Diffusing strobes for reception?

Bryans12v

Just wondering if any of you diffuse your strobes during the reception and what you use? Ive only setup lights a few times and have had mixed results using them but at the time, leaving the lights bare with the 7.5" reflectors on.

I get great results when I use them in combo with a 580 on the HS and using the optical slaves within the lights (photogenic powerlights) instead of using the pocketwizards on the HS.

Example:


Why I ask? Ive had a couple of complaints from guests that the flash is awfully bright for a low lit reception. I too have stood to close to them while my partner has shot and it is intense. At the same time though, Im not sure I would get good results from diffusing them.

Just wondering what you all do and if anyone has any tips other than trying to place the lights in a less obscure place..

Thanks everyone!

tenoverthenose

I think you may be mixing up two things.

Are you saying the lights are too powerful or too small? In diffusing a light source the primary goal is (usually) to make the light source larger and softer. A side effect of this is that it often strips away some power from the light, but this is just a side effect. A diffused light source will keep shadows to a minimum and have nice soft transitions from light to dark areas. Of course you have to keep in mind your light to subject distance....

If you are saying your lights are too bright, just turn them down. If you can't get them down low enough (depending on your strobe) you may have to use ND filters on the lights.

Bryans12v

You're right, I shouldve clarified a little more. Thats what I get for rushing.

I use my hotshoe mounted flash as a main light source and use strobes placed along walls/corners soley as backlighting. I actually like firing the strobes not diffused because I get good results from these as backlighting but dont want to blind the guests. Along the top of the image, you can see the light Im refering to.

Here is another example:


My question shouldve read, does anyone use strobes for backlighting during receptions and if so, do you diffuse the light?

Kinkajou

I just so happened to come across this article about reception lighting today.

I personally set up two strobes in different areas of the venue and bounce them off the ceiling/walls. I know that some folks like to have one or two set up around the venue (either bouncing or diffused) and then one on-camera to bounce off the ceiling or walls.

mjoshi123

Kinkajou wrote: »

I just so happened to come across this article about reception lighting today.

I personally set up two strobes in different areas of the venue and bounce them off the ceiling/walls. I know that some folks like to have one or two set up around the venue (either bouncing or diffused) and then one on-camera to bounce off the ceiling or walls.

Thanks for sharing that link.

tenoverthenose

Bryans12v wrote: »

My question shouldve read, does anyone use strobes for backlighting during receptions and if so, do you diffuse the light?

Yes, I use strobes during receptions for backlighting and would never use anything to diffuse the light. Normally they are too far away to have any use in diffusing (remember the inverse square law? I like to keep my lights as far away as possible) and I don't like to draw any more attention to my ugly lights than I have to. If anything, I put grids on them to tighten up the spread.

Light_prod

Yeah I don't defuse any strobes that I set up around the room as then I'd be trying to avoid getting them in shot. Bare strobes look cool in a shot. An umbrella or softbox does not.

avangardphoto

I don't use any diffusion. I mix the strobes for key light and for fill light.