SETTING UP YOUR FIRST STUDIO 299
Booms
A lighting boom is an important accessory—and one we suggest you buy in
your rst round of purchases. When shooting, it is frequently necessary to
suspend things such as lights, diusers, and gobos above our subjects, and
using booms is oen the best way of doing that.
Oen attached to light stands, some boom assemblies are sold separately.
Others are oered as part of boom and light stand kits. Such kits will oen
cost you a good deal less than if you buy booms and stands separately. Both
boom and stand must be sturdy. When I was starting out, I bought a cheap
one. It was unsteady, dangerous, and a waste of money. I used it once and
immediately bought a better one.
LIGHT MODIFIERS—WHICH DO I ...