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Thread started 08 Apr 2012 (Sunday) 19:46
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Beach wedding setup - aka how to get great images on the beach

 
tim
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Apr 08, 2012 19:46 |  #1

  • AB800 (though I'd like a 1600 or an Einstein)
  • Vagabond Mini Lithium
  • Skyport kit (external link).


Carting the lot down there through the dunes was a bit annoying, but the results were totally worth it. Plus my assistant did the carting anyway ;)

Photo with a speedlite (my assistant took this, ISO160, F9, 1/100th, hardly ideal settings but you get the idea)
IMAGE: http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/beach1.jpg

Photo of my setup
IMAGE: http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/beach2.jpg

Photo with the strobe (ISO100, 1/250th, F10)
IMAGE: http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/beach3.jpg

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nicksan
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Apr 08, 2012 20:56 |  #2

Did you use a light meter or eye ball it as far as setting the power on the strobe after exposing for the blue sky? Just curious how you work.




  
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tim
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Apr 08, 2012 21:08 |  #3

Full power baby, and if I had it I'd have used another stop or two of light. Camera on M metered for the background.

I have a light meter, last thing I used it for was hammering a nail into a wall, I don't even take it to weddings these days.


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nicksan
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Apr 08, 2012 21:09 |  #4

tim wrote in post #14232536 (external link)
Full power baby, and if I had it I'd have used another stop or two of light. Camera on M metered for the background.

I have a light meter, last thing I used it for was hammering a nail into a wall, I don't even take it to weddings these days.

Ah...I re-read and you used the AB800. :)




  
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brokensocial
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Apr 08, 2012 21:17 |  #5

Nice work. Always enjoy seeing behind the scenes angles...


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charro ­ callado
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Apr 08, 2012 21:39 |  #6

tim wrote in post #14232146 (external link)
Carting the lot down there through the dunes was a bit annoying, but the results were totally worth it. Plus my assistant did the carting anyway ;)

Photo of my setup
QUOTED IMAGE

Tim, two questions.

1. In your setup photo here, it looks like you're still getting decent light on the spectators even though they are not being hit by the strobe. Is this something you'd ever consider shooting without the use of flash? I know you would lose the deep blue in the sky but you'd also lose the telltale "flash" look on the wedding party. I also realize it would require much more work in post to rebalance the exposure. So I guess my question is: was this flash use more for style or more for post-production efficiency?

2. Totally not light-related: did you wear sandals? :lol: I have my first beach wedding this summer and I was wondering if I should bring a pair for the ceremony. Or just go bare feet.

joe




  
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charro ­ callado
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Apr 08, 2012 21:49 |  #7

charro callado wrote in post #14232720 (external link)
Tim, two questions.

1. In your setup photo here, it looks like you're still getting decent light on the spectators even though they are not being hit by the strobe. Is this something you'd ever consider shooting without the use of flash? I know you would lose the deep blue in the sky but you'd also lose the telltale "flash" look on the wedding party. I also realize it would require much more work in post to rebalance the exposure. So I guess my question is: was this flash use more for style or more for post-production efficiency?

2. Totally not light-related: did you wear sandals? :lol: I have my first beach wedding this summer and I was wondering if I should bring a pair for the ceremony. Or just go bare feet.

joe

Nevermind on the first question; I just read your sticky on your workflow and I think this answered it:

=]I can usually get color corrected images from a wedding onto the web within 12 hours of starting this process. The better you are at shooting good exposures the less time it'll take

But still curious about the sandals :)




  
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tim
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Apr 09, 2012 01:58 |  #8

charro callado wrote in post #14232720 (external link)
1. In your setup photo here, it looks like you're still getting decent light on the spectators even though they are not being hit by the strobe. Is this something you'd ever consider shooting without the use of flash? I know you would lose the deep blue in the sky but you'd also lose the telltale "flash" look on the wedding party. I also realize it would require much more work in post to rebalance the exposure. So I guess my question is: was this flash use more for style or more for post-production efficiency?

2. Totally not light-related: did you wear sandals? :lol: I have my first beach wedding this summer and I was wondering if I should bring a pair for the ceremony. Or just go bare feet.

1. It's mostly about the style. I like bright, colorful photos, showing the people and the background. The alternative is a blown out white background and poor contrast, which some people can pull off but I just don't like. I might even get myself a nice little in between camera with a medium size sensor that can sync at higher shutter speeds, then I might not need the big strobes for these situations.

2. I wore my big waterproof Merrell tramping shoes (external link)! US link here (external link). I don't like sand in my shoes. Massive things they are, they will have looked a bit weird, but function over form some days. I wore suit trousers and a black polo, my usual get up, less casual than I used to do but more practical. I changed to black leather business shoes


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mesakid
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Apr 09, 2012 03:35 |  #9

Great picture. Did you use an ND filter?


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tim
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Apr 09, 2012 04:59 |  #10

mesakid wrote in post #14233937 (external link)
Great picture. Did you use an ND filter?

Nope, I don't own an ND filter. I might get one for next season, a few stops off could be really handy at times, taking me down to more reasonable apertures and making it easier to get inside the sync speed, but of course it won't reduce flash power needed.


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scorpio_e
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Apr 09, 2012 06:53 |  #11

Thanks for the set up Tim. I like the look of the final image :)


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umphotography
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Apr 09, 2012 07:47 as a reply to  @ scorpio_e's post |  #12

Tim

Its the only way we shoot outdoors anymore. Screw the speedlights. They cant get what you did right there. We use vagabond minis, 1600's, and 36x48 softboxes. Your example is perfect. good job


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umphotography
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Apr 09, 2012 07:49 as a reply to  @ umphotography's post |  #13

Also
a 1600 gets you that extra stop or two and a circular really helps


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scorpio_e
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Apr 09, 2012 13:16 |  #14

How far away was the light from the couple? It looks like 10 feet?


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tim
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Apr 09, 2012 15:58 |  #15

Not sure how far away they were, around 3-4 meters I guess. I'm at about 16mm for that image.

AB1600 gives you one stop over an AB800.


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Beach wedding setup - aka how to get great images on the beach
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