Amaran 100d

The two Amaran 100ds in our package are the lights you'll find yourself reaching for when every other fixture is already doing a job. Background light — check. Hair light — check. Motivated accent on a set piece — check. At 100W they're not your key light for anything except very small setups, but they're nimble, quick to rig, and they match Aputure's color science closely enough to not cause mixed-source headaches in post.

I use the 100ds for background separation and environmental depth. On a three-point setup, after the key and fill are set, the 100ds go on the background — one to light the wall, one to kick a prop or architectural element. This gives the DP a layered image instead of a flat background. They're also handy in tight spaces where you need motivated light from inside a practical source, like a lamp, refrigerator, or monitor.

The 100d is light enough to rig on any standard light stand. On C-stands, use the junior arm rather than the senior — the fixture doesn't need the extra load capacity and the junior arm gives you finer positioning. These are fast to set up and move, so expect to reposition them more often during a shoot day than the larger fixtures. Always flag off any unwanted spill — at 100W the throw isn't massive, but you still need to control where the edge of the light falls.

Background separation and depth · Hair and rim lights · Accent on props or architectural elements · Motivated practical source inside lamp housings · Small-set key on interviews and product close-ups · Run-and-gun B-camera supplemental light