Lighting a confetti shot in the dark

markrichardson

markrichardson

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I've got an idea or two for this, but thought I

I've got a wedding this weekend at which the couple are having the confetti throwing as they are leaving the reception at about 8pm.

They have asked for a confetti shot as they leave - (i.e. coming down the steps into the car park)

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That was a very quick, rough snapshot (I've been asssured that there won't be cars parked in the way on the wedding day!) at f/1.4 at 1/30 at 1600iso (I think) at about the same time, so I think that added light is the way forward. The question is, how do I light it?

The issues are obviously that i need to light the couple very well, and those throwing the confetti adequately, so need a decent spread of light. I'll be facing at a lot of glass so there's a high chance of unwanted reflections of the glass. It needs to be right first time as the confetti can't (easily) be thrown again! (Obviously there's also a good chance it could be breezy too!)

I have up to three flashes available (2 can be off-camera) and all three can be eTLL or manual.

What would your solution be?
 
Well when I was diving we had a problem with muck in the water and the way to eliminate those particles was to light from the side ie not in the plane of the camera. So with that in mind the best way to make particles actually show up would be to light them in that plane. So nice fancy ring flash :D ... I would use the SB900 on top of the camera.
 
at a quick guess:
iso 1600 1/30-1/120 f2.8
on camera dialed down to say -3 to give some pop to the confetti (or off)
second flash off to the side either bouncing off a white van or assistant with a reflector
third flash superclamped to the railing to rim, quite far over

things to worry about are guests between them and the lights and you and the lights though I doubt you will have any LOS issues in that level ambient

Test it on your assistant to see if it looks **** first ;)
be ready to flick to straight on camera flash as a backup and or be ready to reshoot it

think about gelling the flashes to match that ambient inside the hotel
 
Not sure if relevant, but you can ask if they can mix some coloured foil confetti and some glitter dust/stars? Then set some remote lights so that it'll catch the foil/glitter as they come down, making it bit spectacle. This is all theory of course.......in practice I have no idea if it'll work!
 
Thanks guys - some interesting ideas here!

greylensman - I would love to try a confetti shot like that rain shot, but I think I'd need to be able to have a safe option too in case that didn't work out. Actually wondering if I could manage that using my pocketwizards by having the flash behind the couple on C1 and a flash with a reflector/softbox off to the side in front on C2. Though will have to check that switch from C1 to C2 quickly doesn't cause any issues.

Cowasaki - a ring flash was one of my thoughts (would hopefully avoid unpleasant flashes. Sadly I don't have one, so unless someone has an Orbis or Ray Flash they could lend me for the weekend?!
 
markrichardson said:
Cowasaki - a ring flash was one of my thoughts (would hopefully avoid unpleasant flashes. Sadly I don't have one, so unless someone has an Orbis or Ray Flash they could lend me for the weekend?!
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Yes I think a ring flash would be good. You are a bit too far away for mine to be any use! Good luck with the shoot though.
 
The way to light the confetti is easy - from behind with direct flash. Two guns, one either side. Brolly from the front for the couple.

Actually doing it might be more difficult, which is why stobist types are always armed with loads of stands and clamps and poles. But even then someone standing in the wrong spot could ruin everything.

In which case, maybe invest in a couple of humanoid lighting stands - ie a couple of guests/assistants that are still sober enough to hold a flash gun and manoeuvre it around any obstacles.

Edit: could you put the flashes either side on top of the roof? :eek: Would look pretty cool :thumbs:
 
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EPIC Idea Richard, step ladder and superclamps baby

for the key my god light would work well provided I had a VAL to secure it (5foot brolly on 13foot stand with a speedlight in it) can be a bit further back so out of the way and looks like the sun but softer
 
I'm liking the creativity of the putting lights on the roof idea (and would certainly eliminate some of the risks of awkward shadows!) but the practicalities aren't going to work out!

I'm thinking I'll go with one flash behind the couple, one in a brollybox on a monopod held by a willing assistant (brollybox as I guess this is less likely to get blown away than a standard umbrella) and one on-axis for fill.

If I thought I could manage without focus-assist I could quickly be able to switch on and off the remote flashes (using the PW ac-3) but I think in that light I'll need the benefit of the focus assist.
 
There'll be something on axis either way (either on top of the Mini-TT1)or held alongside the lens depending on whether I feel I can use the AC-3 or not.
 
What ttl cord?

If I have the flash on camera they are being fired wirelessly by Pocketwizards, with group control either by an on camera 580ex II or an AC-3 (leaning towards 580ex II to keep af-assist)
 
Some good advice here - light from the sides and slightly behind to get a good effect on the confetti - a little front fill for the B&G maybe - but there may be enough from the side. Anything more from the front will just blast the confetti and look carp.
 
markrichardson said:
What ttl cord?

If I have the flash on camera they are being fired wirelessly by Pocketwizards, with group control either by an on camera 580ex II or an AC-3 (leaning towards 580ex II to keep af-assist)
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lol apologies I though AC-3 was what nikon called their cords, whats an AC-3 then?
 
david1701 said:
lol apologies I though AC-3 was what nikon called their cords, whats an AC-3 then?
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The AC-3 is the PocketWizard Zone Controller - allows remote control of flash power in both manual and eTTL mode using 3 dedicated dials (one for each group). Very nifty! (And reasonably priced if you're already invested in the PocketWizards)

Incidentally, I thought we'd already established that I'm a 5d user by the focussing concerns!
 
dang if I had PW money I'd have some :p

good point lol

I was going to propose canon wireless ttl but not sure why you'd ever use it if you had PW's apart from mebe HSS or stroboscopic which you aint using there
 
Really looking forward to seeing the results!!
 
Well it will be a few weeks - I have a strict policy of the couple seeing the photos before anyone else does.
 
If all else fails, just set the confetti on fire :D
 
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