to shoot portraiture. The basic design of the Softlite has been around for a long time and is a tried and tested reflector that gives stunning results for a wide range of studio applications."
"Since its introduction some years ago, the Lastolite HiLite background has been increasingly popular with portrait photographers. This background is designed to shoot high-key work - you know, that white bleached out look that continues to be so popular..."
"Buying so called 'non branded' products can be a bit of a no-no for some people, and I know many photographers who won't touch anything unless it's got Nikon or Canon written on it. With a whole host of less expensive non brand products on offer, should we start taking them more seriously?"
"I suppose everyone should have some New Years’ resolutions and one of mine is to write more about ‘on camera flash’. Over the last few years I just haven’t had the need to use one, but because I’m getting more and more questions and emails about them it’s high time I got to grips with them again. "
"Remote controls are a way of life these days; we either love them or hate them, not all of us understanding what every button does! However using a remote control in a dark studio makes a lot of sense, especially when you have multiple heads to operate."
"I reviewed the new Bowens Pro 500 and Pro 750 models a little while ago and if you read the review, you’ll know that I’m already a fan. As promised, Bowens have just released the Pro 1000 and Pro 1500 models to the market."
"The Essential Off-Camera Flash Kit, combining three great quality accessories will certainly help you to achieve better results. So with the nights drawing in and plenty of shots to be taken inside, what are you waiting for?"
"This Advanced Kit will offer the portrait and product photographer great versatility in the choice of light shaping tools, from the brolly covering a wide area down to the Snoot for that small directional pool of light."
"2009 has been quite a year for Bowens; so far they have introduced a glittering array of new products, including the Bowens Gemini 200 and 400, a completely re-vamped Travel Pak system, the Bowens Pulsar radio trigger card, plus the superb Gemini R 250 and R 500."
" Introduced in 2003, the Bowens Pulsar has remained unchanged in its basic design, the two main parts being interchangeable as either receiver or transmitter. However, to compliment the introduction of their new ranges, Bowens have just launched a new version of the Pulsar."
" The first thing that you notice about the new Elinchrom BX’s is the small size and especially the low weight; just 1.85kg for the 250w and 2.05kg for the 500w. This is due to the internal design and the ultra lightweight, high impact, ABS-type plastic body."
" The Bowens Gemini 500R that I’ve been looking at has all the familiar features we like about Bowens stuff. Coloured jet black and metal bodied with that distinctive chunky rubberised handle, the build quality is obvious to see. "
" Bowens have just launched a new generation Gemini Travel Pak, a piece of kit that is a particular favourite of mine and of the thousands of photographers who use them. In my opinion, the Bowens Gemini Travel Pak has been one of the most important pieces of flash equipment to be invented for many years."
" At the Photokina International Exhibition last year in Cologne, many of the leading flash manufacturers were showing new prototype models. Bowens were no exception and introduced two new versions of the Gemini, a new Gemini 200 and for the first time, a Gemini 400. "
" The ‘Ringflash’ a has always been associated with fashion and glamour photography, traditionally they have been an expensive luxury for many photographers, preferring to hire rather than buy."
" The Bowens Ringlite Converter has an ‘S’ type fitting and will attach to any Bowens head as an accessory. So for those of you who have always wanted to use a Ringflash for those fashion shots, now you can at a very realistic price of around £300 "
" I've been testing the new Lastolite Lumen8 F400 kit launched at Focus earlier this year. The Lumen range is new to the UK market and distributed by Lastolite. Already well known for products like Gossen and Sekonic and their huge range of studio accessories that includes backgrounds and reflectors, it seems a natural step..."
" Over the last few months, I've been receiving emails asking questions about general light measurement and light balance. I have reviewed several light meters for measurement, but so far nothing to assist in getting the light / contrast balance right. I do use a couple of things myself in the studio to assist with white balance etc. "
" The MicroSync Digital trigger is fairly new on the market and I've just managed to get hold of one to test. The system is designed to trigger studio lights and cameras via a cordless radio system. "
" Bowens have recently upgraded their popular Studio in a Box kit, from 250 to 400 joules and they have been able to reduce the price slightly, so two real benefits. "
" As a lighting consultant I get asked a lot of questions fashion photography, the dream of many aspiring photographers. Mainly, what sort of lighting is best for the job? Obviously you can shoot fashion with pretty much anything and get good results, but there is one piece of equipment that still ranks as being 'the' fashion accessory, the Ringflash. "
" Interfit launched the Venus range last year with various kits based around the two models available, the Venus 150 and 300 and I've been looking at the 2 head, 2 brolly Venus 300 kit. The Venus looks stylish and sleek and I was impressed by the look of them, but how did they shape up? "
" A few weeks ago I was invited over to Bowens at Clacton, to look at their new Gemini Digital 250 and 500 models, launched at Photokina last year. I met Rob Cook their marketing manager who showed me the new models and told me about the thinking behind them. "
" In the 90’s Bowens moved away from the Quad system, favouring smaller more compact generators like the Traveller, Estime and Equipe. But Bowens decided to bring back the famous Quad in 2004 when they reintroduced the QuadX 3000. Just over a year later they brought out its baby brother, the Quad 2400. "
" Although my 'speciality' is studio lighting, I get asked all sorts of question about photography and photographic equipment. A question that keeps coming up is what type of tripod and head do I use, or would recommend. Tripods are another one of those important accessories that seem to confuse photographers by virtue of the bewildering choice available. "
" Earlier this year, I met up with my colleagues at the Bowens factory in Clacton, to see if there was a way of making their accessory range a little easier to understand. I’m pleased to say that they were very keen to help and together we had the idea of putting together some accessory ‘kits’. These kits would include all the bits and pieces necessary to create various effects all in one box. "
" During the summer my colleague Chris Reeve was commissioned to shoot some pictures for the new Bowen’s Explorer brochure. He had already shot some great images for the Bowens Freedom brochure, featuring the Gemini range. Having shot that at a railway museum using a train theme, Chris decided to shoot the Explorer brochure at an airfield using a plane, shooting pictures outside and some inside. Chris organised the shoot at Duxford Air Museum, near Cambridge. "
" At the Focus exhibition this year I visited the JP-distribution stand to look at various bits and pieces including the latest Lastolite accessories and the Sekonic range of light meters. They very kindly sent me a Sekonic L-358 light meter to look at in more detail so that I could write a review for the web site. "
" I've been looking at the Paterson Home Studio Kit this week, winner of the Digital Photo Gold Award. I've wanted to play with one for some time, but sales are strong so getting hold of a spare kit wasn't easy. "
" The pop-up light tent has become a must for every studio, it's perfect for shooting all kinds of small and sometimes difficult objects. Interfit has three models in their range, a 60cm a 90cm and 120cm square version. "
" Elinchrom, a Swiss company, have been manufacturing flash for many years, and are well known for both their small portable kits and higher powered pack and head combinations. I've been using their latest BX 100/400 kit, a very small, neat and powerful system with some nice features. If you look on their part of the site you will see both the latest FX and BX ranges available. Basically the BX heads come with a better spec including multivoltage detection, ideal for those of you who want to take their lights anywhere in the world! "
" Quantum, the well known American company, have been around for a long time and have always had a good reputation for making high quality powerful flashguns and battery systems. I received some Quantum equipment before Christmas, a Quantum Turbo Compact battery and a Quantum T5d Qflash and I've been looking forward to playing with them. "
" The Bowens Grid reflector set has always been a favourite of mine. It has many uses in the studio for a variety of applications. It’s one of those accessories that people often take for granted and just don’t get the best out of. Used with or without the Honeycombs the Grid is a really multi purpose accessory as we will see. "
" Thinking about buying a flash meter? Meters are an important tool for the film or digital photographer. They can save time and money and can help the photographer set up precise lighting ratios quickly and efficiently. "
" Bowens introduced the Pulsar system two years ago to give photographers a cordless system of synchronisation. Sync leads and cables have always been the weakest link in any studio photography and using the Pulsar system will give the photographer both confidence and freedom of movement. "
" As I have already written an overview for the Bowens Esprit Gemini range and Travel Pak, now I want to concentrate on looking at the various kits available, what’s in them and try to give you an idea of what to buy when you are getting started in flash photography. "
Other Reviews and Interviews
" I contacted Elizabeth shortly after she was announced the winner of Picture This, Channel 4’s very popular photographic competition. She seemed quite surprised that ‘people’ wanted to talk to her and quite taken aback at my request for an interview."
" It is a little sad that when I mention the photographer Jane Bown at my seminars and again nobody has ever heard of her and to think that she has worked for one major newspaper, the Observer, since 1949. To me her work is the very best of portraiture photo journalism, capturing the essence of the subject, beautifully in one image. "
" I remember meeting Angus McBean in the mid 80’s when he was quite old and living near the same Suffolk village. I didn’t really know what to say to the great man, I think I just said how much I admired his work. To be generous to him, his health wasn’t good then and I would rather describe his reaction as off hand rather than taciturn. He just said that it was a long time ago and all in the past. "