This is not really a wedding question, but I am actually doing an outdoor shoot and like to try some off camera flash. What would one go about doing this without an assistant? Tripods are usually not quite high enough and light stands don't do well on uneven ground... I thought about putting a flash on a monopod and the camera on tripod w/ remote triggers, but that would really slow things down.
PhotosByRDD wrote:
Can't recall ever shooting in a situation that I could get a lightstand to work. They have a fairly small footprint.
I don't think you'll find many people here who agree with you... These were all shot in the past couple weeks (ignore that stupid copyright watermark). Not wedding images, but my most recent outdoor shots.
Look through the images here... everybody shoots with lightstands outside. All you need is a decent quality stand and maybe a sandbag at the bottom if your flash is particularly heavy. Heck, I've got 10-12 stands. I'd be happy to sell you 1 or 2.
I can't recall a time when I couldn't get a lightstand to NOT work. I don't know many assistants that can hold a flash 10ft in the air.
Here is an example of how to creatively use your stand, where it's not even flat on the ground. I needed the light overhead, but couldn't really do it due to the stairs.
I went to Mt. Baldy in Indiana last year for an outdoor session and I brought a portable lightstand. The SB800 was on the stand with the diffuser and I corded it to the camera with the Nikon SC29 to make sure it would trigger the flash. That is where that long cord shines; tethered to the hotshoe with the flash on a lightstand.
Jonathan H wrote:
I don't think you'll find many people here who agree with you... These were all shot in the past couple weeks (ignore that stupid copyright watermark). Not wedding images, but my most recent outdoor shots.
Look through the images here... everybody shoots with lightstands outside. All you need is a decent quality stand and maybe a sandbag at the bottom if your flash is particularly heavy. Heck, I've got 10-12 stands. I'd be happy to sell you 1 or 2.
If you'd read for context you might have caught my typo. Should read "can't recall ever shooting in a situation that I could'NT get a lightstand to work. The give away is, "they have a fairly small footprint." i.e. it doesn't take much level ground for them to work.
Honestly I was scratching my head wondering why you quoted me then argued for exactly what I was saying!!!
Oh the things that happen when you try to pound out a response in a hurry!!!
Edited by PhotosByRDD on Apr 13, 2008 at 10:36 AM GMT
Actually, a tripod does work well. I bought a flexible "goose neck" type accessory at the local photo store that incorporates a 1/4-20 female on one end and a light stand stud one the other. I remove the head from my light stand (Gitzo) and the goose neck screws right on to the existing 1/4-20 stud in place of the head. The legs will extend to a hieght of about 5' by themselves and the gooseneck is about 3', so you can gain plenty of hieght for most applications. The gooseneck is strong enough to support a small softbox and strobe, but if you try to attach a rig like sboerup's post above, it may sag under the weight. Try it!
Steve
Steve Tinetti wrote:
Actually, a tripod does work well. I bought a flexible "goose neck" type accessory at the local photo store that incorporates a 1/4-20 female on one end and a light stand stud one the other. I remove the head from my light stand (Gitzo) and the goose neck screws right on to the existing 1/4-20 stud in place of the head. The legs will extend to a hieght of about 5' by themselves and the gooseneck is about 3', so you can gain plenty of hieght for most applications. The gooseneck is strong enough to support a small softbox and strobe, but if you try to attach a rig like sboerup's post above, it may sag under the weight. Try it!
Steve ...Show more →
I can't recall a time when I couldn't get a lightstand to NOT work. I don't know many assistants that can hold a flash 10ft in the air.
Here is an example of how to creatively use your stand, where it's not even flat on the ground. I needed the light overhead, but couldn't really do it due to the stairs.
I put the Qflash on a monopod and hold it in my left hand. It works great. I have used a light stand, but I didn't like it as well.
The monopod I have has three small legs that come out on their own so I can let it stand there for a minute or two on its own when i need too. I keep everything wireless with PW.
Works great.
The other advantage of my system is that I can shoot without a big softbox and therefore less worry of wind blowing things over.
Should read "can't recall ever shooting in a situation that I could'NT get a lightstand to work. The give away is, "they have a fairly small footprint." i.e. it doesn't take much level ground for them to work.
thx!