Which type of light to use?

[chump1979]

Hi

I am just trying to get to grips with using artifical lighting and practising hard!

If I have a black back drop and want to photograph a stationary object (not a person) - can I get a fairly good image just using a regular desk spot lamp combined with a 580EXII? The spot lamp aimed at the object (off to one side) and the flash to fill in the shadows?

I'm also worried about using this setup as surely with a Tungsten bulb and a flash combined I'm going to have trouble sorting out the white balance in PS with the mixed colour temperatures?

Appreciate any advice you guys could give me.

Thanks :)

[dazzajl]

Mixed light could cause you a real headache unless you can work the shot so that you use the different tones to your advantage.

If you want an even light colour then perhaps getting another desk lamp would be the better option. If you're working off a tripod then the level of light isn't really an issue and you don't need the power of a flash head.

[Garry Edwards]

Mixing wildly different colour temperatures simply won't work (unless you want a 'creative' effect...

Using a 2nd household lamp would theoretically be a better option but even with still life subjects, inadequate power can cause unacceptable digital noise because of the long exposure you'll need.

Using a 2nd flash would be a better choice (the Strobist approach) but you'd probably be better off using just the one you have, with a reflector for fill.

[DollyBuster]

[...] you'd probably be better off using just the one [flash gun] you have, with a reflector for fill.

I'm with Garry here.
The reflector can be D-I-Y with 5 bucks worth of material, and 100% perfectly tailored to your lighting set up.
And by reflecting the light via the reflector onto the subject, as the main lighting (you can of course use another reflector for fill), you can also fake a softbox.