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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
night time flash setups for football
Jeff Brown, Photographer
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Greenfield | MA | | Posted: 3:04 PM on 08.17.11 |
->> I know this has been discussed before but I just can not find it in any search I have done.
I am looking for some off camers flash set ups. Mounting the flash to the tripod.
Thanks in advance. |
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John Germ, Photographer
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Wadsworth | Oh | USA | Posted: 3:37 PM on 08.17.11 |
->> Jeff - are you talking about some remote strobing? Or are you talking about external flash on the MONOPOD? I've never seen someone try to strobe a football field so I assume you mean external flash on monopod.
Here's a link where I discuss using my setup (with of photo off the setup):
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=202890
Hope it helps. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 3:42 PM on 08.17.11 |
->> Pretty simple. Hardware L bracket like you would fix a shelf with (3/8" wide with 2" legs), 1 1/2" hose clamp, 1/4 inch screw and an off camera cord. Clamp the L bracket as far down the monopod as the cord will reach and attach the cord to the L bracket so that the flash hangs upside down.
Not complex enough for your tastes? Use super clamps and pocket wizards. |
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Michael McNamara, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Phoenix | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:44 PM on 08.17.11 |
| ->> When I didn't need to worry about filling a huge web gallery, I would have an assistant (usually an intern or my wife, also a photographer) stay about 5-10 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage with a strobe on a PocketWizard, while I shot long with a 400. The results could be spotty, but when it works, it looks awesome. |
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Danny Munson, Photographer
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington/Normal | IL | United States | Posted: 8:27 PM on 08.17.11 |
->> check your governing body. Illinois (IHSA) last time I looked had a rule against remotes. Anything on the camera/pod was ok.
I either use a flash bracket if going above or a super clamp with a small swivel ball head. Forget the pocket wizard and just use the cable. The coiled ones will stretch far enough. But, yes, if that isn't complicated enough by all means use the wizard.
Mark outlines the idea, but if you already own a superclamp you can save a trip to the Depot. |
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Jeff Gammons, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Michael McNamara, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Tom Ewart, Photographer
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Bentonville | AR | USA | Posted: 9:45 AM on 08.18.11 |
| ->> I did what Mr McNamara suggested for several assignments, but just found a kid who wanted to be on the sidelines and had him hold the flash and stay 10-15 yards in front of the line of scrimmage and keep the flash pointed at the ball--Flash, pocketwizard max and Quantum Turbo Battery. Sometimes even did this with two automatic light stands (kids with flashes in hand) When it works it can produce some really nice images. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 10:39 AM on 08.18.11 |
->> Tom, I personally would not want the liabilty issues of having "kids" on the sideline assist me.
Jeff, I use a super clamp and place the hot shoe on the threaded bolt, about mid thigh. I also set the flash at 1/4 power on the RPT setting, so I can get three frames per shutter depression.
The only real issue I have is TV guys strpping in front of me and blocking the flash. |
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Ted Aguirre, Photographer
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Covina | CA | | Posted: 12:37 PM on 08.18.11 |
->> Jeff, for the set up you will need a few things: super clamp, swivel mount and a off camera flash cord.
I found the below link a few years ago for a below the lens set up. I have been using a similar set up and am really happy with the outcome of my images during night Varsity football games.
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/Tutorials/Shooting-Tech-and-Tips/Sport-Shooting-at...
Some guys love the set up, while others do not. Just depends on your shooting style. |
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Marshall Wolff, Photographer
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Framingham | Ma. | USA | Posted: 2:52 PM on 08.18.11 |
->> I use the same set up at Ted A. but when it rains I swivel the flash up and cover it with a big clear plastic sandwich bag to keep it dry.
I secure the bag around the flash with a big elastic.
My 2 cents
Marshall |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 4:01 PM on 08.18.11 |
->> I experimented with strobing the entire field a few years ago (and caught some flack about it from members here).
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=17554#14
Losing the motor drive is the biggest drawback with this technique, though it does produce some interesting-looking images. |
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Paul DiSalvo, Photographer
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Highlands Ranch | CO | United States of America | Posted: 5:00 PM on 08.18.11 |
->> Another variation on the "Beast". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYZwb3TFDTo
Seriously, the under lens method with a ttl cord, super-clamp, and small ball head works pretty good except if you have stands on the other side of field. Then you can get some weird shadows - otherwise the shadows tend to just disappear. A little trial and error on the distance below the lens and most red-eye is gone too. An external battery pack gives you a little more FPS flexibility but you definitely loose the ability for long bursts. |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 10:49 PM on 08.18.11 |
| ->> Like Guy, I experimented too. A couple of years ago, when I was an intern at the News Journal, I took the White Lightning 1200s out of the studio and clamped them to the pressbox for a game. I triggered them with PWs and covered about half the field between the 30 yard lines. It produced some interesting pictures. It also produced some interesting looks and questions from the officials. I'm happy I managed to shoot one game with the lights and am still experimenting with other off camera ideas. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:00 AM on 08.19.11 |
| ->> I abhor using a flash at football. jack up your ISO. slow down your shutter speed and do the best you can to STOP the action at the PEAK moment. I guess I'm just getting confused at some of these posts. in the last couple of months there seem to be a lot of threads started about stuff that are basic things professionals know... |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 12:12 AM on 08.19.11 |
->> Incidentally, I'm with Chuck. My experiments of five years ago were fun, but nowadays, I don't use any flash at night football at all (even on-camera).
Even if I could eliminate the red eye that almost always happens with on-camera flash, there's still the issue of balancing the color temperature of the flash to that of the stadium lights (unless you're into reddish / yellow jerseys outside of your flash's coverage area that are supposed to be white).
Let's not even get started with my lack of trust for / non-use of ETTL. |
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Jeff Brown, Photographer
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Greenfield | MA | | Posted: 10:10 AM on 08.19.11 |
->> Chuck & Guy.
I have to say I am from the same "I hate flash at night games" school but I am doing some work for an organization that wants it shot that way. If they are paying me to shoot the way they want it, then I owe it to the client to do what they want. Weather I like it or not. I do also plan on shooting it the way I have been doing it for years without flash and giving them a comparison but I need to start somewhere.
Thanks for the set up ideas. They are what I was looking for. I was planning on using the Home Depot "L" bracket and a threaded bolt route but I just wanted to see what others had tried. Both good and bad. |
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