BB Using Strobes Suction Cupped to Backboard?

jhelms

I'm shooting some Church basketball (casually) lately and have been thinking about sticking some SB600 and SB800 strobes to the backboard.

I have some extra heavy duty Stickypod suction cups that screw into the standard tripod or stands for the strobes. Also have some small extra ballhead mounts that I can use if needed for extra creative angles.

I'm thinking have the flash pointed in towards the players that would be about as close as I could get - and for this casual kids sports league I don't think the flash popping off would annoy them too much.

Thoughts?

tjk60

That close would probably annoy the kids a bit, not major. However, I doubt the suction cups would be even close enough to guarantee no damage to your equipment or the players. I MIGHT consider taping them to the stantions above the backboard, but would rather get them separated more to get cross lighting to eliminate shadows...

Look at this:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/03/q-speedlighting-gym.html

jhelms

tjk60 wrote:

That close would probably annoy the kids a bit, not major. However, I doubt the suction cups would be even close enough to guarantee no damage to your equipment or the players. I MIGHT consider taping them to the stantions above the backboard, but would rather get them separated more to get cross lighting to eliminate shadows...

Look at this:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/03/q-speedlighting-gym.html

I forgot to mention I'd tether the suction cups also as a backup but after using them for a year (properly with the complete system) I've never had any issues with them coming off - mainly used with a cumbersome video camera mount on the outside of a car driving at some pretty decent speeds.

I'll check the strobist link out (can't access it from work for some reason).

Good point about the crossing / shadows.

MDalby

If your church basketball is anything like our church basketball, the flashes cannot withstand the level of shock from the bricks that are thrown in the direction of the hoop and hope to somehow just hit iron as the ball clanks off the backboard.