Word of caution using studio lights on boom arms

A quick word of caution when using studio lights on boom arms.

Yesterday I packed away my studio equipment to clear the room for Christmas festivities and one of my clients’ parents is coming round later in the week to collect their parent albums.  Usually the studio equipment is just tucked away behind some office screens when entertaining clients.

Anyway a few months ago I made a big investment in new Bowens monoblock studio lighting as well as a pair of boom arms.  These enable me to place lights directly over my subjects and have my key light close to my subject without having the light-stand get in the way.

The boom arms are very heavy duty to support the weight of the monoblocks.  A counter weight is also required on the other end of the boom arm to balance the light stand.  At first this was quite intimidating but they are surprisingly stable once they’re set up.

I soon found the most effective way to use the boom arm which is telescopic with two sections is to place the outer section close to the bracket that attaches it to the light stand.  The counter balance, which is a solid block of aluminium with a clamp, should then be clamped to the other end of the outer section.  Then with the monoblock attached to the opposite end on the inner section it can be extended or retracted from that position.  Depending on hour far out the monoblock is extended the counter balance weights may require adjustment to balance the structure.

You can see the set up in the picture below.  Ignore the mess of the studio, it does not usually look that bad – honest

Now back to my tale of woe.

I had already packed away most of the studio equipment.  The softbox had been off the monoblock and the safety cover put over the flash tube ready for packing way.  The boom arm was retracted almost fully in and it was at quite an angle making the counter balance close to the floor.

Taking great care I held the monoblock in one hand whilst releasing the retaining stud before slipping it off the top of the boom arm.  However what I had not appreciated was that there was still a lot of tension in the boom arm and as soon as the monoblock cleared the boom arm sprung back!

This caused the light-stand to come crashing over taking a lump out of the wall and putting big dents in my new studio floor

The only positive from this is that I kept hold of the monoblock.

You’ve been warned – take great care when using boom arms and never become complacent.

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PatB