2 speedlites 32 people

Would 2 speedlites cover this group shot, 8 across 4 deep?

Thanks

Not enough info. Inside, outside, time of day if outside. Full lighting, or fill? Are you using modifiers at all or bare flash?

Inside more bare fill as ambient is adequate, thanks.

Thinking ettl?

Probably 600s

Then yes. Shouldnt be a problem ETTL should work. If ambient is good enough start out at -1/2 stop and the FEC as needed.

Thanks, I'm debating taking on this "freebie" which would involve a group shot, suits/dignitaries.
Their regular shooter left them dry because of a dispute, probably because of non-paid *lol*

I was looking at that guy's group he did last year and to me I thought 2speedlites for fill would have been better. It's been awhile since I've used lights and was thinking about adding 2 speedlites to my bag for these things.

I should clarify that I'm not a working pro but I did have training in photography, my former career was in advertising.

auto-clicker wrote in post #16061076
Thanks, I'm debating taking on this "freebie" which would involve a group shot, suits/dignitaries.
Their regular shooter left them dry because of a dispute, probably because of non-paid *lol*

I was looking at that guy's group he did last year and to me I thought 2speedlites for fill would have been better. It's been awhile since I've used lights and was thinking about adding 2 speedlites to my bag for these things.

Be careful, once you start using flash to light people you get dependent on it.

8 people across, 4 deep...let's assume about 24' across, about 6' deep

If 580EX is set to 50mm coverage, we have GN130 at ISO 100. At distance to subject of 20', each light illuminates about 14' across, so two lights would fully illuminate the entire width of the group which could be fully captured in the frame with a 28mm lens on FF. At 20' and assuming ISO 100, f/5 and at 26' f/6.5...just over 2/3 EV falloff due to Inverse Square.

If, instead, you assume ISO 400 and position lights at 30' from subject and set flash head for 70mm coverage, again two lights fully illuminate the entire front of the group, but now with GN320. At 30' from lights to group we shoot at f/10 and at 36' to back of group we shoot at f/8.9, which is falloff of just over 0.5EV ...the entire group is more uniformly illuminated from back to front.

Of course, you would need some means of triggering the two flash units from camera position.

Thanks for the math Wilt, this is something I need to work on and probably one reason I don't do too much externally lit stuff


Here is a screen capture of what was done last year.

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auto-clicker wrote in post #16061345
Thanks for the math Wilt, this is something I need to work on and probably one reason I don't do too much externally lit stuff

Here is a screen capture of what was done last year.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

*note* i'm not criticizing his work but i'm trying to better it

Then don't stick the lights down low, so that shadows are cast on people behind...like the lady in the blue gown with a giant head shadow on her face!

Wilt wrote in post #16061704
Then don't stick the lights down low, so that shadows are cast on people behind...like the lady in the blue gown with a giant head shadow on her face!

*lol* I know this isn't my image.

You can even do it with one speedlight bounced if you need to. Both taken in crappy lighting conditions with an on camera 580 EX2.

-g- wrote in post #16061898
You can even do it with one speedlight bounced if you need to. Both taken in crappy lighting conditions with an on camera 580 EX2.

Now, these are impressive!.

How far back did you have to go to bounce?

usdm wrote in post #16061934
Now, these are impressive!.

How far back did you have to go to bounce?

Not very. I think both are shot with the 24-70. I'm probably 20 - 25 feet away max with the head angled about 45 degrees. The top one has a Lightroom gradient to get a little more exposure onto the back folks.

Two speedlites with umbrellas will cover your group. I did a family of 20 plus at New Years that way.
Get the lights up and also the camera. That helps with DoF when they are stacked.
Have the two lights close to the camera so they function as a single larger light source.

Remember, this is not an attempt to win a dramatic lighting contest, its a mission to properly illuminate 30 people so they can say "that's me..." to their friends when looking at the picture. Without adding "...the one with the shadow across my face."

dmward wrote in post #16062022
Two speedlites with umbrellas will cover your group. I did a family of 20 plus at New Years that way.
Get the lights up and also the camera. That helps with DoF when they are stacked.
Have the two lights close to the camera so they function as a single larger light source.

Remember, this is not an attempt to win a dramatic lighting contest, its a mission to properly illuminate 30 people so they can say "that's me..." to their friends when looking at the picture. Without adding "...the one with the shadow across my face."

This cannot be emphasized enough. Too many times here we hear about someone trying key and fill with a group of 10 and end up with shadows all over the place. Flat even light is your friend here.