How would you lite this venue?

I will be shoting a wedding reception at this very nice venue (night time). I have done night events shots before (straight flash with minisofbox) but I would like to try something different this time. The B/G asked me to shot the formals here , not at the church. I am planning to use camera on tripod and also my AB with umbrella for that.
Now , for candids, what would you use on your flash in order to get sof light on the subjects? I have the luminiquest minisofbox but as I say before would like to try something else. May be this www.abetterbouncecard.​com , the lightsphere or the stofen.
Most of this photos were taken at 1600 ISO f4.5 and 30s since I was using the 10-22 lens. The 50mm, 1.4 will be my best friend that night and also the 70-200. My goal is get the best ambient light exposure possible.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

LuisE

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Unfortunately this looks to me like a direct flash venue. The ABBC (which I have) still directs most of the light from your flash up for a ceiling bounce. In this venue there's no ceiling to bounce the light back!

I find this works well (see following link) and can give you direct with difussion or bounce - you decide how much power to throw forward. I don't even use my Lightsphere these days.

http://www.dembflashdi​ffusers.com/

Cheers,

Chris

I am a big fan of bouncing. Bounce off anything you can find. Get down low and bounce off tablecloths... bounce off walls. Or.... bounce off PEOPLE.

Pick a target to be your bounce subject, aim the flash head right at them and let 'er rip! Sometimes they're confused because they can't figure out why they're getting flashed while the lens is pointing somewhere else... but oh well.

This picture was taken with flash bounced off two people:

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LuisE wrote in post #2332209
.....I would like to try something different this time. .......My goal is get the best ambient light exposure possible.

"Trying" something new may not be a good idea when you are shooting a wedding. Try it before the event with different settings and see the results first. I have all three; Stofen, Lightsphere and Lumiquest Softbox. I did not perform a scrutinized test but overall I am happy with the softbox best.

If you are going for something new and different in terms of lighting, you might try one or two slave flash units for different effects.

MALI

picturecrazy.. i really dig that photo.. especially the first time you post it. i've been experience bouncing flash of myself and other places.. my wife looks at me like i'm super photogenic or something... haha

LuisE.. i'd think probably direct flash would be best, unless if there are some bystander or your assistant nearby for you to bounce the flash off of. i'd experient with it first, since you know when you'll be shooting and where. so best to try it there in advance if possible.

EOS mE wrote in post #2332558
LuisE.. i'd think probably direct flash would be best, unless if there are some bystander or your assistant nearby for you to bounce the flash off of. i'd experient with it first, since you know when you'll be shooting and where. so best to try it there in advance if possible.

Thanks for the advice, good idea, i will practice before the wedding datre and see the result. I have used a white reflector to bounce my flash in big rooms (hight celinligs or not close walls). I realize that is gonna work the same but had not think about it.

Picturecrazi, that photo is really nice thanks also for your suggestion.

Jamie, I admire your work and I really appreciatte your comment.

Thanks all of you for your adivice

LuisE

MALI wrote in post #2332546
"Trying" something new may not be a good idea when you are shooting a wedding. Try it before the event with different settings and see the results first. I have all three; Stofen, Lightsphere and Lumiquest Softbox. I did not perform a scrutinized test but overall I am happy with the softbox best.

If you are going for something new and different in terms of lighting, you might try one or two slave flash units for different effects.

MALI

Mali, this a good advice. Weddings is not the place to learn, thats why I use to go to the places in advance , take some photos of the venues and make sure I will have the right tools for the gig.

Regarding to the slave units, I have used my Allien Bees and Photogenics and I feel confident now with them ,my only fear is that some rain or wind can damage my strobes using the outdoors. But I will check how can they help me to get what I am looking for.

Thanks,

LuisE

You could use the 50mm F1.4, ISO 1600, and forget about flash. Be very careful of DOF though.

picturecrazy wrote in post #2332478
I am a big fan of bouncing. Bounce off anything you can find. Get down low and bounce off tablecloths... bounce off walls. Or.... bounce off PEOPLE.

Pick a target to be your bounce subject, aim the flash head right at them and let 'er rip! Sometimes they're confused because they can't figure out why they're getting flashed while the lens is pointing somewhere else... but oh well.

This picture was taken with flash bounced off two people:

It can work with a little practice. My mentor told me ceiling bounce is overused and almost as boring as direct flash, so I'm used to not using the ceiling. (though I still do at times, but don't tell him)

Great idea!

tim wrote in post #2334624
You could use the 50mm F1.4, ISO 1600, and forget about flash. Be very careful of DOF though.

Yea, I have gotten nice shots with that lens. But I want to avoid a lot of postprocessing.I am not confident yet with that technique (no flash) and my photoshop skills are limited.
Anyway I have 12GB and can play a little with this also.

Thanks Tim for your suggestion.
LuisE

LuisE wrote in post #2335200
Yea, I have gotten nice shots with that lens. But I want to avoid a lot of postprocessing.I am not confident yet with that technique (no flash) and my photoshop skills are limited.
Anyway I have 12GB and can play a little with this also.

Thanks Tim for your suggestion.
LuisE

Why would you think that combo would require post processing? Just make sure your exposures are good and you'll be fine. I usually use manual if the lighting's consistent, or Av/partial metering and meter the faces on EC+1 or so. I sometimes use fill flash, but beware as 1/128th power of a speedlite can still blow out an image at ISO1600 and F1.4. Put the diffuser panel down if you need to, or use a soft box. Don't bounce fill flash, as you're trying to fill the shadows from overhead lights.

If you want some interesting shadows hold your camera upside down. That position also works well if you're taking photos through a car window and the flash is higher that the top of the window.

tim wrote in post #2335251
that position also works well if you're taking photos through a car window

Nice.....I've never heard that! Thanks

LuisE wrote in post #2334538
Thanks for the advice, good idea, i will practice before the wedding datre and see the result. I have used a white reflector to bounce my flash in big rooms (hight celinligs or not close walls). I realize that is gonna work the same but had not think about it.

LuisE

no problem LuisE. you can also try the "abetterbouncecard" which i did. and i think some shots are more natural compared to using the LSII. one this is better than the LSII is definitely the reduced weight. haha

mackb wrote in post #2336848
Nice.....I've never heard that! Thanks

I never heard of anyone else doing it, it's just common sense to me. If you need light, and putting it about the camera doesn't work, put it below.

Just an idea... why not place some strobes around the area on top of the lights... I have placed some around the room before to add a little more light.

Like where I placed yellow circles...

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