Using a wireless flash underwater.......

[Moppie]

As a bit of a back story, some friends have an interesting shapped pool, and I have some ideas for shooting people floating in it.


I also have a several Cactus transmitters and recievers with the ariel mod (thanks Tim), and a pile of flashes that cost $1-5.

I was wondering if anyone has tried putting a flash and reciever in a plastic bag, and working it under water?

If not can anyone explain how the water might or might not interfer with the radio signal, and how if it will effect the guide number on the flash?


The pool is only about 6-8 feet deep, and I was thinking of sinking a flash in a plastic bag to the bottom of the pool to light someone from underneath.

The flashes are either fixed power, or have an Auto-thyristor, and as you can imagine I am bit reluctant to sink my 550EX incase the bag leaks :eek:

[Mike Photo]

I cant help with the specifics but I know Ive seen people bag canon flashes for lighting underwater. But if youre worried about it leaking you can get water proof clear bags for electronics at most camping stores Like REI. Hopefully someone can answer the RS question I'm also interested in this.

[nadtz]

Something like http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/awesome-diy-pvc-flash-housing.html ? Keep in mind radio waves and water dont mix, depending on the distance underwater you may find you will need to run some cables. There have been reviews of various cheapie bags and what not as well, from what I remember there were variouslevels of leakage with various products. A well sealed plastic bag would probably work fine, but ymmv of course.

[F4 Cyborg]

ya gota love vacuum seal bags.

[CrisUK]

This sounds like a really interesting idea.

Would it not be easier not to use flash and just to sink a watertight mains light under your subject, making sure it's run off an RCD of course :)

That way you don't have to worry about triggering anything, and all you need to do it bump up the ISO etc... to get your exposure.

Cheers

Cris.

[Moppie]

This sounds like a really interesting idea.

Would it not be easier not to use flash and just to sink a watertight mains light under your subject, making sure it's run off an RCD of course :)

That way you don't have to worry about triggering anything, and all you need to do it bump up the ISO etc... to get your exposure.

Cheers

Cris.


I don't have any mains powered lights, but there would also be a problem with cables running in and out of the shot.

Otherwise it sounds like a good way to have a shocking good time

[epatt250]

I was thinking about doing something in a pool this summer and using those big huge pickle jars. Empty them ofcourse, then drop a speedlight in with a gel and a optical slave sensor.

Not sure it will work but its what I was/am going to try. The problem I see is making the things sink that way. Still working on that part.

[Moppie]

I was going to use a zip lock bag, blown up it will have enough postive pressure to force out any water for long enough to take the photo.

Strap some string around it, and tie that to a big rock, then use another length of string and a small float on the surface so the model has a mark to line up on.

If it does leak I don't lose much, just a $5 flash and a trigger.


What I am more interested in is will the radio trigger work under water, and how does the water effect the flashes guide number?

[Papa Carlo]

Forget about cactus underwater. they are struggling even in the air :-(. I am pretty much sure PW will also fail.
An optical slave (http://www.amazon.com/Wein-Peanut-Photo-Slave-Range/dp/B0000C7HR9/ref=pd_bbs_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234968851&sr=8-7) might work though.

[Moppie]

So, I gave it ago, and I can report the following:

The catus triggers will work underwater to depth of about 30cm.
Beyond that they fail to fire.

The optical trigger would also work to a similar depth, and then it to would also fail to fire.


I ended up putting the flash in a glass jar, which did a great job of protecting it, and I weight it down with some rocks in a plastic bag around the jar.
Water did get in the plastic bag after I grazed it on the concrete though.

[epatt250]

Where are the pics?

[nadtz]

I said radio and water dont mix! Id also like to see the end result if you think they are worth posting.

[40Dude6aedyk]

But did you try to extend the radio antenna from the depths to above the surface of the water? Maybe then you would not call it "wireless", but "wired" instead. :)

[Moppie]

Well here is one result, but with no underwater flash.
I wanted to back light her in the pool as well, and make the dress a little trasnlucent.


I might try it again, if I can, and use a PC sync cord running from the flash under the water, to a radio reciever on the surface. Then I will just have to clone out the cord.
Just have to find away to seal the flash in something that will allow the cord out.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/Moppie/IMG_0888-Edit.jpg

[Terrywoodenpic]

Looks like a small girl in a large water filled coffin... I would prefer her a little nearer the middle. This has a lot of potential.