tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post115363539230546405..comments2023-11-29T00:37:27.962-08:00Comments on PRETTY GIRL SHOOTER: Me and My Mola: A Love AffairUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-79722387934923388632012-02-04T17:14:12.479-08:002012-02-04T17:14:12.479-08:00Hey Dave! I'll try taking a stab at your ques...Hey Dave! I'll try taking a stab at your questions but please don't absolutely hold me to my answers. <br /><br />1) BDs are very popular for fashion and other model images and for good reason, they generally produce soft, creamy light which, as you mentioned, falls off rather rapidly keeping the viewers' eyes where you want them. I'm a big fan of Mola's dishes. For one thing, the interior paint (which they say is patented) is slightly warm and reflects beautifully off of skin. Sometimes, I warm it up even more with a small piece of gel, usually bastard amber, taped to the glass baffle in front of the light.<br /><br />2) If I want a slightly harder light that will produce more specular highlights, or I'm trying to get more bounce out of the reflector, I'll go with silver. When I'm most interested in softness, i.e., more diffused light, I go with white. <br /><br />3) http://www.mola-light.com/html/latest.php<br /><br />4) Most people mount their Mola dishes on boom arms. That allows for adding weight to one end of the boom in order to offset the weight of the dish and the lighting instrument at the other end. I've mounted my dish both ways, i.e., with a grip arm or boom. When i've used a grip arm, I'm using a junior stand which is way heavier duty than a normal stand... plus sandbags to weight it at the bottom, whether the stand is on wheels or not.<br /><br />5} See #4. I don't use C-Stands when I'm using my Mola. <br /><br />6) I've heard of the Kacey dishes but have never seen one in use. Consequently, I'm unfamiliar with them. Manufacturing a dish out of a rugged and durable plastic material, tho, doesn't seem like a bad idea. It certainly would weigh less! I'm wondering how rigid the Kacey dishes are? Often enough, I clamp some foam core or bead board top and bottom to either clamshell or book-end the light.<br /><br />7) Don't know about cases specifically designed for the Mola dishes altho I once saw a photographer who kept his in a case that was intended for a large drum, i.e., a drummer's drum.<br /><br />Hope some of that helps. <br /><br />jimmyjimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-37210997019392232972012-02-04T04:57:42.652-08:002012-02-04T04:57:42.652-08:00I shot in a friend's studio last week and used...I shot in a friend's studio last week and used a beauty dish for the first time. It was a 22-inch dish with a 20-degree (I think) grid mounted on an Einstein. I was shooting mostly full-length shots, so I got a much more directional light than is normally associated with dishes – especially with the grid.<br /><br />However, I like the strong directional look – and the rapid light fall-off that goes with it – for *some* things( such as low-key). I'd probably rather have the wraparound look more often.<br /><br />Normally I shoot with Photogenic Solairs and Powerlights. I would have rushed out and bought a Photogenic dish, but there is no grid for it. While researching dishes, I came across some information about the Mola dishes – and the plethora of sizes.<br /><br />I have several questions about dishes – enough that I hope it will inspire you to write a follow-up article about them. This is the first time I've been on your site, other than by clicking on the links you post on supershoots.net from time to time. I found a link to this thread on modelmayhem.<br /><br />With several manufacturers, four sizes and silver vs. white to choose from, dishes are expensive enough that I don't want to learn about them by trial and error.<br /><br />Some of my questions:<br /><br />1) I shoot everything from beauty and headshots to full-length fashion for model portfolios. Where do I start?<br /><br />2) Do you prefer reflectors with silver or white interiors? If you've used both, can you direct me to some examples of each?<br /><br />3) As far as I can tell, there are no grids for the Mola dishes. Does their patented design eliminate the need for them? If so, how does this affect the softness and wraparound effect of the dishes?<br /><br />4) Since it's the Mola dish itself (in the case of the larger Molas) that mounts to the grip arm, is mounting a 1000-w/s Solair (7 pounds) to the dish going to create problems?<br /><br />5) How do you stabilize your C-stand with the heavier dishes? (i.e., how many pounds of sand?)<br /><br />6) I read in a couple of places that the Kacey dishes are very similar to the Mola dishes, with the main differences being the price and the fact that the 45-inch Kacey reflector is made of plastic (i.e., the 45-inch Kacey weighs less and is less prone to denting than the 43.5-inch Mola). Do you know anything about the Kacey dishes?<br /><br />7) I've heard that there are cases for transporting beauty dishes, but nobody seems to know who makes them. Do you know? Any preferences?<br /><br />Thanks for any help.<br /><br />DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-86601935357824549212011-03-22T15:19:32.518-07:002011-03-22T15:19:32.518-07:00@RovingRooster: A Matthews 2-riser with wheels.@RovingRooster: A Matthews 2-riser with wheels.jimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-58520265095996168802011-03-22T14:00:21.316-07:002011-03-22T14:00:21.316-07:00Hi Jimmy. What brand and model is the Junior stan...Hi Jimmy. What brand and model is the Junior stand you're using for your Mola Euro? Thanks so much!Rovingroosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169257061802900435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-51902659649460038832007-12-17T09:44:00.000-08:002007-12-17T09:44:00.000-08:00Why can't you travel on location with the BD?I've ...<I>Why can't you travel on location with the BD?</I><BR/><BR/>I've done so many times. But it takes up so much room in the backseat of my car that I find myself finding excuses not to bring it along. I wish I had a better reason than that but I don't.jimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-5547485061105231642007-12-17T09:20:00.000-08:002007-12-17T09:20:00.000-08:00Why can't you travel on location with the BD? I wa...Why can't you travel on location with the BD? I was thinking of going this route as I am not a fan of softboxesSteve Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08318887686249024730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-59728929042153420482006-11-28T15:12:00.000-08:002006-11-28T15:12:00.000-08:00I'm a relatively novice photographer. On the stren...I'm a relatively novice photographer. On the strength of your review I rented one from Samy's in Los Angeles. Now I want one for my very own.<br /><br />http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/jfrancis/Amber/Amber_3177_c_600.jpg<br />http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/jfrancis/Betcee/Betcee_3124_600.jpg<br />http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/jfrancis/frosting/frosting_3288_600.jpg<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Joseph Francis<br />http://www.digitalartform.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-1154054129469249192006-07-27T19:35:00.000-07:002006-07-27T19:35:00.000-07:00an email from Walter Melrose, photographer and inv...an email from Walter Melrose, photographer and inventor of Mola Softlights:<BR/><BR/><I>Dear Jimmy:<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the kind review, I'm glad you enjoy our product and have<BR/>shared your love of the light with some many.<BR/><BR/>I am not a Blogger and this is the first Blog I have visited.<BR/><BR/>As a shooter myself being honest and open about the work we shoot and how we shoot it is not something most of us are comfortable with. Most if not all of our clients keep there love of the light a secret for fear someone will buy a Mola and copy there style.<BR/><BR/>Your honesty is refreshing.<BR/><BR/>Thank you<BR/><BR/>Walter Melrose<BR/>Mola Inc. </I>jimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-1153676009112833622006-07-23T10:33:00.000-07:002006-07-23T10:33:00.000-07:00What are some of the reasons to go bigger, does it...<I>What are some of the reasons to go bigger, does it give softer lighting, does it spread the light further like a flood light.</I><BR/><BR/>yeah, basically, the larger the diameter of the dish the larger the diameter of the light it's going to throw. obviously, you can move any light further from the subject and get more spread, i.e., light a larger area with it, but you'll sacrifice "softness" and diffusion and increase hard shadows.jimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-1153675848062572462006-07-23T10:30:00.000-07:002006-07-23T10:30:00.000-07:00When you do have to travel, what is your preferred...<I>When you do have to travel, what is your preferred key light modifier?</I><BR/><BR/>probably a 48" octagon softbox for the key and a small. maybe 12" umbrella for a hairlight. I'll also sometimes bring some other lights for <I>kickers</I>. These, with plastic grids attached to the front to keep their light more focused.jimmydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250574229270573468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-1153670616039758352006-07-23T09:03:00.000-07:002006-07-23T09:03:00.000-07:00What are some of the reasons to go bigger, does it...What are some of the reasons to go bigger, does it give softer lighting, does it spread the light further like a flood light.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30664106.post-1153663837906647522006-07-23T07:10:00.000-07:002006-07-23T07:10:00.000-07:00When you do have to travel, what is your preferred...When you do have to travel, what is your preferred key light modifier?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com