Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting

jgolom · 6th of August 2012 (Mon)

I am shooting rodeos (in the arena) with a Canon7D and a Norman 400B system attached (2H reflector). Having trouble getting correct exposures. Photos are either over exposed (washed out) or under exposed (and flat). Have played around with different w/s bursts, as well as different aperture/shutter settings, but can't get there. Camera doesn't recognize the flash (PC sync cord), so ttl meters/menus are little help. Any thoughts? Thanx.

xchangx · 6th of August 2012 (Mon)

What settings are you using? Strobing sports takes practice. Normally you want the strobe to be 2-4 stops brighter than ambient in order for the strobe to effectively freeze the action.

jgolom · 6th of August 2012 (Mon)

Right now I'm shooting 1/320 @ f2.8, with varied w/s anywhere from 50 - 400. Trying to get the manual setting right, but just doesn't seem to be working. Either lose all color or flattens the picture.

HammerCope · 6th of August 2012 (Mon)

You have to know your guide numbers. Biggest thing you will just have to be changing your F-stop on the fly. After awhikle you will just know when to start changing the F stops.The Norman is old school. You reall have to be thinking on the fly. Yes you will lose some shots or some may come out flat. that can be fix very quickly in PS. My normal settings for say a bull riding are 1/250 @ 5.6 with norman set to 50 ws. For othe rodeo events where they are coming at you, as I said just have to be ready to change the F-stop.

xchangx · 7th of August 2012 (Tue)

So I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you have not shot sports with strobes before. If that is the case then I would recommend that you practice in a non-competition setting before hand.

The flash sync speed for the 7d is 1/250 so that will need to be your max shutter speed.

DC Fan · 8th of August 2012 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgolom

I am shooting rodeos (in the arena) with a Canon7D and a Norman 400B system attached (2H reflector). Having trouble getting correct exposures. Photos are either over exposed (washed out) or under exposed (and flat). Have played around with different w/s bursts, as well as different aperture/shutter settings, but can't get there. Camera doesn't recognize the flash (PC sync cord), so ttl meters/menus are little help. Any thoughts? Thanx.

Sometimes the only way to get this right is to use a flash meter.

6th of August 2012 (Mon)	#1
jgolom Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 5	Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting I am shooting rodeos (in the arena) with a Canon7D and a Norman 400B system attached (2H reflector). Having trouble getting correct exposures. Photos are either over exposed (washed out) or under exposed (and flat). Have played around with different w/s bursts, as well as different aperture/shutter settings, but can't get there. Camera doesn't recognize the flash (PC sync cord), so ttl meters/menus are little help. Any thoughts? Thanx.

6th of August 2012 (Mon)	#2
xchangx Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 338	Re: Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting What settings are you using? Strobing sports takes practice. Normally you want the strobe to be 2-4 stops brighter than ambient in order for the strobe to effectively freeze the action. __________________ Nikon D3s / D3 / D300 / 17-35 2.8 / 70-200 2.8 / 400 2.8 My Images with Getty My Sportsshooter Page My Website

6th of August 2012 (Mon)	#3
jgolom Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 5	Re: Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting Right now I'm shooting 1/320 @ f2.8, with varied w/s anywhere from 50 - 400. Trying to get the manual setting right, but just doesn't seem to be working. Either lose all color or flattens the picture.

6th of August 2012 (Mon)	#4
HammerCope Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 689 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting You have to know your guide numbers. Biggest thing you will just have to be changing your F-stop on the fly. After awhikle you will just know when to start changing the F stops.The Norman is old school. You reall have to be thinking on the fly. Yes you will lose some shots or some may come out flat. that can be fix very quickly in PS. My normal settings for say a bull riding are 1/250 @ 5.6 with norman set to 50 ws. For othe rodeo events where they are coming at you, as I said just have to be ready to change the F-stop. __________________ Pete Canon 40D & 7D 24-70 F2.8 L 70-200 F4 L Norman 400B, AB800,AB1600 White Lighting 3200

7th of August 2012 (Tue)	#5
xchangx Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 338	Re: Night Rodeo w/Norman Lighting So I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you have not shot sports with strobes before. If that is the case then I would recommend that you practice in a non-competition setting before hand. The flash sync speed for the 7d is 1/250 so that will need to be your max shutter speed. __________________ Nikon D3s / D3 / D300 / 17-35 2.8 / 70-200 2.8 / 400 2.8 My Images with Getty My Sportsshooter Page My Website

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Night Rodeo + Flash = Need Help!	Shadiow	Sports	8	2nd of September 2008 (Tue) 12:31
night rodeo	avwh	Sports	21	2nd of July 2008 (Wed) 21:15
Indoor Rodeo lighting challenges	CatchingUp	Sports	38	16th of January 2008 (Wed) 07:52
Indoor Rodeo Lighting Challenges	CatchingUp	Small Flash and Studio Lighting	3	8th of January 2008 (Tue) 09:25
Norman Lighting Kits	swatcop169	General Photography Talk	2	18th of March 2005 (Fri) 11:51