Help putting together Light Kit
smargita
Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
Well, my dream came true. I put up a quick Smugmug Pro site 1 week ago and just last night, I was contacted by the head of a local organization. I was asked to. E their official photographer, securing all portraits, team shots and candies of various sporting events for the kids.
I experience includes *on- camera* flash.
So I am trying to put together a remote light kit that I can take with me to various shoots.
I already own a Nikon SB-600 and a Nikon D80.
So what else do I need? I have created a list including:
2 stands, 2sandbags, 1 umbrella, 1 boom arm with reflector kit, a pocket wizard set.
I am hesitant on the pocket wizard initially because I will try the usefulness of the Nikon Commander System.
But I am not sure if I should start with 2 umbrella kits or 1 umbrella and 1 reflector. (I do have an old Sunpak 363 which I could use with a 2nd umbrella.
Can someone please point me in the direction of building a practical light kit for on location shoots of kids sports portraits?
Thanks!
- Steve
- Steve
I experience includes *on- camera* flash.
So I am trying to put together a remote light kit that I can take with me to various shoots.
I already own a Nikon SB-600 and a Nikon D80.
So what else do I need? I have created a list including:
2 stands, 2sandbags, 1 umbrella, 1 boom arm with reflector kit, a pocket wizard set.
I am hesitant on the pocket wizard initially because I will try the usefulness of the Nikon Commander System.
But I am not sure if I should start with 2 umbrella kits or 1 umbrella and 1 reflector. (I do have an old Sunpak 363 which I could use with a 2nd umbrella.
Can someone please point me in the direction of building a practical light kit for on location shoots of kids sports portraits?
Thanks!
- Steve
- Steve
0
Comments
How large is the largest team?
How many teams for an event?
How much time between teams?
Do you have access to mains/AC power?
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Most challenging will be the swim team photo - 100 kids. But that's not for a year yet.
I'd prefer to stay with strobes. More portable.
I can build slowly, I just want enough to get starts for outdoor teams and portraits as mentioned above
- Steve
Inexpensive radio slaves may be used outdoors with manual flashes and I use them as principal and backup light sources. (Flash automation is not really required for portraits and manual control is often preferable.)
A better choice IMO, if you have access to mains/AC power, are studio monolights. While they are not suitable for wet weather, they tend to offer more actual output per dollar than speedlights. This is what I use for outdoor weddings formals and it works pretty well for me. Again, I use inexpensive radio slave sets for syncing studio strobes and manual mode. (The monolights that I use are only manual mode.)
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
- Steve
For outdoors, in direct sunlight, especially using umbrellas/diffusers, 2 compact flash units may not be enough. I suggest that up to 4 high-output speedlights may be required for a team of 10, depending partly how you intend to light the scene. You will also need some backup lights because you will probably be using these lights at full-power, or close to that.
It doesn't have to be Nikon speedlights. I have had very good luck using Sigma DG Super flashes, which also have a very nice (accurate and repeatable) manual mode. User Art Scott reports that the Sigma units, in Nikon iTTL, lose their Nikon specific automation settings when they power down (to save batteries), so they are not perfect, but in manual mode they are very nice to use IMO.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/741718-REG/Sigma_189306_EF610_DG_Super_Flash.html
http://www.adorama.com/SG610NK.html
I have 4 - Sigma DG Super flashes myself and 1 - Canon 580EX (similar in output to the Nikon flagship flashes) and in my tests and experience it can take all 4 flashes to properly expose a group of that size in direct sun. You can certainly start with 2 flashes, run your own tests (which I highly recommend that you do regardless) and then purchase more if you see the need.
You can use a dual-flash bracket so that you may only need a pair of umbrellas, stands, etc.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Hi Steve. Congratulations on your New Event Coverage.
Nikon's Wireless Commander is great, out-doors or in, but truly reliable performance will have to come in a Radio/wireless solution. And there are myriad companies selling products that will work. Some quite cheap, and others not as cheap, as you know.
On the Umbrella and Sandbag issue...and it is an issue, if there is much wind at all, it can be very hard to keep them upright and working even with Sandbags or even with a person holding onto them. Umbrellas as you can imagine are just big wind-sails. So they love some wind!
And as far as overpowering the Sun, which you didn't mention, but Our esteemed and knowledgeable Moderator ( Ziggy53) did. No worries! You're not going to overpower the Sun with anything Short of about twenty flash-guns. So like Ziggy said, Mono-lights/Strobes would be the best route. But using flashguns is what you want. So plan on buying a few, at least three I'd say for small groups of ten or less and more for larger groupings. You'll have to be creative in getting them out of the direct light, as you know. Diffusing that light could be a challenge due to circumstances on-set. Wind like I said will set sail those umbrellas. personally I think exposing the kids well and giving just a hint of light that can be given with flashguns is about right. Overdoing the flashguns can make for some dreadful Shadows as you know, so I understand your thoughts on umbrella. But even with open and direct flash gun-heads you can give 'em some pop without those harsh shadows.
answer: at least 3 flashguns. And yes, I prefer the SB line myself for sheer reliability they're hard to beat. if you're behind them and shooting landscape mode, then you ought to be able to get them to flash outside almost 99 percent of the time in commander mode.
If I post it, please tell me how to make it better. My fragile ego can take it.
You Could. And just as easily you could pick up unwanted tinting from whatever the light is reflecting off of in that shade especially if it is foliage. Best thing in this case is to use as much natural stuff as can be found: Late Sun, Tall buildings or trees to provide indirect light and Still it'd be good to have a few flash guns just even out the lighting.
But since a second is available, and as long as the Sunpack can be triggered, I think that I would put it on a stand with an umbrella dialed up, shoot the SB600 on TTL on camera to fill/trigger and fire away.
No offense to the OP, but if you are shooting a D80 and SB-600, studio lights may not be the best place to blow the budget and the D80 with the SB will do the job fine if used correctly. The second flash on a stand/umbrella would do wonders. A reflector and someone to hold it can work all by itself, but may cause what Tom suggest with some tinting. First learn your equipment. Well. then figure out what you need to do it better/faster/cleaner. Just my $.02.
If I post it, please tell me how to make it better. My fragile ego can take it.
The OP didn't mention assistants, so hard to know about reflectors, stands and umbrellas. The wind has blown here all year, which has interfered with more than one shoot.
Open shade with a large reflector can work nicely, with or without a flash (key or fill).
Deep shade and 2 flashes can be nice too. (Key plus fill.) Yes, light poisoning from foliage can be a problem, depending on the site and sky conditions. It would take some testing and then maybe some site management to work properly.
With 4 - compact flashes you can have some reliable lighting control. I also use 2 - Flashpoint 1820a monolights (1800 effective WS) in direct sunlight, with the sun behind the subjects as possible, and get fairly good results.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I am not offended in any way, but as far as the comment on the D80/sb600 and not blowing the budget in lights - that's a valid point. Assuming I use the equipment correctly, would you say it's decent gear to get started in this work?
Then as far as priorities go, what comes next - another flash, umbrellas, etc or a new camera (and which one)
Thanks!
- Steve