Flash and HighViz

KIPAX

KIPAX

Seriously Likeable
Suspended / Banned
Messages
21,370
Name
KIPAX Lancashire UK
Edit My Images
No
I did search this forum for highviz but nowt. Surely someone has had the same problem?

I tried to take a picture of a steward at a football match last night.. Head shoulders type shot for an ID card

But the high viz jacket reflected the flash and the shot just wouldn't happen until he took the jacket off.

Is this a dead end.. cant be done.. or is there a trrick of the trade?

I must add.. flash photogrpahy is my weak point.. vvv weak :) I ahve an idea the answer is dead end.. But there maybe somehting?
 
flash off camera, lower power, through a modifier of some sort, would probably help... try to get the flash as off axis as possible - bounce card if you've really got to do it with flash on camera? failing everything else, bash FEV down to like -3 and just be using the flash for as small a amount of fill as possible, and shoot mostly ambient?

High vis jackets will have the kind of 'mirror' layout in them that reflects the light back in the direction that it comes from - so basically just try to get it as off axis as possible. I would've thought that your flash held at the end of an off-camera cord would do the job.

I might have a play around later if I get really sick of revision....
 
hi vis jackets have the reflectors built in to point the light back where it came (v useful for car headlights - but a bitch for on camera flash), grab a ttl cable and hold the flash off in your left hand (as far away as pos) - dial the comp down a bit too
 
Fire the flah into a reflector held off to the side. A lastolite makes a great reflecting diffuser and gives you the chance to take the flash even further off camera than a cord. Basically it is bounced flash outside, same principle and it will soften your light greatly too, because the reflector is MUCH larger than any diffuser on your flash gun. Set the flash to a wide setting, cover as much of the reflector as possible with the light, it will spread even more as it comes off the reflector - use the sunlight side if you want to warm the subject up a little, use the white side for natural colours.
 
I've tried all that and if it's at night or getting darkish you'll be struggling, not too bad in daylight. I found the silver strips that are across the jacket are the biggest problem.

I never really found an easy answer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top