Strip Lights

are mostly body-sized, oblong- cubic soft boxes which emit highly directional light. These tall light shapers are my absolute favorites in the studio. Used alone, they are very difficult to use because even the slightest movement of the model to or from the camera away causes immediately a dramatic change in lights and shadows. It becomes even more difficult when you want to show human skin’s light tones against a completely white or light grey background: a very special challenge for studio photography indeed. Here, my light set usually consists of 5 flash heads: two soft boxes are aimed at the background to evenly illuminate the bright surface. Mounted on a boom stand, one central top flash light provides the necessary brightening, and main light sources are – my beloved strip lights.

For beginner models who are still fidgeting nervously, I would not really recommend strip lights; and if so, then at an appropriate distance.

This way, scream cramps and nervous breakdowns on both sides can just be avoided.

Special thanks to my beautiful long-time model. She always kept nerves of steel.

Original photos Bremen / Germany 2012