How to get the most from your Lowell Omni open face light

Omni lights are incredibly useful and versatile tungsten lights. Generally within the 200w-300w range, they can be used either for very intense lighting (if you are getting a close-up or medium close-up), interview key light, or gentle fill light if diffused, bounced, or gelled with an ND. They can be used in a variety of other ways depending on how creative or inventive you are. Because they are a relatively low wattage you can put just about any amount of gel or diffusion on them to manipulate the light to your liking. They can also be spotted/flooded to some degree but this is not recommended due to the fact that doing this too much or without enough care can break the bulb very easily. Also due to the relatively low wattage you can use several of them on the same circuit, making them handy in a situation where you need to light multiple things in limited space without blowing a fuse. With today's technology, and depending on the setting in which you are filming, the omni may be the only light you need on some shoots. Often times when filming with a DSLR you may film a scene that doesn't necessarily call for any lighting (outside of natural) at all. However it may be ideal to create a subtle fill light or perhaps a back light just to give the shot a little more spice. Omnis are great for this. Like most lights, Omnis can either be mounted on a traditional tripod stand or a C-stand. Their large gripping handle and light weight also makes them ideal for "Hollywood-ing" the lights (holding the lights in hand for a moving light effect or to light a moving object/dolly shot. One problem with Omnis (and Lowell lights in general) is that they are very fragile. Over time they can get pretty beaten-up. The barn doors sometime snap off or bend to the point at which they have trouble keeping from falling off. Even with great care, you will probably find yourself changing the bulbs more frequently than with most other brands of lights. But these are very wonderful lights. Treat them with the care they deserve, and they'll make you a happy filmmaker.