A quick question on overpowering ambient.

[Bassit]

Hi, just a quick one, is 2 flash guns enough to overpower ambient ? or would i need something more powerful.

The subject will be a motorbike.

I have a Nikon sb700 and a Jessops 360afdn, i ask because at the moment i don't have a subject to practice on and if the answers a maybe ill then give it a try, which means asking a favour off someone.

Thanks for reading.

 

[minnnt]

1 will be enough.

 

[Phil V]

It depends how bright the ambient. Dusk - easy with 1

Midday summer sun - about 6 SB800's.

 

[Bassit]

1 will be enough.

Thanks David.

It depends how bright the ambient. Dusk - easy with 1

Midday summer sun - about 6 SB800's.

Thanks Phil, i should be fine for most of the summer then, so its probably best to wait until the end of the day or get in some shade to do these shots, assuming being in shade will make it easier to overpower the ambient.

 

[Garry Edwards]

1 will be enough.

But only in your dreams.

As Phil says, in bright sunlight you'd need about 6 x SB-800 (or 8 x SB-900)

The standard sunny 16 rule applies, i.e. in bright sunlight, 100th second, 100 ISO = f/16
Use the fastest normal sync speed for your camera, call it 1/200th, = f/11.
Now, you need enough flash power to give you f/16 (to overpower the sun by just one stop). That's why you won't manage with less than at least 6.

 

[Bassit]

Thanks Garry, can i ask how would i get on on a more normal day, i.e cloudy and overcast or just overcast with that even lighting softbox type sky (which is more usual for near Manchester), i could always buy a couple more cheap manual flashes if needed.

 

[minnnt]

Well I suppose you learn something every day. I have only ever had a go at it once and managed to darken the background considerably. But tbh, I cant remember what settings I used. I think I closed the aperture right down? and the flash was about 2ft away from the subject. It was sunny but it was in my back garden so not directly into the sun.

Will watch with interest.

Cheers.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Thanks Garry, can i ask how would i get on on a more normal day, i.e cloudy and overcast or just overcast with that even lighting softbox type sky (which is more usual for near Manchester), i could always buy a couple more cheap manual flashes if needed.

Try it and see, the biggest single factor here is the distance between the flashgun and the subject, and then you have to consider the spread of light from any modifier used. E.g., if your flashgun is just a couple of feet from the motorbike (and lighting just a small part of it) and if you aren't using an umbrella or softbox to spread and diffuse the light, then you may be able to manage in Manchester weather But, as a general rule, you'll be limited to dusk or dawn.

 

[Bassit]

Thanks for the help, i did just try it and it semi worked but could of done with another 1 or 2 flash's, this was bare flash placed on the floor with no modifiers so yes, i can see it taking 6 flashguns to do this shot with any type of modifiers, although thinking about it i may have done better with 2 umbrellas for a bit more of an even light spread, ill take some stands and brollys with me at weekend and see what i get.

The image has been quickly edited with a bit of brightening of the lad.

DSC_7693 by J.Garton, on Flickr

And 1 of a full size bike.
DSC_7437 by J.Garton, on Flickr

 

[mike weeks]

Thanks for the help, i did just try it and it semi worked but could of done with another 1 or 2 flash's, this was bare flash placed on the floor with no modifiers so yes, i can see it taking 6 flashguns to do this shot with any type of modifiers, although thinking about it i may have done better with 2 umbrellas for a bit more of an even light spread, ill take some stands and brollys with me at weekend and see what i get.

The image has been quickly edited with a bit of brightening of the lad.

Could be so much better by simply raising the flash a bit, uplighting is fine as fill or halloween but not as main - look at the image of the bike on its own and how quickly the light falls off i.e. the light source is not large enough for the target.

Mike

 

[Bassit]

Yes i agree with you, this was literally just a test to see what i would get with the 2 speedlights, i commented to the kids dad that it looks like something out of a horror movie and he couldn't care less and loved it all the same.

I'll take a couple of light stands and umbrellas on Saturday and see if if i can improve on what i got today, i still don't think it will work well though, because there simply isn't enough light being produced.