Just a quick outside group shot from today. ISO 400 f10 at 1/200 Wanted a higher f stop for depth of field and a slightly higher shutter speed for hand holding so ISO 400 worked as highest shutter sync with flash is 1/200 on my Canon. Also used a flash unit into an umbrella off to my left after setting for ambient light then adjusting the flash to that setting.
I do my outdoor groups similar, but different. This is a shoot-through umbrella set about 1/2 stop over ambient. It's an Alien Bee AB800 powered by a Vagabond battery supply. Early morning, so the light is at their back. I had them walk forward out of the shadow of the building until the sunlight made a natural hairlight. ISO100, f/5, 1/160s.
Same formula, but if they're folicly challenged (bald), I have them stay back in the shadow. For this event I had forgotten the Alien Bee and chucked two speedlights in the umbrella instead which also works. Flashes on manual, about 1/2 stop over ambient. ISO100, f/5.6, 1/160s.
Great idea, love it and will steal it if you don't mind.
Steal away! A couple of pointers:
1. Even the beauty dish does not cover enough ground, unless it is far (you need seriously strong lighting)
2. You can't freeze the motion of the falling human body with any degree of confidence, unless your flash duration is 1/2000 or faster (or shoot outdoors on a sunny day)
3. I wouldn't bother with soft boxes, because at these short burst even a millisecond of residual light might ruin the shot.
4. ISO 100, f8-f11, synch at anything! The set should be dark enough to produce a pitch black frame without the strobes, at these settings
Bottom line -- Broncolor.
pros: does all of the above and more
cons: expensive as hell
The final produce of the above sequence -- not all that much:
I noticed some fractal stuff on your website. I'm getting into it, using Ultra Fractal 5 - the paid version. Will you be willing to share your experience with me?
I'm not looking to produce stand-alone fractal abstracts. I'm interested in using them as a displace map to overlay some architectural stuff. Heck, maybe even portraits!
Alex check out this link. He might have some ideas, brushes that you can use or alter for your needs.
Woody is quite a character and knows his art and photoshop.
Alex check out this link. He might have some ideas, brushes that you can use or alter for your needs.
Woody is quite a character and knows his art and photoshop.
Alex I kinda fake my way through the fractal program I use. Sorry not more help on that wish I were more of a brainy person and if I were I would share it with you. Sad to say some of what I did I can not even recreate. Sad but true. I use an old freeware program and mix a little PS with some of them. I wish I had the math skills for some of the more intricate fractal work. That is cool what you have there. I wanted to be able to do the fractal an image but that I think is a paid program and these days no funds for anything.
Nice work, thanks for posting and a good MacGyver workaround on the second one.
No more MacGyver! Since I've been getting as good results using two Canon 600RT flashes in one umbrella as I do with my Alien Bee/Vagabond for outdoor group photos, I've decided to streamline my kit and just stick to the two speedlights. The "MacGyver" hack Charles referred to above was using a multiclamp to cobble up a couple of flashes when I forgot my Alien Bee one day. But that was cumbersome and finicky. I know they make commercial multi-flash brackets. But since I knew exactly what I wanted, for less than $5 in materials, I made my own.
I've really grown to despise those adjustable metal hot shoe mounts on almost all commercial flash brackets. So this uses the plastic bases that come with the flashes. They are solid and of course the flash fits and locks perfectly.
Materials list:
7"x2"x1/8" band iron
three 1/4-20 cap screws, 1/2" long.
a few 1/4" washers
Oh, and of course you already have the standard umbrella mount which comes with the brass piece.
Instructions: drill three 1/4" holes in the band iron. One in the center, and two more 2" to either side of the center hole. Assemble.
I just made this today. Home Depot only had 3/4" screws, so I had to pad the flash base screws with a bunch of washers. I'll replace those with 1/2" screws when I get around to it and also paint the band iron. I have an event in the morning, so this is ready to go.
Great workaround, The canon mounts have plastic threads or they use to. You can purchase Nikon ones if you want to and they have metal threaded inserts. I use a similar rig and it works great except for really bright direct sunlight where I use a White Lighting 1600.
Thanks, Charles. I was careful not to over-torque the screws into the plastic and it seems solid enough. I was thinking I'd buy a couple of Canon stands that I could dedicate to the bracket, however now it sounds like I should take a look at the Nikon part too. Good to know.
Joel, if you want to spend some money for a great product here is a link to a mount, about $18 each. These really hold and can be a pain to take the flash off until you get the hang of it.
These really hold and can be a pain to take the flash off until you get the hang of it.
Thanks, Charles. The reviews on Amazon mention that issue and at least one review says it's worse with the 600RT's that I use. I think I'll keep in simple and stick with the Canon part. I do wish the Canon part had a metal insert and and the Nikon part sounds good for that reason. But unless the dimensions are *exactly* like the Canon part, I'm not so sure about that either. These flashes are super-expensive and I greatly prefer the precise and secure fit of the Canon part to any of the many aftermarket mounts I've tried so far. I know the hotshoe mount is supposed to be universal, but slight differences in manufacturer specifications seem to make these universal holders a compromise that I'm just not willing to accept any more.
It is a very snug fit and takes two hands to take it off but it is very, very secure when on. I do like mine and once you get used to it, it does work easy. I also use the RT's on it.
Where are you shooting from? She is about 15 feet from me and 6 to 8 ft from bkg.
how big is that PLM in the back? 64"
what glass do you use for this range?
Thanks all, I had the opportunity as a teacher to see this child over the years and she has had a tough childhood. I hope she will be please to see how beautiful she is.
And pull back: (one umbrella camera left, one camera right behind. You can see the umbrella rod of the one on the left and the one on the right is pretty obvious. this is in a garage...)
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Same formula, but if they're folicly challenged (bald), I have them stay back in the shadow. For this event I had forgotten the Alien Bee and chucked two speedlights in the umbrella instead which also works. Flashes on manual, about 1/2 stop over ambient. ISO100, f/5.6, 1/160s.
Link to my Smugmug site
www.cameraone.biz
http://andeedesign.com/
Now I wish I took more of these, especially with the lighting setup. Oh well, here's some stuff at work:
Be my guest: Alex Braverman Photography
http://andeedesign.com/
www.cameraone.biz
Steal away! A couple of pointers:
1. Even the beauty dish does not cover enough ground, unless it is far (you need seriously strong lighting)
2. You can't freeze the motion of the falling human body with any degree of confidence, unless your flash duration is 1/2000 or faster (or shoot outdoors on a sunny day)
3. I wouldn't bother with soft boxes, because at these short burst even a millisecond of residual light might ruin the shot.
4. ISO 100, f8-f11, synch at anything! The set should be dark enough to produce a pitch black frame without the strobes, at these settings
Bottom line -- Broncolor.
pros: does all of the above and more
cons: expensive as hell
The final produce of the above sequence -- not all that much:
the title: PRIMEVAL INSTINCT
Be my guest: Alex Braverman Photography
Thanks Andee!
I noticed some fractal stuff on your website. I'm getting into it, using Ultra Fractal 5 - the paid version. Will you be willing to share your experience with me?
I'm not looking to produce stand-alone fractal abstracts. I'm interested in using them as a displace map to overlay some architectural stuff. Heck, maybe even portraits!
Something like this:
Be my guest: Alex Braverman Photography
Woody is quite a character and knows his art and photoshop.
http://www.templatephotoshop.com/
www.cameraone.biz
Thanks! Nice sports comps on that site.
Be my guest: Alex Braverman Photography
http://andeedesign.com/
I've really grown to despise those adjustable metal hot shoe mounts on almost all commercial flash brackets. So this uses the plastic bases that come with the flashes. They are solid and of course the flash fits and locks perfectly.
Materials list:
7"x2"x1/8" band iron
three 1/4-20 cap screws, 1/2" long.
a few 1/4" washers
Oh, and of course you already have the standard umbrella mount which comes with the brass piece.
Instructions: drill three 1/4" holes in the band iron. One in the center, and two more 2" to either side of the center hole. Assemble.
I just made this today. Home Depot only had 3/4" screws, so I had to pad the flash base screws with a bunch of washers. I'll replace those with 1/2" screws when I get around to it and also paint the band iron. I have an event in the morning, so this is ready to go.
Link to my Smugmug site
www.cameraone.biz
Link to my Smugmug site
http://www.amazon.com/Frio-ENLFRC1A-Shoe-Mount-Tripods/dp/B004CBTCFC
another one same brand this one is $14 ish.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Frio-Enlight-Universal-V2/dp/B00DNADZME/ref=pd_sim_p_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1VC12EDWZ84AZ5X748WK
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Link to my Smugmug site
www.cameraone.biz
1.
2.
3 was with a beauty dish
3.
4 missed the focus a tad shooting at 2.8ish
4.
5.
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Where are you shooting from?
how big is that PLM in the back?
what glass do you use for this range?
My Site
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http://andeedesign.com/
Be my guest: Alex Braverman Photography
www.cameraone.biz
thank you!
Man, things I'd do to have that kind of shooting space..
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And pull back: (one umbrella camera left, one camera right behind. You can see the umbrella rod of the one on the left and the one on the right is pretty obvious. this is in a garage...)
http://wallydyerphotography.com/blog/2014/10/the-power-of-perspective
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