Using MULTIPLE strobes - creative examples - post yours!

JakAHearts wrote in post #14505611
Einstein through an octa with no diffuser but an inner reflector w/ full CTO gel camera right.

Two speedlights at full power shooting through a white umbrella, lighting the background and providing ambient fill for the room. Reflector camera left on the wall to fill the shadow side of his face. Two stop Hoya ND filter to knock the ambient down.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/56709879@N07/7​299521256/
IMG_7467 by shanereighard, on Flickr

good job... now just for discussion.
why didn't you just meter the background then compensate?

PhilF wrote in post #14507028
good job... now just for discussion.
why didn't you just meter the background then compensate?

Yes. Inquiring minds want to know.

Sorry Phil, I dont understand. Are you asking why I didnt shoot this natural light?

Edit - And if thats the question, its because I paid all that money for this junk, I feel like using it!

JakAHearts wrote in post #14507116
Sorry Phil, I dont understand. Are you asking why I didnt shoot this natural light?

Edit - And if thats the question, its because I paid all that money for this junk, I feel like using it!

That's why we all do this stuff, isn't it?

JakAHearts wrote in post #14507116
Sorry Phil, I dont understand. Are you asking why I didnt shoot this natural light?

Edit - And if thats the question, its because I paid all that money for this junk, I feel like using it!

Was the ambient such that you had to add to it and then to bright for the aperture you wanted to shoot?

Gotcha Windpig. Firstly, the light in there was nice, but flat and really really dull. Plus, it was coming from behind him. I also wanted him to be the brightest thing in the image. At 1/160th (max I can get on the 5DII) the panels behind the gentleman were completely blown out when I had proper exposure on his face. I wanted to shoot at a low aperture to get a thinner DOF. I was limited in shooting space because of the building size as I wanted a lot of area behind him in the image. So I tossed on the ND filter, opened up the aperture to where I liked the background light and put up the strobe. Then the background was too dark and a lot of shadow detail was missing in the shadows. The two rear lights brought that back to a level I liked. Also, as I previously mentioned, I wanted that shift in color balance between the subject and the background. Originally, I thought a quarter cut of CTO would do it but it turns out, the full cut put it where I liked it. I think thats about it.

I think I have a few test shots of the ambient only light. Ill check this evening.

Gotcha.

JakAHearts wrote in post #14507398
... I think I have a few test shots of the ambient only light. Ill check this evening.

Hangin' around for that but no pressure. Nice shot.

JakAHearts wrote in post #14507116
Sorry Phil, I dont understand. Are you asking why I didnt shoot this natural light?

Edit - And if thats the question, its because I paid all that money for this junk, I feel like using it!

LOL. I was asking why do you need to go all that trouble in lighting up your background. If there was enough light, you can always meter the background, use available light as highlight and a fill...... then hit your subject with a strobe in front if needed.

Ok Ok. I admit it, my confidence in using natural light is about zero. Sadly, I dont have a natural light shot, but I do have a shot where the background strobes didnt fire. I dont claim to have the skills as some others here so I just do what I know best, putting fake light on what I want.

JakAHearts wrote in post #14508622
....putting fake light on what I want.

I use to do that too.

JakAHearts wrote in post #14508622
... putting fake light on what I want.

Definitely more zip in the background flowers when the lights fired.

oldvultureface wrote in post #14508877
Definitely more zip in the background flowers when the lights fired.

yes

Worthy of the effort.

LoL Windpig, I can never tell if youre being serious or sarcastic. Darn internet and its lack of inflection.