Thunderbirds are go!

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

OK more playing around with flash. I decided to try and set up a mini studio sort of thing to see how to combine two flashes to bring out detail. Took me about an hour of mucking around to get it all sorted. I learnt that I have no idea how my Vivitar flash works....and that if you want to put a filter in front of a flash to create a coloured effect you get best results by going far away and washing th ewall rather than firing direct at it....I think...but I'll experiment with that again another day.


So here you go. First off the setup.

Canon 430ex on flash stand. Flash fitted with home made cardboard snoot and with a piece of A4 white paper sellotaped on front to soften light. (this is on right of TB1.

Vivitar 285 hanging precariously over Homebase Fan, fitted with equally ridiculous home made cardboard snoot. As the Vivitar seems to easily overpower the 430 I used it as main light.

TB1 sitting on an unrolled back of a banner I had done for a HiFi show several years ago.

Both attached to pocketwizard wireless flash controllers.



Next what the shot looks like with just the main Vivitar


Then with no main light and just 430ex



And finally Thunderbird 1 in all it's glory.....hahahaha...(both flash together)


Hope someone finds this interesting. Don't comment on the backing as I know it is rubbish...but I didn't have anythign else to use. It's different shades because of the text on other side.

[chrisgeary]

What was the purpose of the 'snoots' aside from the obvious 'barn door' effect they would have. What would the shot have looked like without them?

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

It focus's the light in to a more narrow point. I found without them the light spilling back from the white background was blowing everything out and I had real trouble balancing the two flash units.

Gordon

[Brammers]

Nice, I've been doing a lot of this myself recently - can I post some of mine in the same thread?

And where did you get that Vivitar from? I can't find anywhere that stocks them.

[denno75uk]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Hope someone finds this interesting.

It is certainly interesting. It's fascinating to see what lengths you're going to to explore these new toys and with fine results. I applaud your motivation and discipline.

I just stand in the back garden and take photos.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Yeah fire in Brammers....
I got the Vivitar from Amazon.com (ACE DIGITAL). They charge $75 shipping though for a $89.00 flash. So it's best to try and get some other stuff at same time to make shipping slightly more cost effective. When I got mine about 10 days ago they only had two in stock....

Gordon

[stevegreen]

I was looking at the set up thinking 'this guy needs help'

But, some very interesting results. Like denno75uk, I admire your discipline! It's the empty bottle of wine that says more to me

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

It's not empty.....but it might be soon....

Gordon

[G@zz@]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

I was looking at the set up thinking 'this guy needs help'

But, some very interesting results. Like denno75uk, I admire your discipline! It's the empty bottle of wine that says more to me

Its the whole rack of wine that says more to me

[Brammers]

Right then!

One talking hippo.
1 Canon Speedlight 177A, triggered at full power by PC Synch cable, firing upwards from back right hand side (as we look on) - snoot on the right side to do the funky background efect, scarf over it to dim it :P
1 Sigma 500 at 1/16 power using built in diffuser aiming at the hippo, positioned below subject at front right.



The damn hippo's nose gets in the way and steals all the light, but that's a pretty cool effect that I could use

[Tobers]

I'm not sure what you're trying to do here. Are you after evenly lighting the Thunderbird doo-dah and getting a white background with soft shadows?

I've got one of the Maplin mini-studio thingys if you want to borrow it. I'd be interested to see what happens if you put the flashes outside it flashign through the white side material of the box as I've always struggled to get those high-key style 255,255,255 backgrounds whilst keeping the subject correctly exposed.

Here's an example:



Could be fun experimenting!

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

[quote=Tobers;5145467]I'm not sure what you're trying to do here. Are you after evenly lighting the Thunderbird doo-dah and getting a white background with soft shadows?

QUOTE]


No, I was just trying to learn how light affects what we see.


Gordon

[Gizmo 76]

Interesting little experiment Gordon, and really show's how you can effect the light and mood of an image.

All these little things you're trying are going to really pay off in the long run when you put them into practice in a real situation, great stuff