off camera lighting

when using off camera lighting does anyone shoot without a modifier? i usually shoot weddings by myself and using a modifier is just too much hassle, especially when the wind blows. i like the extra light for fill but i'd really like to lighten things up so i can move around quicker and easier.

I don't do weddings, but I have this and it's very useful for both handheld or mounted off-camera flash.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_267_Pocketbox_​Max_8.html

If you look at Dankatas work in the 135l thread he rarely uses a modifier. One thing to consider is the effect you are trying to achieve. If you just want a little fill then bare lights can be very effective, but if you are trying to make the ocf the key light then the sharp edges of the shadows are more noticeable.

Considering that it seems the best lighting is one where the light source is big, about the only way is to add a diffuser of some sort, either an umbrella or softbox, correct? Otherwise either the light falloff would be too great because you had to move your light back pretty far, or you will have hotspots if you move the light too close. Even if you bounce the light off a panel, you are still going to have that panel to deal with.

There are ways to easily anchor a light stand down so that breezes don't knock down your equipment. 4 tent stakes and 2 long bungies can hold down a stand pretty well and won't take up a lot of space.

Some of these: http://www.amazon.com …ctive-Tools/dp/B00WC1OJXO
Some of these: http://www.amazon.com …=1-7&keywords=bungie+cord

4 stakes down, one bungie to each pair, but wrapped once around the light stand on one of the extension clamps. Just a thought? I haven't tried this yet myself, but it is my plan. Thoughts? I know it goes against your wanting to move around alot, so this won't work in that situation.

I just bought a streaklight monolight, and am thinking about adding this accessory. I could put this light about anywhere, a tree, a light stand, have it held, etc, and it should make for a very portable system.

http://www.adorama.com​/fpbd11sl.html

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17777291
Considering that it seems the best lighting is one where the light source is big, about the only way is to add a diffuser of some sort, either an umbrella or softbox, correct? Otherwise either the light falloff would be too great because you had to move your light back pretty far, or you will have hotspots if you move the light too close. Even if you bounce the light off a panel, you are still going to have that panel to deal with.

There are ways to easily anchor a light stand down so that breezes don't knock down your equipment. 4 tent stakes and 2 long bungies can hold down a stand pretty well and won't take up a lot of space.

Some of these: http://www.amazon.com …ctive-Tools/dp/B00WC1OJXO
Some of these: http://www.amazon.com …=1-7&keywords=bungie+cord

4 stakes down, one bungie to each pair, but wrapped once around the light stand on one of the extension clamps. Just a thought? I haven't tried this yet myself, but it is my plan. Thoughts? I know it goes against your wanting to move around alot, so this won't work in that situation.

Staking a stand is impractical for wedding work. It's great in theory but the time simply isn't there.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17777295
Staking a stand is impractical for wedding work. It's great in theory but the time simply isn't there.

exactly. time is very limited.

for normal portrait session, i have no problem weighing it down with sand bags, for wedding work that time inst there. until i start using a VAL, i may have to experiment with bare flash.

I did say this wouldn't meet the criteria of moving around...

How about this article? http://improvephotogra​phy.com …amera-lighting-modifiers/

i keep seeing those recommended. i may have to try one out.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17777325
I did say this wouldn't meet the criteria of moving around...

How about this article? http://improvephotogra​phy.com …amera-lighting-modifiers/

Basically worthless when used off camera. The flashbnender is useful where you can bounce and you want to redirect some of the light forward for fill. But off camera they don't increase the size of light source and the bounce card is inefficient directing most of the light skyward.

It shows that it can be bent in about any shape, including a snoot. Interesting idea.

I use a DEMB bounce card on my 580II for weddings, and it worked well enough in about all situations, where I was pretty close. I didn't have any off camera flash stands with me on the last outing however.

I know what they are capable of, I have one and I use it. But if anyone who has one would do empiracle tests they would realize that it's a poor solution for ocf. This falls into the fong, stofen, mini softbox category of things that make you feel like you are doing something but in the long run may even detract rather than help.

I always use some sort of diffuser, and even though Fong did this 1st comparison, since each shot was consistent, it makes for a pretty good comparison of effects. It sounds like the only issue is what diffuser can be used that won't act like a sail, and is easy to lug around on the flash and stand as you have to move around.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=9UFGy3F2Suc
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=3ZstWIk2cTU

It would be fun just to go out and try to do different things, you can pick up white foam cheaply and you can shape it to about any shape, copying many of the designs of things you can purchase, just to see what the impacts are.

Here is a topic on FM talking about this in the past: http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/93119​3

i have a stofen, small soft boxes, a small 8x12 flash mount modifier, honestly none do much more than a bare flash. if im going to use a modifier, then i may as well use a large one. The problem is that its too much to carry around and work with when its just me.

i more interested in if anyone shoots a bare flash and how good the results are. Do you set the flash to manual a a low power, eTTL, other, etc?

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17777416
I always use some sort of diffuser, and even though Fong did this 1st comparison, since each shot was consistent, it makes for a pretty good comparison of effects. It sounds like the only issue is what diffuser can be used that won't act like a sail, and is easy to lug around on the flash and stand as you have to move around.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=9UFGy3F2Suc
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=3ZstWIk2cTU

It would be fun just to go out and try to do different things, you can pick up white foam cheaply and you can shape it to about any shape, copying many of the designs of things you can purchase, just to see what the impacts are.

If its not big enough to catch some wind, its not big enough to do any good. Bounce cards don't work outside as 80% of your light is lost to the sky. Speedlite are underpowered as it is.

Don't confuse indoor use and outdoor. The Northrup video was all about using different bounce devices. I didn't bother watching the fong video. He has zero credibility.