HS Hoops, two flash setup...

[namasste]

I haven't posted a gallery for these but wanted to share a couple of images showing what can be done with a couple of speedlites for those considering this route. Viv 285HV and Sigma 530 Super fired with Skyports. Viv at 1/2 and normal, Sigma 1/2 and 50mm, both direct fanned over the top of the key. Settings on the camera were 1/250s, 800ISO, f2.8-3.5. Notice the ghosting, I was way too close to ambient at these settings so learn from my mistake. I should have dropped the ISO to 500-640 and stopped down to f4. I let me histogram get the best of me.

Anyway, here's the setup (clamped the flash guns with super clamps to the outside bleacher rails, wish they could have been higher).

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p998437216-5.jpg

and a few samples (sorry no real action)

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p1072018629-5.jpg

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p730108850-5.jpg

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p778306332-5.jpg

[topher04r1]

it's a GREAT look and it would seem that you got some steller results..... except for the pale kid.... there allways seems to be one or 2 kids that are just so white its near inpossible to not blow them out .. !! lol

[namasste]

it's a GREAT look and it would seem that you got some steller results..... except for the pale kid.... there allways seems to be one or 2 kids that are just so white its near inpossible to not blow them out .. !! lol

lol Toph! February in Ohio unfortunately leaves most of us looking like corpses. I have pretty dark complexion and even I look pale right now. Don't believe it?

Yours truly! (no laughing POTN'rs)

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p795632622-4.jpg

[topher04r1]

LOL .... wow i guess it wouldn't help if i told you i was sitting here in shorts and a t-shirt..... we really dont have that much of a winter.

[namasste]

LOL .... wow i guess it wouldn't help if i told you i was sitting here in shorts and a t-shirt..... we really dont have that much of a winter.
hmmm, then let me ask you, would it be offensive if I said I hate you?:lol::lol:

Toph, I woke up to 2 degrees this morning (yeah, that's without the windchill!) Man I could use some warm weather in a big way.

[Joemt]

Never seen strobes in action, does the crowd have any reaction to them, do they
even notice????

Joemt.

[namasste]

Never seen strobes in action, does the crowd have any reaction to them, do they
even notice????

Joemt.

you will usually only get complaints from people who actually are unaffected by using lights. I have never had a player or coach complain. I have had refs ask but only out of curiosity. The only time I ever got a complaint was from a very dramatic mom just this past week. She actually complained about someone else's in an attempt to dissuade me from using mine for her daughter's game. Funny thing, I told her I could just put the flash on the camera which she felt would be much better :rolleyes:. Just goes to show ya.

BTW, technically, I think most would call my setup a strobist setup since I am firing speedlites off camera and not actually "strobes" like the Alien Bees or White Lightnings. Those can produce much better results but at a cost as well. I presented this only to show an option for those with flash guns but not a full on strobe setup. Hope it helps.

[dschach]

The photos look great!. When you say key was it the near or far key? When I set up like this, I aim for the far key and shoot the far court.

[namasste]

The photos look great!. When you say key was it the near or far key? When I set up like this, I aim for the far key and shoot the far court.

Thanks and sorry, near key. I always shoot the end where I have lights. I do think I may have had the lights a little too far in towards the bottom of the key in this case. Right over the top should adequately light half the court.

One of the nice parts of this setup is that I move lights at halftime if I am covering one team only. Easy to do and I don't have to worry about finding outlets. Not knocking strobes as I wish I owned some but these little guys do make for a flexible setup.

[JustinL]

Scott these are great. Did you include a safety cable when you clamped the flash to the railing? Also, how did you attach the speedlites to the super clamps?

[mestes]

any chance of a simple diagram showing where u point the lights I am still a bit unsure of this.

[namasste]

I didn't use a safety cable although I probably should. To mount the flash to the clamps, I run the standard stuf 1/4-20 into a dummy hot shoe mount (for the Viv) and the FlashZebra hot shoe adapter for the Sigma. If your flash has sync ports, I'd just pick up a dummy host shoe mount (usually just a little brass mount with a female thread) or you can use the plastic table stands that came with the flash as most are threaded 1/4-20.

Diagram wise, it's probably easier to explain. Putting your head at the same level as the flash gun, visualize a line the extends from the flash head out over the very top of the key. I try to aim for about 8' above it or so when I picture my line. Basically, if you tied a piece of string to your flash head, then walked it to the opposite side of the court crossing the top of the key, you'd want it at a height of about 8' when it crossed the key. Does that make sense or confuse things even more? Maybe it's simpler to just aim it at the first row or two in the bleachers opposite you crossing the top of the key as you aim. That should be relly close.

[Anderson-Photography]

I didn't use a safety cable although I probably should. To mount the flash to the clamps, I run the standard stuf 1/4-20 into a dummy hot shoe mount (for the Viv) and the FlashZebra hot shoe adapter for the Sigma. If your flash has sync ports, I'd just pick up a dummy host shoe mount (usually just a little brass mount with a female thread) or you can use the plastic table stands that came with the flash as most are threaded 1/4-20.

Diagram wise, it's probably easier to explain. Putting your head at the same level as the flash gun, visualize a line the extends from the flash head out over the very top of the key. I try to aim for about 8' above it or so when I picture my line. Basically, if you tied a piece of string to your flash head, then walked it to the opposite side of the court crossing the top of the key, you'd want it at a height of about 8' when it crossed the key. Does that make sense or confuse things even more? Maybe it's simpler to just aim it at the first row or two in the bleachers opposite you crossing the top of the key as you aim. That should be relly close.

I see in the first photos that your flash units are at approximately 12 feet off of the floor. How are your results at higher levels? I shoot in a high school gym with high bleachers and could put the flashes at 20+ feet off the floor so I was curious what your results are.

[namasste]

I see in the first photos that your flash units are at approximately 12 feet off of the floor. How are your results at higher levels? I shoot in a high school gym with high bleachers and could put the flashes at 20+ feet off the floor so I was curious what your results are.

get em up there man! if I could mount them higher, I definitely would as it only helps on the shadowing. Post your results, I bet they'll be fantastic...lucky dog!

[Anderson-Photography]

get em up there man! if I could mount them higher, I definitely would as it only helps on the shadowing. Post your results, I bet they'll be fantastic...lucky dog!

Won't have any results for a while now that basketball season is done. Yahoo! It's time to get back outside and start shooting some soccer, baseball, softball and all the other fun stuff.

[MT Stringer]

Good job, Scott. Looks like I'm through with BB for the season also. Got a baseball tournament this weekend. Forecast is for the mid 70's. I'm thinking walking shorts and t-shirt for game time! :-)
Mike

[AdamLewis]

lol Toph! February in Ohio unfortunately leaves most of us looking like corpses. I have pretty dark complexion and even I look pale right now. Don't believe it?

Yours truly! (no laughing POTN'rs)

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v3/p795632622-4.jpg

Dont take it in a bad way, but you kinda look like Adam Corolla (to me at least...). Maybe its the Nyquil talking.

[namasste]

Dont take it in a bad way, but you kinda look like Adam Corolla (to me at least...). Maybe its the Nyquil talking.

Adam, I think I'm reporting you to admin. Didn't you see that I did not request C+C on that image?:lol:

I look like a squirrel storing food for the winter in that shot...winter is always good for a few extra lbs in there. Fighting weight 155, that shot I bet 165, bummer.

[Paul S]

get em up there man! if I could mount them higher, I definitely would as it only helps on the shadowing. Post your results, I bet they'll be fantastic...lucky dog!

Queston about skyports.
I have a 580ex11 and a Nikon #? & vivatar flash units. What do these other flash units require to be fired with the skyports.

BTW Great Job

Paul

[superdiver]

This ia a very impressive way to shoot! I am more and more impressed with the great shots you guys are getting.

Do the fans or players or anyone notice the strobes going off?

[namasste]

Queston about skyports.
I have a 580ex11 and a Nikon #? & vivatar flash units. What do these other flash units require to be fired with the skyports.

BTW Great Job

Paul

Im not too sure on the Nikon or 580 but the Viv needs a $20 adapter you can get through FlashZebra.com

I think the Skyports come with the cords needed for the Nikon and maybe the Canon units. Page Lon (flashzebra) or Curtis on the flash forum and they'll know for sure.

oh yeah, thanks.

[mestes]

I would say no I just came from a game and there were 4 photogs besides me and all had their own set of strobes and no one seemed to mind let alone even notice really.

[namasste]

This ia a very impressive way to shoot! I am more and more impressed with the great shots you guys are getting.

Do the fans or players or anyone notice the strobes going off?

it really does help. So far, I really have not had anyone say anything and I always ask. There's always some curiosity but so far, no complaints about the smaller flash guns. I did hear one complaint about the guy here who shoots AB800's but it was from a pretty dramatic parent.

[MT Stringer]

Paul S, I use a hot shoe adapter such as the one flashzebra sells.
http://www.flashzebra.com/wizardcables/hotshoe.shtml

Hope this helps.
Mike

[namasste]

I would say no I just came from a game and there were 4 photogs besides me and all had their own set of strobes and no one seemed to mind let alone even notice really.

funny you say this in light of the question since it got me thinking...I have heard one complaint afterall and it was from another photog. Guy claims to shoot games "on assignment" from a very small suburban only paper. Oddly, all the images appear on his site for sale to parents. He complained about all the "strobes" but I suspect it's because he knows that it will lead to better results and more competition. I laughed it off and won't bore you with how it just went on and on but that's the only "real" complaint I have ever had.

[mestes]

yea I felt a bit small with me being the only one shooting ambient, but then after seeing my results I am glad I did not

I am taking some time to learn my camera and getting better at timing and composition of shots before I try my hands at strobing.

[Sauk]

not sure how I missed this but these look really good. Yeah you have some ghosting, but nothing to stop the show about :)

And by the way, you want to see white white people, come to Utah where the population is 93% white. It sucks! lol it is hard to use flash because people round here are so dang white. Look at my latest flash results in the tournament.

Samoans, black, asian all look great, but throw some of us white people in there and you would swear I was throwing a light tower light at them! :D

[namasste]

not sure how I missed this but these look really good. Yeah you have some ghosting, but nothing to stop the show about :)

And by the way, you want to see white white people, come to Utah where the population is 93% white. It sucks! lol it is hard to use flash because people round here are so dang white. Look at my latest flash results in the tournament.

Samoans, black, asian all look great, but throw some of us white people in there and you would swear I was throwing a light tower light at them! :D

you got me laughing Matt, thanks!:lol:

[AdamLewis]

funny you say this in light of the question since it got me thinking...I have heard one complaint afterall and it was from another photog. Guy claims to shoot games "on assignment" from a very small suburban only paper. Oddly, all the images appear on his site for sale to parents. He complained about all the "strobes" but I suspect it's because he knows that it will lead to better results and more competition. I laughed it off and won't bore you with how it just went on and on but that's the only "real" complaint I have ever had.

I cant say for him but I can say for me, when Im shooting ambient, yes strobes do suck. If you both know what youre doing, you both normally try and get the same shot. Lots of times this leads to your strobes blowing out my shot. Its a pain in the neck.

I also honestly like the look of ambient light better but I understand its something you really cant do in a lot of the gyms you guys are shooting in. That being the case, Ill agree that strobes look better in those cases.

[namasste]

Lots of times this leads to your strobes blowing out my shot.

I'd agree if you had half a dozen guys strobing the same game in a small gym but if its just two guys, the statistical probability that we both fire in the same 1/1000 of a second during the flash duration just isn't that high. Sure, it can and does happen but not often enough to be a real issue. On the other hand, it can really be an issue with those shooting ambient if you are shooting bursts.

[AdamLewis]

I'd agree if you had half a dozen guys strobing the same game in a small gym but if its just two guys, the statistical probability that we both fire in the same 1/1000 of a second during the flash duration just isn't that high. Sure, it can and does happen but not often enough to be a real issue. On the other hand, it can really be an issue with those shooting ambient if you are shooting bursts.

Well if youre shooting ambient I dont know why you wouldnt be shooting bursts.

Im not saying its a big deal..Just saying it does happen and maybe thats what he was talking about :) Or maybe he was just trying to give you a hard time.

[namasste]

Well if youre shooting ambient I dont know why you wouldnt be shooting bursts.

Im not saying its a big deal..Just saying it does happen and maybe thats what he was talking about :) Or maybe he was just trying to give you a hard time.

who knows why, he's a weird dude.

I don't really disagree with the burst thing but I have really found that once I changed my style shooting one shot, I really am getting better images whether I am shooting ambient or flashed. took some getting used to but it forced my timing to improve so I'm glad I did it either way. Not to say I wouldn't shoot bursts ever, just not as often.