Men's League Hockey - Strobed

[Darsk47]

Got to use a friend's strobes the other night when we set them up to shoot the first round of our beer league playoffs.

We used four Elinchrom 600s, two on each side of the upper deck, opposite each other inside the blueline, and one Elinchrom 1200 upper deck behind the net. The 600s were at full power and the 1200 at half.

Generally pleased with the results, but still got some shadows that I didn't like. They seem to be from the side, which I thought would wash out given the opposite set-up.

We're going to set-up again for the next round of games, so you guys with the strobes please chime in here with a tip or two. We've already decided to go at half power on the 600s for faster recycle. It was probably 2 seconds at full power.

exif is attached; most were f8, 400iso, 1/250; some were f5.6, 250iso, 1/250.

1.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4425468177_f4e7d5db2e_o.jpg


2.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4425472751_04abd3bfca_o.jpg

3.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4425463009_3c13c0029f_o.jpg

4.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4425467757_c9aedfaa89_o.jpg

5.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4426232330_7b7e0defb9_o.jpg

6.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4426229598_1f3ae8bc01_o.jpg

7.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4426230804_57243c510a_o.jpg

8.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4425473175_80f7e35134_o.jpg

[Darsk47]

Here is how we set up the strobes:

[Apollo11]

Excellent shots---you can tell by the images captured that this is a good league---they've got skill. Nice job of capturing it.

[bnorm27]

Nice! #3 and #6 are my favorites.

[cstewart]

Darcy:

Generally OK and ncie work for first time with strobes. I see what you mean about the shadows, with some of the light fall off a couple pics look like the really classic photos from years gone by! Looks like your light was perfect right behind the net (1,7) and in the centre of the ice (6).

I assume you were pointing strobes direct at ice? Does not look like you could bounce off that roof with any success. Not that I've ever tired strobes, but do you need the one directly behind net? Is that the one causing the big shadows? What about moving the 2 you have at about the icing line more into the corners? Any time I have seen pro level strobes they all seem to be in corners and pointing at angles onto playing surface.

You know of course that once you nail the light, you will never go back to ambient and you will have to gear up accordingly!

[ScottWCDN]

Those are slick, I've never thought of strobes but notice them firing alot at our local arena. Good results!

[Darsk47]

Thanks for the comments fellas. Like I said I'm happy, but curious as to what to do next to lessen the shadows.

There's no bouncing off this ceiling here and I don't want to get out onto the catwalks to point the lights straight down. A whole other game of safety cables, plexi for bulbs and insurance I don't want to get into.

The one behind the net wasn't an issue. I wanted it there to light up the shooters faces as the approached the net.

[TTurrill]

Darcy,

The only other possibility to consider, and I am not versed on the Elinchrom 600s, but maybe your friend has some different reflectors that you could try? Like you said, going to the catwalk, safety cables and insurance is out of the question. We still have to deal with shadows at the Joe, mounted 120' above the ice and using speedotron units. Your shots look great!!

[Darsk47]

Thanks Tom - the reflectors' diameter is not much more than the diamter of the light housing.

They look just like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=ProductDetail&A=showMultipleImages&Q=&sku=358759&is=REG

What's the theory on the wider reflector? Spread out the light more? Can I simulate it by pulling back further? I don't have much room, but there's a little.

[TTurrill]

Darcy - That is the main thought. I use White Lightning and use the 11" on my 1600 heads. The units we use at the Joe are about 16" and I have been told that it sure helps to be as far back as possible. Good luck! Have a great week....


Thanks Tom - the reflectors' diameter is not much more than the diamter of the light housing.

They look just like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=ProductDetail&A=showMultipleImages&Q=&sku=358759&is=REG

What's the theory on the wider reflector? Spread out the light more? Can I simulate it by pulling back further? I don't have much room, but there's a little.

[MDJAK]

nice light on the faces with a bit of blow out on the shiny white part of the jerseys.

I've strobed large wrestling gyms and it's not easy getting the right placement.

there are some very experienced strobists here. Hopefully they will see this and chime in.

mark

[Rick Denham]

you need to spread your lights out throughout the arena more so you do not get the far end exposed. Put one at each blue line on each side of the ice pointing about 15-20 degrees towards the new end, the place the 1200 right at center and keep it at full power. You definitely need to get larger 11" reflectors on those from being that far back, especially on 600's. The 1200 I would keep the 7" reflector to allow for more fill throughout the arena.

Don't set your eli's to half power either. you wont get the power and you will lose your light duration. You need to be as close to 1/1800th of a second as possible. cutting power cuts your duration, not increases it. You are on a 30D, crank up the iso to 800 or even 1000 to get a better light and bring the fstop down to about 5. Combine that with the light setup I gave you and you will be laughing.

what arena is that by the way?

[Darsk47]

you need to spread your lights out throughout the arena more so you do not get the far end exposed. Put one at each blue line on each side of the ice pointing about 15-20 degrees towards the new end, the place the 1200 right at center and keep it at full power. You definitely need to get larger 11" reflectors on those from being that far back, especially on 600's. The 1200 I would keep the 7" reflector to allow for more fill throughout the arena.

Don't set your eli's to half power either. you wont get the power and you will lose your light duration. You need to be as close to 1/1800th of a second as possible. cutting power cuts your duration, not increases it. You are on a 30D, crank up the iso to 800 or even 1000 to get a better light and bring the fstop down to about 5. Combine that with the light setup I gave you and you will be laughing.

what arena is that by the way?

Rick - thanks! I was hoping to get a tip like this. However, I may not be able to access the far blue lines. There is a barrier due to private boxes, but I'll give it a go.

In the event I can only get to the red line, do you have a tip for lighting up from the center line down to me on the goal line?

It's the General Motors Centre in Oshawa. My league plays there on Monday nights from 7-11.

Oh.. and the Oshawa Generals play there too. ;)