Football portraits advice please

[redmonkee]

Hey guys

I'd like to try my hand at doing some sport portraits utilising OCF to get results similar to this
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2993760570_ff6b32af4f.jpg

Now I know the basics of how to lower the ambient light through use of shutter speed and that the aperture controls the exposure of the player but I'd love to know how you guys would light something like this and if it can be done with one flash.

Also I'd like to purchase a flash to get started, but am unsure of which is a good model to start off with. My camera is a Canon 1D3 so obviously i'd need a way of firing the flash off camera.

Any advice would be great

 

[ianmarsh]

I managed this sportrait of my son:

Sun was the key light high camera left and I had a flash on a sync cable in my left hand stretched out as far as I could reach. Flash on ETTL with some flash compensation dialed in through trial and error.

That is the simple way of doing it if there is enough sun about. Otherwise you will need two flashes to match the shot you have posted and some form of trigger. I have an st-e2 which I really like but others complain that it is unreliable outdoors and/or without good line of sight connection to the flashes. In that case you'll need a radio trigger. These range from cheapo eBay through really expensive stuff that also do ETTL at high speed.

 

[redmonkee]

Great shot Ian

what flashes do you recommend? Are the Canon speedlites overkill for what I need?

 

[ianmarsh]

I only have Canon flashes (580s and a 430 but all MkIs not the latest versions). I don't hink there is much to choose between flashes once you decide on the power requirements and whether you want ETTL or if manual will be OK. But I'm no expert. Post in the flash/lighting forum and ask, perhaps?