Nighttime, Outdoor Portraits

[Ook]

Hello everyone, I'm going to an all-night art festival here and will be bringing my camera hoping for some shots. I was originally planning mainly to be doing long-exposure shots of the installations, but I figured while I'm at it I might as well try a few shots of the people, as there will be lots of opportunity there (there's an travelling rave, for example).

The stuff I'm bringing: 40D, 17-55mm f.2.8 IS, 430ex, tripod.

I know that bare flash won't be the most flattering light source, but other than a few streetlights here and there, I won't be able to count on any other light source for the subjects.

Any tips? Would getting something like an Omnibounce or Lightsphere give significantly better results than bare flash, given that there's nothing to bounce off (so just diffusion)?

edit: I should mention that I built a better bounce card, but am worried that that would eat up too much juice (I currently have 8AA's, all night event)

Thanks a bunch.

[Ook]

Bump, sorry guys, but I'd love to get some input on this as I'll have to decide reasonably soon whether I should get a Lightsphere or similar product in the morning.

Anyone?

[bettysonics]

i wouldn't get a lightsphere for this. it'll probably eat up a lot of battery power too. i've never used the omnibounce. if it was me i guess i would attempt some exposures at the highest iso i could without flash, and also just shoot the people with the head on flash, maybe dial it down so it's not as strong? and use a slower shutter speed so i could include some background.

hopefully someone else weighs in!

[milorad]

"currently having" 8 AA batteries doesn't mean much when you can go out and buy a pack of 12 or 20 alkalines for a few bucks for the night.

I'd be using a bounce card -- perhaps even a bounce card with a warmer colour to match any lighting at the event. Batteries be damned.

[Ook]

Batteries be damned.

Ruthless! :lol: Good point though, I should probably grab a bunch of extras.

Thanks to both of you for your replies, I think I'm probably going to pick up a lightsphere regardless - it seems like a good tool to have. I'll bring along the bounce card as well and see if I can tell a difference. I might line the lightsphere with aluminum foil for times when I know I'll just be using the diffuser, no bounce.

Enough ranting, if all goes well pictures will follow!

[milorad]

Ruthless! :lol:

LOL you bet... I use batteries like texans use bullets, and no regrets! :)

[Moppie]

How many photos are you planning on taking?
8 AA's is a LOT of photos, remember the flash won't be firing at full power all the time, and you could expect 3-500 photos of each set of batteries.
Of course having spares is never a bad idea.


The only way to soften the effect of your flash is to either bounce it of something, or attach something like a softbox or an umbrella to it.

[ChrisGSi16v]

i tend to use 2700MaH NIMH battery's last loads longer than alkaline ones and recharable too saves having to keep buying over and over again.

[Ook]

8 AA's is a LOT of photos, remember the flash won't be firing at full power all the time, and you could expect 3-500 photos of each set of batteries.

The only way to soften the effect of your flash is to either bounce it of something, or attach something like a softbox or an umbrella to it.

Thanks, I never needed to change batteries once, after all. Oh well, I'll save the 12 alkalines for another time. I guess I was mostly worried about how inefficient the Lightsphere would be when pointing it directly at the subject outdoors. I'm reviewing the photos now, and I need a *lot* of practice with flash.