Any Strobists Here?

J

johnwartjr

Senior Member
Ranie, great portrait work. I just picked up a 2nd SB-900, and am looking forward to experimenting a little. May ask for some pointers once it arrives :) Was debating over whether I want to look at light stands with umbrella mounts or soft boxes. I also have a set of strobes I'm going to be borrowing from my Dad (a retired photographer) long-term, looking forward to experimenting with those, too.

We always used the strobes with silver umbrellas, and added a single flash for fill light, but I'm finding a lot of good information online about other ways to do it. The strobe kit has 3 heads, but the power pack supports 4, and it looks like an extra head wouldn't be all that expensive online.

I also have the Nikon CLS DVD sitting on a shelf, probably time to watch it :)
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
I also have the Nikon CLS DVD sitting on a shelf, probably time to watch it :)
Click to expand...

I have decided I need another sb-900 too so that I can take full advantage of the CLS system. I thought about getting the DVD but haven't done so yet. Please let me know if you think it's worth getting.

Maybe we should start a thread for "CLS experiments."

Best Regards
 
J

johnwartjr

Senior Member
When the time comes, Helene, Nikon is selling the SB-900 direct as a refurb for just under $400

Nikon Store - Refurbished Flashes

They go in and out of stock, but I've noticed if one is out of stock, usually waiting 2-3 days will get them restocked.

I expect to get the 2nd SB-900 later this week, and I'll make a point to get the DVD watched too so I can post a review.
 
R

Ranie

Senior Member
johnwartjr said:
Ranie, great portrait work. I just picked up a 2nd SB-900, and am looking forward to experimenting a little. May ask for some pointers once it arrives :) Was debating over whether I want to look at light stands with umbrella mounts or soft boxes. I also have a set of strobes I'm going to be borrowing from my Dad (a retired photographer) long-term, looking forward to experimenting with those, too.

We always used the strobes with silver umbrellas, and added a single flash for fill light, but I'm finding a lot of good information online about other ways to do it. The strobe kit has 3 heads, but the power pack supports 4, and it looks like an extra head wouldn't be all that expensive online.

I also have the Nikon CLS DVD sitting on a shelf, probably time to watch it :)
Click to expand...

John, I will try to help as much as I can. You see, Im also experimenting here with CLS. Its fun working with speedlights. With regards to light modifiers, get as many different kinds as you want. Hehehehe.
I never had any experience with strobes yet. Im more comfortable working with speedlights because of their portability.
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
Thanks for pointing me in that direction, John. Most of them on ebay go for over $400. The cheapest I could find on the net was $419 at Accessory Circuit (I see that they just now lowered the price to $399)

I went ahead and ordered my refurbished one from Nikon for $395 and got complimentary 2nd day air shipping.

I have to photograph a large family group in a couple of weeks so I thought I better give myself enough time to "practice". any pointers would be greatly appreciated :)
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
30 - 35 people and it will be in the large living room of a home. There are large windows (floor to ceiling) so I was thinking that could give me some nice backlighting. They don't want those "cheesy formals" (which I also dislike), so I'm going to have to be creative in grouping. In terms of lighting, I'll have the 2 SB-900's, the vivitar equivalent of the SB-600 (which, if I did it right, I can only control the manual power setting through the camera's commander mode or the SU-800, which I also have for the D2x), an older nikon speedlight on the su-40 attachment if needed. I'm thinking that we should do this early afternoon or late morning to take advantage of that window light.

What do you think?
 
R

Ranie

Senior Member
WOW. thats a lot of people Helene. I would be worried of the shadows.
What light modifiers will you be using? Do you have big softboxes or umbrellas?
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
I have umbrellas, reflectors, and a couple of lumiquest products (big bounce, and 20-80).
I plan to shoot tethered to my laptop with a second monitor attached (so I can watch for those shadows!)

Group shots are always a challenge for me because I have to look at so much and direct people at the same time --kind of brings out the "gendarme" or traffic director in me. Thank God for remote releases so at least my eye doesn't have to be glued to the camera.
 
R

Ranie

Senior Member
I have not shot nor seen how to shoot this type of situation.
I would love to see the final product of your shoot Helene, and if possible, can you take a behind the scene shot. The placements of your light and what kind of light modifiers you used.
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
Will be happy to do that, Ranie. I may have miscounted. I think it's more like 25-30, depending on how much extended family they want to include. I guess plus or minus 5 people is not going to make that much of a difference.

I'll post my results (if I survive! LOL)

Best Regards
 
R

Ranie

Senior Member
Here is another fun shoot
5 flash set-up (3 SB900, 2 SB600)
3 SB 900 at the back of model
2 SB 600 in tandem inside a large Octabox
All triggered by Nikon CLS

5266294180_d91fd46015_z.jpg


Hi Res: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgw815/5266294180/sizes/l/
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
As promised, a result of my Xmas photo shoot --fortunately the "group was 15 not 25 and they were my friends ( so I couldn't go too wrong there!)

I used 2 SB-900's, one was off camera to the left with diffuser, the second was on my D2X as a master flash with a lumiquest 20-80 (or 80-20!!) attachment. I placed 2 additional (manual) flash units operated by optical slaves behind the subjects. Lens was 20mm f/2.8. shot at 1/80 at f/9

So, here's what I learned:
1. Don't depend on window/natural light --be prepared to provide your own "light" --most were 2 hrs late so it was dark --even though I was ready with natural light at 3:00 PM.
2. Forget the "eye-level" rule when shooting groups in a house full of ornaments, plants, etc. --too many opportunities for "things" to stick out of heads. I used a stepladder to shoot from a slightly higher angle.
3. Bring plenty of batteries --I ended up doing group shots of everybody's little "groups", with family members doing the "over the shoulder shooting". Their flashes set off my optical slave flashes and they didn't recharge fast enough for my shots . . .sigh . . . learned to wait a little. Also, make sure you set your speedlight channel to something other than "1" --everybody had a nikon and not only did they set off the opical ones but my off-camera sb-900.

I was truly impressed with the way the sb-900's operated in sync with each other and the camera. I could have used one more. the CLS is truly amazing and really worth the effort to learn.

Hope this helps anybody else who wants to venture into group photos --for me it's always a challenge not only from the compositional and technical aspect, but to get something that's not "cheesy" but sincerely joyous!

_DSC0026-301.jpg

Best Regards
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Well done, Helene. One thing for next time: turn off the television! I had that issue with my Christmas group photos too...had a few people watching tv!
 
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