Biking Flash Question

[Percen%]

Spring and Summer are finally coming(thanks god) and it's time to start shooting Mt. Biking again.

I shoot some dirt jumping but a lot of races and some happen to be in the woods.

I have read the FAQ and been researching and I would like some fill light and after talking to some people i have decided on:

Canon Speedlight 580ex
&
pocket wizards plus II.


Any thoughts, anyone have a similar set up?

Much appreciated!

[Percen%]

Bump, any suggestions?

[Brett]

Have you read the Strobist blog? There's a lot of great information on off-camera flash there.

I'd probably use a large shoot-through umbrella, set up near the jump pointing up at the jumping bikers. The shoot-through will have a lot of spread, giving you leeway on where they are when you press the shutter.

If you want a more dramatic, contrasty look, leave the flash bare and zoom it out.

[Percen%]

I have checked out the strobist blog, a lot of information there!

I have talked to a few pro shooters too at the races and they all either tie or mount their flashes about 10-20 feet away(guessing)

I don't have any flash now, so would this set up work just to get started:

Canon Speedlight 580ex
&
pocket wizards plus II.

Thanks for the response!

[Lithian]

Realise that while the 580ex is an awesome flash and the PW plus II is an awesome flash trigger... when they work together you dont get the full awesomeness! You'd be paying a premium for the clever ettl2 but the PW dosn't relay that information. The newer pocket wizard TT1 and TT5 do... however currently there is a big thread on them being iffy.

With bicyclists you know roughly where they are going to be so you could just set a manual flash or two or three aimed at that spot. If you read the strobist stuff you'll find that you can set this up with a decent margin for error so your exposure wont change much, if the dude stacks it you still get the shot.

Clever as ettl is, it might get confused and frack up the shot. With manual (flash and camera) you know how the image will look before you press the shutter, powerful manual flashes are pretty cheap and if you can afford pocket wizards will trigger pretty much every time.

I feel its worth pointing out that 1x 580ex2+ 2x PW plus 2 is $760
3x Lumopro LP120 + 1x cybersync transmitter and 3x cybersync reciever is $660
Put the $100 you save towards lightstands or such.

[mattograph]

Read strobist? I'm sure you saw this....

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/06/off-rack-bicycling-july-2006.html

@lithian

For the price of a PW, Radio Poppers give you full manual and ettl control over you flashes and are AVAILABLE and WORKING now.

Since you can control the power output of each flash from on camera, they can work great, especially on partly sunny days when clouds move in and out.

[Lithian]

Oh yeh, also worth taking a look at Seb Rogers site and blog http://www.sebrogers.co.uk/

He will usually have images in most of the UK bike magazines every month and probably the cover shots as well, pretty decent stuff.

[Percen%]

Thanks for all the suggestions and information!

I guess i was opting for the 580 since it is one of the more powerful flashes and i would have a little more flexibility.

AS for the PW i have just read that they are extremely reliable.. but then again the radio poppers P1 look great as well. Anyone have any experience with these?


The more i read the more I see it's better to master the manual setting vs the ETTL so i guess the new PW aren't as much as a concern.

[mattograph]

AS for the PW i have just read that they are extremely reliable.. but then again the radio poppers P1 look great as well. Anyone have any experience with these?


The more i read the more I see it's better to master the manual setting vs the ETTL so i guess the new PW aren't as much as a concern.

Radiopoppers. I love mine.

The beauty of the system is that you can adjust manual output of the remote light directly from the on camera light. So, you can set your lights, and then make your ratio decisions without leaving your shooting position.

Note that you would need two 580 EX IIs to do this in manual mode, or, one 580 EXII and a 430 EX, minimum.

[Percen%]

So the more reading i think i may start off with two PW or radiopoppers and the 430EX II.

The 580 seems a little much for just starting out