Flash help for night portraits

[philthejuggler]

Hi all,

I'm doing some portraits in a town at night on Thursday and I've been agonising over how to set up the flash.

I have a 580EXii & a 430EXii (and a MR14-EX for that matter) and I was wondering whether I'd get better lighting going off camera & possibly even shooting into a silver brolly.

From a few tests I think I'll lose too much light with the brolly.

Should I

a) Shoot flash straight & on-camera (I do have a nice stroboframe bracket to hold the flash way above camera in both portrait and landscape)

b) Shoot it off camera on a lighting stand (could use 430 as main light and then 580 as just a trigger)

c) Buy a Lumiquest modifier thingy (much point unless you are really close to the subject?)


All suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks

Phil

 

[david1701]

buy 2 lightstands and a FiTP trigger and 2 recievers then use 580 as key off camera with 430 as hair/separation light

 

[HoppyUK]

I would put the 430 on a stand with the silver brolly - should be enough light if you push up the ISO and use a low f/number. If you need more light, move the brolly forward. If you need still more light, lose the brolly.

Use the 580 on camera as gentle fill-in and master/trigger. If positioning means the brolly flash is not picking up the master signal, aim the 580 directly at it (disable main flash) and use a reflector for fill-in.

 

[onform]

buy 2 lightstands and a FiTP trigger and 2 recievers then use 580 as key off camera with 430 as hair/separation light

That's how I did it.. But I had the help of an easyfold softbox to lessen the light loss and fleabay triggers.. TBH if you use the 580 as key even into the brolly you will have plenty off power on tap at night!

 

[philthejuggler]

Hi all,

Thanks for the tips - I went with the option that cost the least money which was using my 430EX into a silver brolly - worked great thanks!

Phil

 

[HoppyUK]

Hi all,

Thanks for the tips - I went with the option that cost the least money which was using my 430EX into a silver brolly - worked great thanks!

Phil

 

[philthejuggler]

One example of results here!

 

[HoppyUK]

One example of results here!

Result

Brolly looks like it's quite high and perhaps a little too far away?

Black on black is very difficult - hows about 580 on brolly via long cord in master mode, with 430 behind the model? That would put an outline to her arm and prevent the severed hand look, plus maybe something interesting going on in her hair. Reflector to the left for fill-in.