I got strobed!

[Magic 24]

At a recent Regional Final Girls Bball game, the opposing team had two photogs, one with strobes. Anyway, as the pictures show, I got strobed. This happened at least eight different times...ouch!

[dtiproductions]

ouch...did you try bouncing or even diffusing the light?

[Magic 24]

ouch...did you try bouncing or even diffusing the light?

What? These are from the other photog using strobes!!

[AdamLewis]

Sucks. It happens though. Worst is shooting ambient and catching someones strobe because the whole shot is almost always entirely ruined. Battling back with you own flash, at least you have a chance to occasionally salvage something.

[Magic 24]

Sucks. It happens though. Worst is shooting ambient and catching someones strobe because the whole shot is almost always entirely ruined. Battling back with you own flash, at least you have a chance to occasionally salvage something.

I know what you mean...I have two that are almost completely gone - not usable in any form or fashion - because I was shooting light (1/32) and it didn't have enough to compensate. Maybe I'll get to return the favor tomorrow night...though I won't be trying to...like I'm sure he wasn't.

[rdompor]

I hate it when that happens. There is a photographer that I sometimes shoot alongside at Rutgers basketball games and I always have this problem with her. I swear she will hold down her shutter down for 4 seconds at a time during peak moments which inevitably leads to her ruining many of my shots.

[MJPhotos24]

Last NHL game I shot I walked away with 5-6 strobed shots from the team photog, and sometimes at the AHL games will get the strobes going. Happens all the time.

[40Dude6aedyk]

If it happened 8 different times, I gotta ask: Were you using flash yourself? And were his strobes controlled by optical triggers? Otherwise, you have impeccable timing with your twin photog.

[AdamLewis]

If it happened 8 different times, I gotta ask: Were you using flash yourself? And were his strobes controlled by optical triggers? Otherwise, you have impeccable timing with your twin photog.

Or you all just take pictures of the same moments. Its pretty common really.

[Aaagogo]

the two that you have are "weird" so to speak, unless the other photog has all 4 strobes connected to 1 trigger, cause other than that reason, you are on the opposite side of his shooting position, then if he was on the same side as you, I wonder where he's positioned such that he doesn't catch his own strobe too.

[wyofizz]

the two that you have are "weird" so to speak, unless the other photog has all 4 strobes connected to 1 trigger, cause other than that reason, you are on the opposite side of his shooting position, then if he was on the same side as you, I wonder where he's positioned such that he doesn't catch his own strobe too.


I was thinking the same thing. It would appear that the other photog was shooting the players backs. I can see that for peak action but a foul shot?
You sure they weren't banging you on purpose?

Dave

[Magic 24]

If it happened 8 different times, I gotta ask: Were you using flash yourself? And were his strobes controlled by optical triggers?

I was using a Canon 580 EX II - he was using two strobes (l - r of the basket) controlled by PW's.

the two that you have are "weird" so to speak, unless the other photog has all 4 strobes connected to 1 trigger, cause other than that reason, you are on the opposite side of his shooting position, then if he was on the same side as you, I wonder where he's positioned such that he doesn't catch his own strobe too.

Right...I just took it for the shot...no action or any specific reason, but there isn't any action...Hmmm?

I was thinking the same thing. It would appear that the other photog was shooting the players backs. I can see that for peak action but a foul shot? You sure they weren't banging you on purpose?

Dave

I'll never no the answer to that...however, the team he covered lost!

[wyofizz]

Eight times in one game by only one photog is a bit much.

Dave

[40Dude6aedyk]

Here's a very random thought: My Sigma speedlite has an internal optical trigger that is ON when I use my Cybersyncs. I have to cover the sensor with black paper/tape to keep it from interfering with the Cybersync trigger. Maybe his strobes could be fired by both the PWs and an optical external flash? And thus he thought you were jacking with him!

[canonnoob]

I was using a Canon 580 EX II - he was using two strobes (l - r of the basket) controlled by PW's.
!

Please tell me you werent using it on camera shooting directly at the players?

as far as the strobes go I would be surprised if his werent optically triggered some how... a

[Aaagogo]

what do you mean? u took these 2 shots for the sake of demonstrating that you catch his strobes?

[MJPhotos24]

PW's have channels - you're not setting them off with anything but another PW on the same channel.

It's really not uncommon...happens all the time.

[canonnoob]

PW's have channels - you're not setting them off with anything but another PW on the same channel.

It's really not uncommon...happens all the time.

the op isnt using PWs. he had his flash on camera.... according to the Exif.

[MJPhotos24]

the op isnt using PWs. he had his flash on camera.... according to the Exif.

...and the other guy was using what? I know the OP wasn't using PW's, it was suggested the OP was triggering the other guys strobes when that's not happening.

[canonnoob]

...and the other guy was using what? I know the OP wasn't using PW's, it was suggested the OP was triggering the other guys strobes when that's not happening.

eh it is possible that the one guy was using one set of PW on one strobe and had the other optically triggered... Possible not probable...

[AdamLewis]

eh it is possible that the one guy was using one set of PW on one strobe and had the other optically triggered... Possible not probable...

Whats the point of even arguing it? He said they were being fired by radio remote. If one of them was optical, they would trip almost every time he fired it and not just 8...Of course youll probably argue this too.

Like has been said, 8 isnt extreme. Do you even know how many pictures he took total? Do you know how many the other guy took total? It happens all the time.

[canonnoob]

Whats the point of even arguing it? He said they were being fired by radio remote. If one of them was optical, they would trip almost every time he fired it and not just 8...Of course youll probably argue this too.

Like has been said, 8 isnt extreme. Do you even know how many pictures he took total? Do you know how many the other guy took total? It happens all the time.

Im not arguing... I am just saying that it was a possiblility.. I know it happens.. quite often.

so just get your tidy whites unbunched and just chill out.

[AdamLewis]

Im not arguing... I am just saying that it was a possiblility.. I know it happens.. quite often.

so just get your tidy whites unbunched and just chill out.

FWIW, its supposed to be tighty whities. And believe me, Im very "chill" over the whole thing.

[Thomas G]

The paid or team photog doesn't care if he/she is ruining your photos. They are there for a job. Not to sound rude but you could have maybe found a new spot to shoot from? Did you not notice this happening during the game? (I always review my photos every so often when I am shooting)

Was his strobes acting like a slave? I was shooting at a pro event for a team and strobing while the othere teams photog was also stobing and every shot I took would set his off as slaves. I know he ended up with a lot of dark shots.

[Magic 24]

The paid or team photog doesn't care if he/she is ruining your photos. They are there for a job. Not to sound rude but you could have maybe found a new spot to shoot from? Did you not notice this happening during the game? (I always review my photos every so often when I am shooting)

Was his strobes acting like a slave? I was shooting at a pro event for a team and strobing while the othere teams photog was also stobing and every shot I took would set his off as slaves. I know he ended up with a lot of dark shots.

Sure - I chimped but not that often and with that being said - it only happened eight times out of 250 shots. As far as moving - I move with the Refs, trying to stay opposite of them. If they are bottom right - I sit/kneel bottom left. Sometimes they move all along the baseline (more so with three refs)

The other "strobies" are from different angles and locations. He used PW's and maybe there was something setting his off - but if that was the case - it would have happened more.

[bobbyz]

I remember first time I was shooting with another person (not sports realted). Both of us were using PWs at different channels. But for some reason her strobes were triggering mine. I noticed that I had forgotten to put blank plugs into my ABs to block the optical sensor.

BTW - Does anyone know if it is possible to pick up the PW signal from another person's transmitter and ride on it. What I mean is your PW pick up the other guys's tx and trigger your camera so when you don't have strobes you ride on other guys strobes.

[40Dude6aedyk]

Here's a very random thought: My Sigma speedlite has an internal optical trigger that is ON when I use my Cybersyncs. I have to cover the sensor with black paper/tape to keep it from interfering with the Cybersync trigger. Maybe his strobes could be fired by both the PWs and an optical external flash? And thus he thought you were jacking with him!

I remember first time I was shooting with another person (not sports realted). Both of us were using PWs at different channels. But for some reason her strobes were triggering mine. I noticed that I had forgotten to put blank plugs into my ABs to block the optical sensor.

I am more convinced now that that's what was happening here.

[rdompor]

BTW - Does anyone know if it is possible to pick up the PW signal from another person's transmitter and ride on it. What I mean is your PW pick up the other guys's tx and trigger your camera so when you don't have strobes you ride on other guys strobes.


It can be done if you set up a remote camera. Just hook up the PW to your camera and make sure it is on the same frequency as his strobes. He will essentially be firing your camera.

[Big K]

It can be done if you set up a remote camera. Just hook up the PW to your camera and make sure it is on the same frequency as his strobes. He will essentially be firing your camera.

That is not correct. There is an issue with lag times that keeps this from working.

You could hook up a PW to your camera and assuming you find his channel, could have it trigger your camera as well but you will have already missed the strobe burst. The only way to trigger multiple cameras on the same strobe burst is either through an outrageously expensive triggering system or to invest in PW Multi Max's. The PWMM option also requires a pretty elaborate setup process every time you do it that involves calculating lag times and programming them into each of the PWMM's.

Triggering strobes via a remote camera requires that you use a PW as a handheld trigger (Assuming you are not hardwiring to trigger the camera) set to channel 1, another PW on the camera with the transmit mode set to BOTH and channel set to 1 and the PW's on the strobes set to channel 2. When you push the trigger PW it sends the signal to the camera on channel 1. The camera PW receives on channel 1 and triggers the camera while the PW instantly switches to transmit mode on channel 2 and triggers the stobes in sync with the camera. You can start with channel 1, 2 or 3. It does not matter. The only requirement is that the strobes be on the next channel.

I am also guessing that the use of the transmit setting being BOTH had something to do with the example posted about the PW's seemingly triggering on a different channel. Not saying it isn't possible, but do doubt very seriously it was a malfunctioning PW.

Regarding the stobing you experienced. I am guessing that he either forgot to disable the optical triggers on each light or it was just a timing coincidence. Given it happened 8 times I am guessing it was the optical triggers. Since these are typically on the back of the flash head or on the battery pack and were at the opposite end of the floor from your little speedlight I'm thinking most of the time it just did not pick up your flash and trigger. Some would also not be triggered because you fired during his flash recycle period.

On my strobes if you don't turn off the optical trigger it will still fire via another flash regardless if I have PW's attached or not.

[S.Horton]

I think the other photog could post pictures of you in her/his photos, then.

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