Madison Alliant Energy Center - strobing with 3 B400s?

[dshankar]

So I might be shooting girls basketball in the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI this week, and I would like to strobe with my 3 Alienbee B400s with 11" reflectors.

Suggestions? I'm going to try and get rafter access to set this up. Can I setup a makeshift grid somehow to focus the light and prevent it from spilling off? Cuz the strobes are pretty weak to be strobing from RAFTERS up high, right?

I'm gonna take a couple 40D bodies, and a 70-200mm f/2.8L - that should do the trick. Should I consider renting an 85mm f/1.8 or a 135mm f/2L? I will probably take a 16-35mm f/2.8L if I can, or a 18-55mm IS (worst case) for a little wide coverage.

Any tips for preparation? Tips for contacting and getting access to rafters? I have 3 Pocket Wizards and a remote trigger. I'm REALLY considering renting/buying a couple more and setting up a remote camera either on the backboard, or on the rafters. Thoughts? Recommendations?

I only have a few days to do this! Tips would be highly appreciated! My current portfolio can be found on my flickr, with my best shot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dshankar/3331721457/.

Thanks!

[dshankar]

FYI, I'm familiar that I need to cut some circular plexi and zip-tie it to the reflector to avoid having the bulbs explode and fall down into the crowd.

[bigjon0107]

I dont know if i would even try at strobing the arena with AB400's. How high up are the rafters and what is the ambient exposure? Remember, for strobes to be effective, you need to be 3 stops at least over ambient light.

[dmwierz]

d- I would tend to agree with Jon. The brighter the arena, the more need for really powerful strobes. That's why you'll usually see WL 1600's and Speedotrons in pro and NCAA arenas- They're a LOT more powerful than B400's. Plus, a major arena like this will have you mounting your lights really far from the floor, which is going to further hurt.

But, what do you have to lose by trying? All that could happen is you'd spend time hoisting into place and setting them up and then they'd be too dim. So what?

Oh, and BTW, you DO have photographer's liability insurance, right?

[dawiyo]

Oh, and BTW, you DO have photographer's liability insurance, right?

+1
I wouldn't suggest hanging ANYTHING without insurance.

[bigjon0107]

I pulled up some pictures and you may be able to pull it off if you only attempted to strobe one side. The rafters do not seem that high. Maybe try putting one in each corner on the baseline you are sitting and another in between those?

[dshankar]

I pulled up some pictures and you may be able to pull it off if you only attempted to strobe one side. The rafters do not seem that high. Maybe try putting one in each corner on the baseline you are sitting and another in between those?

That's what I though. Alliant Energy doesn't have that high rafters, PLUS, ambient is ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/500th.

REGARDLESS, I do NOT have liability insurance (where do I get this?) and the rafters will be CLOSED for these games.

Hopefully, I'll be shooting Milwaukee Bucks games in the near future where I might have more opportunities for rafter access, but then I would definitely have to rent the arena's strobes, or buy my own $2k+ worth of strobes...


Thanks for the help everyone, case closed ;)

[DDCSD]

REGARDLESS, I do NOT have liability insurance (where do I get this?) and the rafters will be CLOSED for these games.

There are Hill & Usher or TCP that handle photography insurance specifically on a national level.

I would recommend going to a local independent insurance agent. They can shop around and get you the best coverage at the best rate.