Brilliant use of off camera flash (Video)

Does not work for me i just get a blank screen
 
First class. That flash setup must cost a fortune, but I don't think there's any real alternative to it for fast action sports shots
 
That setup must cost an absolute fortune! I just kept thinking how the riders aren't blinded by all of that power heh.
 
neoboy said:
That setup must cost an absolute fortune! I just kept thinking how the riders aren't blinded by all of that power heh.
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Only about 400 Ws at max power, and very short flash duration (which is why it's worth choosing that setup instead of a battery powered studio flash for sports photography) so I'm not sure that they even notice the flash
 
I wish he would have told us what lens he was using. Fantastic images.
 
really nice video, for me the shots at 5:27 and 5:40 are simply amazing!
 
Fantastic images, and fab rig! :)

He's using high speed FP sync, which is very wasteful of power, and shooting at 1/1000 - 1/2000sec. Which is why he needs all those guns.

His outfit is here http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/11-2010.htm Never seen that FourSquare gear before, but it's a way cool system :cool:
 
Is he shooting first or second curtain sync? Great shots
 
Could have done it far easier and better at one third the price with a quadra, A Head and superfast channel.

These things just remind of Joe McNallys tree of woe. Im sure it sells plenty of Nikons guns.

I know a BMX photographer that uses this and gets almost identical results.
 
I thought the superfast channel only gave a shorter flash duration of 1/3200 sec. Nothing to do with flash syns which is limited to the max sync of the camera usually 1/200.

The difference in using SB900s or if Canon 580 EX IIs is that you can use high speed sync and thus overpower the daylight whilst still using a very high sync speed such a 1/2000sec.

At 1/200th sec you would get motion blur with the quadras due to the anount of available light that would be recorded.
 
Kris said:
Could have done it far easier and better at one third the price with a quadra, A Head and superfast channel.

These things just remind of Joe McNallys tree of woe. Im sure it sells plenty of Nikons guns.

I know a BMX photographer that uses this and gets almost identical results.
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I'm of a similar opinion.
Really nice images but are they images that could only be produced with that equipment?
He probably gets free speedlights and a kickback from Nikon for telling all the MX togs that they need to buy 8 guns!
 
andephotographic said:
I'm of a similar opinion.
Really nice images but are they images that could only be produced with that equipment?
He probably gets free speedlights and a kickback from Nikon for telling all the MX togs that they need to buy 8 guns!
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Not so, you would find it very difficult to do it as well without using HSS mode, and as HSS mode uses a lot of power then you need a lot of guns suitable for that mode.

8 guns at full power will only give you 3 stops more light than a single gun at full power.
 
EdBray said:
I thought the superfast channel only gave a shorter flash duration of 1/3200 sec. Nothing to do with flash syns which is limited to the max sync of the camera usually 1/200.

The difference in using SB900s or if Canon 580 EX IIs is that you can use high speed sync and thus overpower the daylight whilst still using a very high sync speed such a 1/2000sec.

At 1/200th sec you would get motion blur with the quadras due to the anount of available light that would be recorded.
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Nope.

Would like to reply but dont have the time at the moment.

HSS is no substitute for raw high and fast power - the quadra does 1/6000th.
 
Kris said:
Nope.

Would like to reply but dont have the time at the moment.

HSS is no substitute for raw high and fast power - the quadra does 1/6000th.
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But if the subject is moving you will get motion blur with a 1/200th flash sync from the available light regardless of how fast the flash duration is.
 
I'm with Ed. He needs to use HSS/FFP flash and get the shutter speed up to freeze everything, including the background, and avoid any ambient blurring. So that's big hot-shoe guns only, and lots of them. Actually, I think he's still struggling with the light output and the actual images appear to be taken later in the day and with some cloud cover to reduce the ambient in line with the max flash output. Plus the guy holding the rig is very close to the action, which helps a lot. HSS/FP flash is pretty feeble TBH and I think he'd need four of those rigs to have a chance against full noon sun! :eek:

You could do it a lot more cheaply though, using Nissin Di866 guns at £200 each. They are very powerful and have HSS/FP mode. Then trigger those with four RF-602's (£100) and pull the HSS/FP x-sync pulse out of the camera with a cheap HSS enabled gun like the 270EX for £100 and hack-sync that with an optical slave (which is exactly how those Radio Poppers do it). Plus a DIY bracket to hold it all together. If you could get away with only four guns (which would be only one stop down on eight, and probably enough on a dull day in blighty) then you could do it all for £1k.

That FourSquare brackety stuff he's using is really nice and well thought out though http://www.lightwaredirect.com/ More good images and links there too :thumbs:

Edit: do I see another debate about the tail-hack HSS/FP bodge coming up... :eek: If so, I'll jump in first - it's rubbish :D
 
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HoppyUK said:
Fantastic images, and fab rig! :)

He's using high speed FP sync, which is very wasteful of power, and shooting at 1/1000 - 1/2000sec. Which is why he needs all those guns.

His outfit is here http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/11-2010.htm Never seen that FourSquare gear before, but it's a way cool system :cool:
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The FourSquare bracket looks good, but I'd rather have the Lastolite Triflash Sync bracket.

Ok, it's three flashes rather than four, but it has a built-in 3.5mm socket, so it can be fired from PW or RF602, or even via the built-in optical slave, if so desired...
 
Wonder how he is getting all the light sensors pointing at the master when they are all bunched together like that?

Canon/Nikon IR is unreliable in bright light at the best of times...
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The FourSquare bracket looks good, but I'd rather have the Lastolite Triflash Sync bracket.

Ok, it's three flashes rather than four, but it has a built-in 3.5mm socket, so it can be fired from PW or RF602, or even via the built-in optical slave, if so desired...
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Good call Graham :thumbs: Not seen that jobbie before, looks very neat and effective. Three guns is only about 1.6 stops down on eight, which certainly wouldn't be a problem on a day like today! How about fitting the three guns with Lumiquest bouncers? That would give 270 degrees of really nice soft light :)

The other key feature of Dave Black's magic spaceship-light is that he's got a bloke tracking the subject with it - keeps the light right, and keeps the exposure up.
 
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