Lighting nomadic, portraits, dance statik
February 2nd, 2009
In order to be as mobile as possible for a project of portraits, I tried to zip up the necessary equipment for shooting portraits in light artificielle.Comme yet, natural light is very discreet I work more and more artificial light.
The main problem when you are moving around is just clutter, walking with two studio flash (not to mention the generators), light boxes, heavy tripods to support the weight of the flash, extension cords ... it soon becomes very difficult to achieve a simple portrait. If you're familiar with strobist nothing very new in this article.
The goal here is not to put one or the other type of configuration forward, but rather to choose the right tool possible.
The flash does not replace the cobra studio flash, it does not offer the same power, not recycling the same time but has other advantages.
My second step was to move to a solution based on keeping the cobra flash for studio work with small boxes in light of LumiQuest ( read the article on the subject ), the weight and size are already significantly reduced , but still not enough for my taste.
My criteria were simple, all elements must not exceed one meter long and the whole must be as light as possible.
My choice turned to the tripods from Manfrotto Nano stand, there are 48 inches folded to a maximum length of 190 centimeters all for less than a kilo. For broadcasting, two umbrellas and a small snoot home based on a cereal box and gaffer.
Here with a configuration of an umbrella and snoot:
Here with a configuration of an umbrella soft box and a classic:
I ordered the equipment on the site Foto Konijnenberg, the equipment was delivered Friday night, just in time to take her to the evening organized by Darko Statik Dancing with the Bozar in Brussels, just to test this in real conditions and to make other types of images and more images that I produce normally.
Setting up the lighting in a small room behind the DJ's:
First test with a warming gel on the flash to get a blue background:
A few examples:
The results were very positive, all the elements fit in a tripod bag of 80 centimeters (bought used for Campion at 8 euros) and offers a multitude of possibilities in terms of creative lighting.
So basically if you start, there is no point investing in studio equipment in a first step, if you have an entry-level housing which allows the control of external flash as is the case with Nikon, a tripod, external flash and an umbrella can have a good base to create interesting light.
For triggering flash units I work with an ER 800 (the D3 does not have internal flash): see previous post on options for triggering external flash.
The day after the evening I went to see Odewa who needed some portraits to illustrate a press kit for the exhibition of his paintings, the same type of lighting, an umbrella shower above the subject and a snoot for background.
Note that if one seeks to create a black background should be a 3 stop difference between the subject and the background, the "problem" of the umbrella over a light box has is that the light generated is less directional, so if you wants a perfectly black background, we must leave the matter up from the bottom to prevent stray light from the umbrella base.
Another solution is to work with a source more directive as a light box, or simply prevent light from passing with a torque flow (like a big piece of cardboard)
A similar configuration with a snoot at the top of the model to have a bit of back light
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:55
This is lovely Ben. The latest is really pretty. Do you prefer natural light shooter anyway?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:58
it's different, I prefer natural light because the result can be seen directly, but have the ability to rapidly deploy artificial light no matter the place and conditions are still great
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:20
hello ben! quality is well played with go ... I'll join you in the need for a lightweight, fast gear mountable / removable (to forbidden places, on foot!): I will soon receive an umbrella 110 cm with an adapter for flash Cobra (the SB900 in my case) and umbrella that I ordered on ProStudioFrance.com (a site advisor) for only EUR 26.49 + 17.99, associated reflectors + a tripod that is m ' offered for christmas and I am ready also ... I hesitated with the Lastolite kit tested here by a talented fellow named Paul Arno but the price has tipped the balance ... and congratulations again soon!
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:22
Say what you did to find gelatins Flash cobra?
The only ones I found are easy to see my Whaletail: S
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:01
The evenings are photos of a fall down like portraits, a superb mastery of light! and thank you for sharing this with us
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:20
Good evening Roman
I often see Arno funny on a forum
good fun for your kit 
Brik: I reused pieces I re-cut to fit with a Velcro
Fred P: Thank you
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:27
ah ok yes it's funny
, I found his personal website and his talent this weekend looking for a cheap solution ... thank you!)
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:37
Small note in passing for the gelatins, there is also the site http://flashgels.co.uk/shop/
February 3rd, 2009 at 24:04
I am once again impressed ...
The penultimate picture is magical.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:38
Thank you Benjamin, I was looking for quite some time actually
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:07
Fred still want a P?
Well here's a timely article, I began looking for a light and portable solution ... a motorcycle!
Perfect
I will add a reflector to lead.
If I may: am less a fan of snoot back on the last, that flare too much for my taste.
And for those who spend a little time in photoshop, a little 'noise / noise' in very light layers can be degraded very own, for the funds.
February 3rd, 2009 at 24:52
Ben Yop,
Very interesting article, it's funny because I just ordered a few days ago the famous SU-800 which you referred.
As you say, it will not replace studio strobes, but as light "nomadic" your record is still super clean ... then shit!
The photo of the back snoop is nice but I prefer a good big day against
Thank you very much anyway for these valuable tips, bye
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:42
Again thank you for this article. It was enough to think about it and presto, here it is published!
You explain how little the place / the parapluits, the snoot and other reflectors and the impact on the product picture.
Your two photos and backblue handblue are very educational. 'd be interested to push a little further these examples.
Anthony
February 4th, 2009 at 24:00
Very interesting!
I actually asked myself the question of transport of a flash system to the outside.
Thank you for this!
February 4th, 2009 at 2:12
I usually prefer your portraits at your pictures of the evening, but this time it's the opposite. I think for the portrait of this young woman we saw you more creative with light, it lacks sculpture in my opinion. You leave what you usually do and that's good, but it lacks something ...
However your portraits are flawless evening, I love the first and third especially.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:59
Too weird ...
)
I am an avid fan of your blog and your portraits made in light avalaible (that's like saying pro caa bah .. and there I find that there is a lack of sharpness on your portraits. Especially what you present in This article or web export problem ... it's me (it must be your eyes, ha yeah that's me ... if you hear us JCD).
Otherwise the scope of portable studio interests me at the highest point for his size ... and especially its cost. I'll follow the link that I had and that gives me bcp: strobist.
In the series, the black and white are my favorite kind backstage (and these are not portraits yet
Odewa I really like the first.
As always: thank you very much for sharing and continue to be impressed that even at a good level you continue to search, glean, grow ...
February 5th, 2009 at 9:13
Really great, well, this series we feel your "touch".
Would you by chance, a sample picture to see the difference of light on the subject between an umbrella and a softbox?
Experimenté saw you both, you could tell us?
Thank you for your site, ie the ball!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:03
Hello to you,
Good as usual, I love your portraits. I also like your post processing and I would approach your level in this area ...
@ + And good pictures of you
Adrien
February 7th, 2009 at 24:19
Hi Ben,
Very nice topic again. Although the config "shower" with a single umbrella. I will test it in australia.
Your photos are always so clear, beautiful, and well framed ...
February 7th, 2009 at 10:01
Hello!
I'm your blog for quite some time now and this is the first time I post (there's a first time for everything)
Already, I am very appreciative of your work, I am amazed every time and thank you for sharing with us your experiences, you learn a lot.
I just have a question about the umbrella that you are using, is it a translucent umbrella and then a white umbrella? I plan to equip future and I'm stuck at that level because ProStudioFrance offers two kinds of umbrella.
Thank you in advance and continue to regale us with your photos.
See you soon
David
February 8th, 2009 at 24:22
davidguinehut: Thank you!
Brik: happy
Fredp: The flare is a matter of taste and for now I like
Your very fair comment, add a bit of noise in an alpha channel provides gradations own!
Faucher Romain: The SU-800 has advantages and disadvantages but it is clear that it is super convenient! remember to turn the head of his flash to ensure that the SU is able to see
Anthony: Yes it's true, I should dig a little about the
D @ double: Thank you
Krysalia: It's possible, I discovered a little this type of configuration to the flash, I am much more used to work in natural light
MickymX: I lowered my hair a boost in my script to resize my screen is very clear (perhaps too) so I esssaye compensate for for your comment!
Arnaud: I have no photos of difference, but I can say that the only difference is a more directional light compared to the box or an umbrella that has a little hand in all directions.
Adrian: Thank you!
Merwen: Thanks
David: Both, it is white and translucent, the site given in the article it cost me 8 euros. The fun!
February 8th, 2009 at 2:51
Great article and beautiful photos! That is what you are using as a system to fix the flashing on your feet? I possess the Lastolite kit and flash just fits into a slot that is not top.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:25
"First test with a warming gel on the flash to get a blue background"
You mean "... for cooling a gelatin background blue" is not it?
Otherwise I think it is evolving quite well unlike a lot of comments here. You feel that you test in different things and it's nice to see this development.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:26
Snoot for the last photo.
if I understand correctly, you almost directs to you to have that effect back light?!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:39
Nicolas: The ties with claws flash, no marks on the workpiece
Dati: Gelatin warming on the subject, as I often work for a fairly light blue
In this case yep!
February 11th, 2009 at 5:42
Beautiful illustration of home made, great job this light nomad!
And beautiful portraits for Odewa, thank you all for your advice again
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00
Hello!
It's simple, fresh, and natural pro. All we sought to do when triggered with the desire to qqchose that makes sense and respects the subject.
And when a tutorial on your post processing color and black and white? ...
February 16th, 2009 at 24:43
Two practical questions, not wanting to abuse:
Your umbrella soft box is a Jinbei? 80 cm in diameter?
Thank you!
February 16th, 2009 at 3:50
Thank you Jonathan!
Black: I added a little contrast
, The pseudo post-treatment was very légé.
The umbrella soft box, I have no marks on the model, but I think I saw this reference when purchasing
March 16th, 2009 at 11:47
hello ben,
tell me I wanted to know what settings to keep a large PDC when you flash?? It is not required to be f8/f11?? and then have to lower the flash output manually and to rebound or something like that??
March 19th, 2009 at 1:54
Yop,
Good first test here , not super successful, I have not managed to integrate fully into my images, but it's very instructive anyway. The next will be good.
A small question about the battery of SU-800, has already changed you? If so what is its price and how long has she held?
Thank you for all these tips
A +
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:18
Hi, thank you for reading these very interesting.
I shall soon be equipped with a flash for the D700 and I thought to start with one and in this case a SB900. But reading this article, if I understand it is mandatory to have an SU800 to use the remote flash, I good? (For I had heard and thought that I could control the remote flash with the D700 + SB900 pair)
Thank you for that clarification
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:23
ben say that in this case, the flash of your D700 will fire the flash of SB900
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:54
Ok good ^ ^
But is that it does not interfere?
April 6th, 2009 at 9:36
hello to all
solutions are found for cobra flash expensive and not very well done in Honlphoto (the name of the photographer Honl). It seems to me to have seen sold in France under Miss Digital memory.
with Velcro fasteners, he made snoot, honeycomb grids of two kinds of gelatins and specially adapted to the size of cobras.
Otherwise, home made, just for gelatine to take the interleaving and colored in the stationery department of your supermarket. A small pair of scissors and gaffer and that's it for really cheap.
FYI, I wanted to control the light box for Tristar in large cobra. Bad luck, the model seems very difficult to supply. I even feel that it is discontinued (all that to say that he is no longer sold)
I therefore removed the complete set of reporting with Lastolite light box was 60cm. A bit expensive but complete. I will put the results on my site when I receive
Bravo for your blog, very nice!
cheers
fred
May 11th, 2009 at 11:36
Hello, I wonder if just with the light box tristar, could you do hold the umbrella, or if you buy an adapter in the + to set foot
Thank you in advance!
November 17th, 2011 at 4:05
Good evening,
and thank you for this article, really good!
My small contribution, in terms of addresses nice, affordable and reliable, I bought my gels and some accessories on strobistes http://www.gelatine-photo.com , and I am very satisfied.
Again thank you for this blog!
Sophie
December 1st, 2011 at 3:05
Hello,
thank you for this feedback very interesting with lots of great pictures to support!
is that the Nano Stand tripods are stable, in the case of outdoor use?
Another quick question, what do you think Jinbei brand? you seem happy with the umbrella, you have tripods of the brand?
thank you: o)