Lowel Blender - Kelvin Joy!
 

This is the best little light, my new favorite toy. Not only can you control the strength of the light you can literally dial in the Kelvin temperature - anything from the Tungsten 3200 degrees to a cool light, about 6000 degrees. It's so compact that I can travel with it easily, and no longer need to pack extra bulbs at fixed K temps.

I use it both for painting the live model as well as photographing my subjects. If I painted at night I'd use it then, too.

Since I'm building a studio space from scratch, this seems an ideal addition (if, perhaps, I depreciate the "yikes!" expense--about $500, or $1400 for the 3-light set.)

Actually, I won't bother to depreciate the asset. For this kind of item, I just "aesthetically amortize" the expense over the life of my intended use of the asset. I intend to paint for another 15 years, about half of it indoors under artificial light. Would it be worth $33/year (plus the cost of bulb replacements) to have this light? Of course it would.

I just took in a large supply of bulbs, though (5000K, 2100 lumens, 30 watt); perhaps some combination of those and the Lowel Blender would be useful. (I can't aesthetically amortize the cost of the Lowel three-light set, until my work begins to generate international demand. A/k/a Ain't gonna happen.)

Steven and I must have arrived at the Lowel Blender website at the same time (I sensed your presence, weird).

I'm not sure amortization will be possible with the new 3 page tax plan.

I too would like to have a gaggle of these little lights but they seem very precious.

I've bought other Lowel light products in the past and they have been great (more expensive that this one :( ) but heavy and awkward for traveling. My travel suitcase used to be filled with the light standards, two bulbs in two temperatures, with lots of breakage over the years...so I would guess that I've used this Blender at least 100 times so far, and now I can pack an extra pair of cute shoes. Priorities :)

This is an informative, favorable "review" (of a 3-light set). The prices he quotes are substantially higher than what I found. http://www.provideocoalition.com/pro...er-3-light-kit

I am not at liberty to reveal my travel-packing priorities.

Chris, years ago I remember you were packing this cute shoe: the Z-coil.

I've never actually used a light set-up, going instead for the very cheap natural light. I've always wished to have something for painting at night. These look to be very handy.

As I look at all our dates of joining I see that we have been chating here for fourteen years+-! All that time just typing to an avatar. I did meet Chris and Linda, and a few others, in Laguna Beach a few years back.

I'm happy to report that I no longer consider those shoes to be cute. Still that leaves a lot of room between them and the Louboutins.

lights
 

Chris,

Thanks for the tip on the light. I count on your to keep me updated on terrific studio stuff.
I still have some of those bulbs you recommended and that I bought for a workshop. I bought a lot and gave many away to my students.
Still have enough for me.