I really thought I'd be able to solve this with a quick Google search, but I was wrong, so I'm checking with the collective knowledge of FM.
I've got a Godox S mount bracket (like this) to hold a speedlight and was hoping to somehow mount it to monopod. I have light stands, but I'm hoping I could have my wife hold the monopod with the flash and small softbox or umbrella for some on location fill light. The bracket it designed for the top of a lightstand obviously, but is there any kind of adapter I could attach to the screw on my monopod to use it on there?
I know a handheld boom is probably the correct tool for the job here, just wondering if I can use what I already own
I have dubbed this a "light stick" - it's great for mobility. The trick is your wife learning the dance or code of where to be and where to point the light in relation to you.
We use speed lights all the time on a monopod - so do many other colleagues. Like anything else, you just have to have some basic common sense. Nobody I know of is going to put a 5lb light on a monopod and dangle it over a dance floor. But a speed light weighs very little and is well suited to the light stick method.
I don’t use a monopod for this; I use an extendable paint pole instead. But the caution about weight on top is the same. I don’t do this frequently, but when I do, I’d go for a speed light with a cheap, small shoot-through umbrella, or if control over light spill is important, a small softbox such as one of the Lastolite Joe McNally EZbox Hotshoe range.
My speedlights (Nikon and Quantum Qflash) mount with a 1/4"-20 screw and that is the same that is on my monopods. I have used them with a reflector or a small softbox mounted to the monopod and as the monopod can be adjusted for length it works very well.
I use the Quantum Qflash FreeXwire to adjust the output from the flash from the Quantum controller on the hot shoe of my camera. The dial has 1/3 EV adustments and so adjusting the output takes only a second to do. Works exceedingly well.
A stand that has the legs that fold out when set down, a cheetah stand and works as light on a stick,( it has been called that for years), and the side benefit is your assistant can get a rest setting it down or collapsing the umbrella and hiding it behind subject for rim light. You can do more than just fill. Teach her to hold the pole directly in front of her nose about 45 degrees above subject's head. From the side of subject, have her move around and in front of subject til she first sees the far side of subjects nose. Bingo, loop light main. Find a consistent working distance and have her always stand that far from subject and exposure will not need adjustment. If it does, you can adjust aperture from camera. You can run and gun with beautiful soft loop light. I have an einstein on the stick with cybercommander on the camera so can adjust power. I have my assistant wearing a 4 lb vagabond over their shoulder on a strap for 640 ws of power adjustable down to 3 ws. Take a look at videos on Annie Liebowitz as she works with a studio strobe on a stick with a 4' brolly box/umbrella. Saw one where she had the assistant in hip deep water holding the stick and light photoing Sean Conner standing on a dock. Stobe, capacitor and water? I once carried an 18 lb vagabond, stand and einsteinacross a stream to get a kicker but had it well back of the water my subject was in. I don't want to know what would happen if I had fallen in with the battery. Produced a rainbow in the waterfall mist behind her. Use an umbrella holder that will fit over the stud on a pole or stand and use a shoot through umbrella. You can collapse the umbrella and she can set it on the ground for a rest.
The benefit of this over a monopod is it can potentially be much longer/taller to get the light up above the subject while allowing your wife/assistant to anchor the base of the pole on the ground, which is a lot less tiring than holding a light on a monopod overhead while off the ground. I've used the above for lights as well as reflectors and gobos. Plus you can use it as intended as a light stand extension if you find yourself lighting a venue with very high ceilings (of course one needs to be way more cautious at securing the set-up due to the extra height and instability).
I do this regularly - I recruit my sister if she's available. I do not put umbrellas or softboxes on them because they are a tad bulky. If I need a modifier much larger than a Gary Fong trinket, I'll velcro poster board or something to the speedlight.
What ever solution you go with make sure your V.A.L.S. doesn't have to hold it off the ground. My older Manfrotto Master Art. 004 stands can be legless in a few minutes with an Allen key. Or you could just buy on of these, Photoflex Litereach Plus:
Dimensions:
Collapsed Length: 35.5″/90.17cm
Extended Length: 9’7″/291CM
Max Tubing size: 1.37″ / 35mm
Max vertical Load: 15lbs
Universal 5/8 male stud connector end
Because the bit you put in the top to adapt your 1/4” to a lightstand connector is screwed in, it is fairly easy for it to get unscrewed by the uneven weight of the modifier (softbox, umbrella or whatever you are using...even just the strobe in the adapter) as you position the light to get the angle you want. This can be a real hassle for the person holding the light up.
I prefer to have the light on a stand with the legs folded up. As mentioned above, this gives your assistant a break. As also mentioned, holding items overhead gets tiring and requires upper-body conditioning to do for very long.
It does provide the potential for some great results, so it’s well worth chasing down a good solution to the problem!
