Looking for a way to clamp my speedlites to the glass at an arena

Just like the title says... I'm looking for a way to clamp my YN-568's to the top of the glass at an arena. Instead of playing hockey next week, Thursday, I've volunteered to take photos of the guys. Any help (please provide links) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Ryan: I've never even seen the inside of a hockey arena so this is just ever-so-slightly "winging it"

Would something like this, coupled with a normal umbrella holder, do the job? The clamp has rubbery V-shaped protection on the fixed part and similar material on the pad of the screw. Gape is just about 1 1/8th inch fully opened. Shouldn't slip, should grip OK hooked over the top of the glass (see, told you I was winging it).

Any good??

How about something like this: http://www.adorama.com​/BSWM.html

There are a variety of vacuum mounts on the market, and there are clamps that slip onto the top edge, like these

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …nts/ci/13931/N/​4071351447

Whortleberry wrote in post #16098836
Ryan: I've never even seen the inside of a hockey arena so this is just ever-so-slightly "winging it"

Would something like this, coupled with a normal umbrella holder, do the job? The clamp has rubbery V-shaped protection on the fixed part and similar material on the pad of the screw. Gape is just about 1 1/8th inch fully opened. Shouldn't slip, should grip OK hooked over the top of the glass (see, told you I was winging it).

Any good??

Haha, thank you! That works

agv8or wrote in post #16098862
How about something like this: http://www.adorama.com​/BSWM.html

Also a good suggestion but a bit bulky.

Wilt wrote in post #16098865
There are a variety of vacuum mounts on the market, and there are clamps that slip onto the top edge, like these

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …nts/ci/13931/N/​4071351447

Perfect! Thank you!!

I have a number of THESE. Perfect for what you want to do. And make aiming the lights a snap.

I'm not sure if this is of any help but I saw it a while back and figured it may be worth sharing:

http://scottkelby.com …al-hockey-photo-workshop/

Manfrotto suction cup can do the job as well

As listed above, though I dont see them named this, a Justin clamp is the way I would go. http://www.amazon.com …Aaps%2Ck%3Ajust​in%20clamp

I'd definitely not do any of the above while the game is actually being played. Lights clamped to the glass could likely snap off and fall on the ice, posing an safety hazard, and I bet the rink's insurance wouldn't be happy about it.

At most I'd have lights on stands behind the glass raised as high as possible, sandbagged down, and tapped with cautionary tape. Best case is up in the rafters.

the ligting should be sufficient without flash.Dont many pro hockey togs shoot in ambient light?

jonneymendoza wrote in post #16101654
the ligting should be sufficient without flash.Dont many pro hockey togs shoot in ambient light?

I dont think. I always see powerful strobes high up in the stadium going off and the pro arenas are usually lit much brithter than smaller rinks. The rink I play at is ISO 3200, 1/250th at 2.8, for example.

tongki wrote in post #16100843
Manfrotto suction cup can do the job as well

This is what I would do, but that's because I have three of them for my car rig. They are $60-70 each with a swivel head, before you install a way of holding the flash, so not a very cost-effective tool for one game.


I suggest either the justin clamp (though I have never used one) or a Manfrotto Super Clamp. I have two handfulls of these and never go to a film set or photoshoot without my case of them in the back of my truck. They would provide a more "positive" clamping force than a spring clamp. I personally would rather be able to vary the amount of clamping force delivered by a piece holding several hundred dollars in flash and trigger.

jonneymendoza wrote in post #16101654
the ligting should be sufficient without flash.Dont many pro hockey togs shoot in ambient light?

pro hockey togs often shoot in pro arenas, where light is much much much better (or at least more plentiful)

most city-owned and local arenas will vary greatly...

Want to second this thought!

AcesNines wrote in post #16101637
I'd definitely not do any of the above while the game is actually being played. Lights clamped to the glass could likely snap off and fall on the ice, posing an safety hazard, and I bet the rink's insurance wouldn't be happy about it.

At most I'd have lights on stands behind the glass raised as high as possible, sandbagged down, and tapped with cautionary tape. Best case is up in the rafters.