Family Beach and review of Mitros+ flash and Odin x-mitter

jonh68

I recently bought the Phottix Scott Kelby kit featuring the mitros+ flash and Odin transmitter which also included a stand, bag, umbrella etc. I've wanted a lightweight and portable off camera kit for beach shoots. It was a windy morning so I couldn't use the umbrella, and I also had a narrow time to shoot as we had rain coming in. I used the domed diffuser. I was very pleased with the transmitter and the flash which has a built in receiver. I was happy how even the light was for such a spread out group. I took a tip from Joe McNally and aimed at the subjects at the end and letting the nearest subjects get the spill light. So far the Odin transmitter is a keeper and as a bonus I am able to get sync speeds 1/1000 and up on my aline bees because the odin has a built in timing feature that allows for manual timing. The pics are from a proof gallery.

1 Flashed


2 No Flash


3 Flash behind subjects


4 No flash


5


6


7

Sam

Great lighting for this type of photo.

To me they are too flat and even. I put one in PS and applied a curve and increased vibrancy and believe the image was improved. Give it a try.

Sam

D3Sshooter

Hi jonh, I see that you got the composition under control and so for the scene. Of course it is not that easy to judge colors and light on an internet based picture. However I do have the overall impression that the pictures are a bit flat. By this I main lightwise flat and milky. Maybe that was the intend, in that case please ignore my observation. I personally would add a bit of contrast. I noticed that you worked with auto exposure and 1/200second shutter with F10 and that is most likely the reason why things are a bit flat. I have a whole article on Wordpress and others on how to deal with this , here it is http://shootphaseone.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/shooting-with-high-speed-sync/

jonh68

I was actually going for flat light. It was an overcast, rainy day with no shadows on the beach and I wanted to use the flash to complement the natural light. Normally I like to play around with underexposing the backgrounds and creating dramatic looking light. However, I run into shadow problems on group shots and just didn't have time to adjust the subjects too much. It was about to rain, and wanted to get the safe shot. After 7 was taken we were running back to the condo as it was raining. I would have loved to play around with more dramatic light but just didn't have the time.

Bryce Wilson

I love the way the subjects "pop" on one and five. Looks like you have a winner with the new rig.

On the conditions you were dealing with on this particular day, I think the flat lighting works well and shows the conditions as they were.

I'm not a fan of the high rises, in the back, right, on one.

T. Bombadil

jonh68 wrote: »

I recently bought the Phottix Scott Kelby kit featuring the mitros+ flash and Odin transmitter which also included a stand, bag, umbrella etc. I've wanted a lightweight and portable off camera kit for beach shoots. It was a windy morning so I couldn't use the umbrella, and I also had a narrow time to shoot as we had rain coming in. I used the domed diffuser. I was very pleased with the transmitter and the flash which has a built in receiver. I was happy how even the light was for such a spread out group. I took a tip from Joe McNally and aimed at the subjects at the end and letting the nearest subjects get the spill light. So far the Odin transmitter is a keeper and as a bonus I am able to get sync speeds 1/1000 and up on my aline bees because the odin has a built in timing feature that allows for manual timing. The pics are from a proof gallery.

I like these a lot. Good looking and (apparently) happy-to-be-there subjects doesn't hurt either (reflects well on your approach).

I think I see a white balance difference between flashed and not flashed images. The warmer images are preferable, in my opinion (especially #5).

jonh68

Bryce Wilson wrote: »

I love the way the subjects "pop" on one and five. Looks like you have a winner with the new rig.

On the conditions you were dealing with on this particular day, I think the flat lighting works well and shows the conditions as they were.

I'm not a fan of the high rises, in the back, right, on one.

Thanks!

I am not fan of the high rises either, but some clients actually like having them as part of the scenery so I have some with the condos framed within the shots for options. If I had my say I would have all my beach shots at the state park where it was all natural

jonh68

T. Bombadil wrote: »

I like these a lot. Good looking and (apparently) happy-to-be-there subjects doesn't hurt either (reflects well on your approach).

I think I see a white balance difference between flashed and not flashed images. The warmer images are preferable, in my opinion (especially #5).

Thanks, and good catch on WB. Since I was working with the flash for the first time I played around with it more in post so I warmed them up a bit, trying to get a warmish look on an overcast day.

D3Sshooter

Ok Jonh that is clear, so ignore my observation…

Mitchell

These are pretty good. I think 5 is my favorite. I don't mind the flat lighting at all on these as you have captured a typical overcast beach day.

A tighter lower group on #1 would have decreased the distracting shadow on Dad's shirt.

I've given up on an umbrella on the beach. I have a large beauty dish with a sock that I use for beach photos. Much more stable and less likely to fly away.

Hackbone

I really like what you have done in 5 & 6. The lighting is nice, I would like a little more contrast but that is just what one likes, no biggie. Watch out for the crotch grabber in 1-2-3&4. My pet peeve.

Mitchell

Hackbone wrote: »

Watch out for the crotch grabber in 1-2-3&4. My pet peeve.

I also hate that, but I call that the fig leaf.

jonh68

Hackbone wrote: »

I really like what you have done in 5 & 6. The lighting is nice, I would like a little more contrast but that is just what one likes, no biggie. Watch out for the crotch grabber in 1-2-3&4. My pet peeve.

Yep, gotta pay more attention to that in the group shots. I was so concerned about getting shots in before the rain that I was in a rush.

jonh68

Mitchell wrote: »

These are pretty good. I think 5 is my favorite. I don't mind the flat lighting at all on these as you have captured a typical overcast beach day.

A tighter lower group on #1 would have decreased the distracting shadow on Dad's shirt.

I've given up on an umbrella on the beach. I have a large beauty dish with a sock that I use for beach photos. Much more stable and less likely to fly away.

Good catch and tip on the shadow.

dixonduke

D3Sshooter wrote: »

Hi jonh, I see that you got the composition under control and so for the scene. Of course it is not that easy to judge colors and light on an internet based picture. However I do have the overall impression that the pictures are a bit flat. By this I main lightwise flat and milky. Maybe that was the intend, in that case please ignore my observation. I personally would add a bit of contrast. I noticed that you worked with auto exposure and 1/200second shutter with F10 and that is most likely the reason why things are a bit flat. I have a whole article on Wordpress and others on how to deal with this , here it is http://shootphaseone.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/shooting-with-high-speed-sync/

Posts like this and this thread in general is why I enjoy coming to DGRIN. Answers to questions I haven't even asked yet. :ivar