Night Football Flash Set-up

mestes wrote in post #6503216
Only other camera was either my phone or my wifes point and shoot and that what I used but as you can see its horrible.

its awesome bud, made me laugh and that's a pretty good thing if you ask me.

I took the advice of a friend (and fellow thread participant..Sledhed). Chris mentioned the Bogen Flex Arm so I checked it out and wound up buying two. It's perfect (about 21" long) and I use a superclamp to mount it right to the monopod allowing me to reorient the camera without touching the flash. As a bonus, I'll use em to get my lights a little higher for hoops and hockey as well.

cannot wait to try out this rig Friday

namasste wrote in post #6503406
I took the advice of a friend (and fellow thread participant..Sledhed). Chris mentioned the Bogen Flex Arm so I checked it out and wound up buying two. It's perfect (about 21" long) and I use a superclamp to mount it right to the monopod allowing me to reorient the camera without touching the flash. As a bonus, I'll use em to get my lights a little higher for hoops and hockey as well.

Scott, do you have some pictures of the setup?

I bought RRS wedding pro bracket but it doesn't put flash high enough above the lens. So I get demon eyes and red eyes.

I will try putting flash under the camera for tomorrows game if i can.

bobbyz wrote in post #6506080
Scott, do you have some pictures of the setup?

I bought RRS wedding pro bracket but it doesn't put flash high enough above the lens. So I get demon eyes and red eyes.

I will try putting flash under the camera for tomorrows game if i can.

I'll take one tonight. Here's the nice thing, it's ultra portable, inexpensive and doesn't interfere with my style when I change orientation. I am going to shoot with it tonight to see some results. FWIW, I have shot the last few night soccer games with the flash under the camera and it's really been okay. You still get the red eye somewhat but it's fairly fixable usually. I am going to post a few shots using that setup later today after I upload.

As for the setup, you simply screw the off shoe cord to the one end of the flex arm and insert the other end into the superclamp. Then just clamp it to the monopod directly under the base.. I'd say I am about 18" above the lens using it that way.

here is my final setup that I have decided to stick with

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It's interesting to see everyone mounting the flash high above the camera. What are the advantages of mounting the flash high vs. mounting it under the camera? I mount mine onto the top fly section of my monopod. Just wondering what the advantages are. Thanks, y'all.

Kevin, as already discussed if you mount it low your shadows wil point up. So it might look weired. With flash above the lens, shadows go downwards which makes it look more natural (sun is coming from above).

bobbyz wrote in post #6507713
Kevin, as already discussed if you mount it low your shadows wil point up. So it might look weired. With flash above the lens, shadows go downwards which makes it look more natural (sun is coming from above).

Sorry, but I didn't read every word of every post. I was just asking because I've seen nearly every shooter every week with the flash mounted low. Except those who use the pop-up flash. Thanks. That reasoning makes a lot of sense.

Sauk wrote in post #6506994
here is my final setup that I have decided to stick with

Sauk,

Thanks for the pictures. I've done a little research and decided to buy the same thing you're using. I like the variable height on it. Thanks.

Kevin

kevin,

np man hope you enjoy it.

Sauk wrote in post #6506994
here is my final setup that I have decided to stick with

I don't think that set-up will work at all

gents, here's the flex arm attached to the monopod. I'll post some results using this setup in a separate thread later in the day. I was very pleased with the results and how simple this was to use.

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Well I used flash last night, the flash worked well overall, but my focus was out on a lot of shots. The field had horrible(read the worst I've ever seen) ambient lighting. I think it was like thirty years old. So I think my autofocus on my XTi couldn't handle the low ambient light. Ohh well, live and learn.

Scott, thanks for posting the pictures. Setup looks very nice and it is not expensive.

Yesterday evening I went to home depot and got some corner brackets and hose clamps and finally mounted my 550ex below the camera on monopod. Will see how it works out tonight. I will order the bogen arm thing and see how it works out with flash on top.

Does any one know if there is a something which will let me go from Arca Swiss to bogen arm? That way I don't have to use super-clamp. I can connect bogen flex arm to the wimberley lens plate of my 300mm f2.8 IS.