• About David
  • Contact

DAVID HAMMONDS PHOTOGRAPHY

Bristol based freelance photographer

  • Freelance
  • Portraits & Makeovers
    • Portraits
    • Pinup and vintage makeovers
  • Portfolio
    • Commercial and PR
    • Fashion and models
    • Product photography
    • Portraits Families and children
    • Performer promos
    • Portraits Adults
    • Food photography
  • Events
  • Blog
    • Recent photoshoots
      • Portrait shoots
      • Fashion shoots
      • Music shoots
      • Events shoots
      • Photographic techniques
      • Photographic Musings
      • Tools of the trade
      • Personal Projects
  • Your Images
  • Corporate login

October 19, 2017

Bye, Bye Bowens Lighting RIP

I recently look to change one of my frequently-used softboxes, which was starting to show its age and looked rather tatty and misshapen. It was a Bowens softbox – I use Bowens for most of my studio lighting gear – so naturally hit their website looking for a like for like replacement.

I was shocked that, unbeknown too be, Bowens, that 94-year-old photographic lighting brand had gone into liquidation. Bowens is an iconic British brand and at one point was something of an industry standard, it’s attachment design adopted by many other, usually much cheaper lighting.

Bowens had a recent rebrand with new, pink logo
Bowens had a recent rebrand with new, pink logo

In its heyday, and even up to this day, Bowens gear is used by photographers all over the world, although in recent years in the professional market there was a drift towards ‘sexier’ brands like Elinchrom and ProFoto, which could offer far more advanced remote control options, faster recycle times and other features. Bowens sometimes appeared tardy in keeping up with industry advances.

Bowens started in 1923 as a London camera repair business. The company expanded into lighting gear and came to truly define what studio lighting is today. At one point it was a prestige brand and the professionals choice for big flashes and light-shaping tools like beauty dishes and soft boxes.

While Bowens could be said to have failed to keep pace with the higher-end of the professional market it also fell victim to asset-stripping, the killer of so many important brands over the years. Bowens was purchased by European investment firm AURELIUS along with photographic retailer Calumet.

Taken nearly 7 years go with Bowens Gemini mono blocks from 2005. The lights just ket on working, and working...
Taken nearly 7 years go with Bowens Gemini mono blocks from 2005. The lights just ket on working, and working…

Sadly, before the news of the liquidation broke, Bowens had not long launched its brand-new Generation X line. Indeed, I’d been eagerly awaiting these products as they brought industry-leading levels of control back to the Bowens brand, restoring parity with the ProFotos and Elinchroms of this world. It looks like AURELIUS wasn’t prepared to allow Bowens time to win back customers with what looked like amazing new lighting products.

This shot was taken in 2017 using two Bowens studio lights owned since 2005.
This shot was taken in 2017 using two Bowens studio lights owned since 2005.

Another reason for Bowens’s demise is the changing nature of the professional photography market. The 2000s saw a bonanza for manufacturers as pros fully transition from film to digital cameras. As prices of DSLRs fell amateurs too wanted in on the action and there was a real photography craze for a few years, with ‘prosumers’ sometimes spending more than the guys and girls that takes pictures for a living, all propelled by a global debt bubble.

Since then, the disruptive influence of the internet, the fall out of the banking crisis of a decade ago eating into PR and marketing spends in business, and the decline of print in favour of website has meant photographers have had to be competitive and cut overheads to maintain a good level of work. Therefore, investment upgrades only happen when necessary and only if the new equipment will likely lead to increased or higher-paying work, rather than just because new gear would be ‘nice to have’. The trouble with my Bowens lighting is just how reliable and robust it is. A few of my Gemini lights date back to 2005 and have been bashed and battered yet still they function flawlessly – that meant only sporadic, minor investment in more Bowens gear.

I’m sad to see such a great brand go.

Article by David / David's blog, Tools of the trade / Bowens, Bowens Gemini, Bowens Studio Flash, flash, studio photography Leave a Comment

Categories

  • David's blog
  • Events shoots
  • Fashion shoots
  • Graphic Design
  • Music shoots
  • News
  • Personal Projects
  • Photographic Musings
  • Photographic techniques
  • Portrait shoots
  • Recent photoshoots
  • Tools of the trade
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • October 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • February 2016
  • August 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009

Book a photo shoot today

Whether you're after beautiful family portraiture on location or studio, model portfolios or commericial and PR photography, drop me a line for a quote or to learn more. Telephone: 07941217098

© 2022 · David Hammonds · Built by Hammonds Photography