Kinoflo Lighting vs HMI Lighting

March 22, 2011 @ 5:23PM

Kino Flo Light vs HMI Light

How to select the right light for the job

Topics
Techniques > Photo Fundamentals

I recently received a message from a reader asking "which light did you use to photograph Vanessa Williams".

The image of Vanessa on the pink background was taken using two kinoflow lights. I used two, four blub kinoflo light banks to achieve this image. The lights I used to create the image are 4 feet wide and the kinoflo lights pictured here are only 2 feet. The main kino is above the lens with all four bulbs on, and the second is below the lens with only two bulbs lit to act as a fill light. Kinoflo lights are perfect for video projects as they are light weight, quiet and give a soft, beautiful quality of light.

The image of Vanessa with the spider web background was shot using a 4K, HMI light and softened by shooting through a china silk. To learn more about lighting please check out the instructional lighting videos at The Gallery Store.

Lighting videos include:

1) Ten Ways to Use One Light Source

2) Ten Ways to Create Natual Light Portraits

3) How to Master Complex Lighting Situations

Today I use many different types of lights for assigments. Some are meant to be shot with strobe and others are better suited for continuous lighitng. The best photographers want as many options as possible. I don't use one lens to make all my images and I wouldn't want to use only one type of lighting either. My website shows many different types of assignments ranging from beauty to fashion, advertisng to personal work. Having a command of lighitng is key to sucess in photography and knowing the pro's and con's to your lighting is also key. Take the time and experiment and you will be rewarded with success time and time again!

Always Dream Big!

Comments

Jim Hancock

6 months ago

I have to say that anybody that would use the lighting you are using to light stills is in need of furthering their education. To wrestle with these giant lights, the heat, the difficulty modifying the light is just a symptom of somebody that is intimidated by using the best light source possible for still photography and that is electronic flash or strobes. Strobes can out power the sun, are lightweight and can be modified till the cows come home, softened, focused, hung, boomed, etc...... in addition you have the luxury of mixing and balancing ambient light by fill flash or dragging the shutter to soak in night sky while still beautifully lighting you model.... guys don't bother asking this guy anything. The only reason to use continuous lighting is film or video.

Matthew Jordan Smith

Pixiq Expert

6 months ago

Dear Jim,
Continuous lighting can be intimidating at first I know but once you learn to see the difference you will be amazed at what they offer. My client list speaks for itself and I am sure the readers of this blog are intelligent enough to experiment and see what they like. My site is www.MatthewJordanSmith.com and the images I have made over the last 25 years have been made using a wide variety of lighting ranging from strobe, to HMI lights and Kinoflo's. I always try new things and that is why I continue to work.

The clarify, kinoflo lights do not give off heat and are more comfortable for the subjects than strobe in some ways. If you have a subject that is often blinking with strobes then kinoflo lights are an amazing option. There is a distint difference to using continuous lighting vs strobe lighting. Further education regarding lighting will open up options for all those who are interested in working as a photographer. The look of strobe is very different than the look of continuous lighting and I love and use both. To truly understand lighting you should be familiar with both as both have their pro's and con's. I understand some may be intimidated by things that are not familiar but you only get the fruit when you go out on a limb.

To tell readers to stay with strobes and or electronic flash as their lighting options is not in their best interest and will not give them all the options they need to become and stay successful.

Joseph D'Quilope

4 months ago

I registered to add my 2 cents into this. Being a photographer for 12 years... I started using continuous, went to strobe, now find myself using a mixture of both continuous lighting & flash at the same time. I just love the look of it. There is always something new to learn.

Stuart Williams

3 months ago

I have been working in NYC assisting Fashion photographers as well as shooting my self for the past ten years. I have worked on many high fashion still shoots with some of the worlds best photographers where we used continuous lighting. The latest job was for Ralph Lauren. And while strobes are usually your best bet for most "commercial" jobs, there are certain looks you just cant get (shallow depth of field) unless you use a neutral density filter. Using a ND filter in studio is just silly. Just about every pro will disagree with Jim Hancock. I'm talking about guys like Bruce Webber, Patrick Demarchelier, Helmut Newton, etc. you name them, they all have used HMI's or Kino's.

Jim Hancock, you are just dead wrong. If you have difficulties with continuous lighting then your in big trouble. It doesn't get any simpler. I've seen Matthew's work. You have a lot of balls suggesting he doesn't know what he is doing. I believe you are in need of some education. A real creative pro would never be so foolish to to say that strobes are the only way to go. Especially when it is obvious and well known that HMI's, Kinoflo, and the like have been used for decades by some of the worlds best photographers.

You don't know shit.