The automotive strobist setup pic thread

Can anyone tell me if 2x 120W strobes would be useful in shooting cars? I have one speedlight which I can use off camera but want to purchase 2 strobes to go with it for shooting cars.

stumbows wrote in post #14626451
Can anyone tell me if 2x 120W strobes would be useful in shooting cars? I have one speedlight which I can use off camera but want to purchase 2 strobes to go with it for shooting cars.

I was always told that you need at least 400Ws strobes to shoot cars.

Clignoteur wrote in post #14630191
I was always told that you need at least 400Ws strobes to shoot cars.

If that is the case, then explain how lots of people get some great shots with hot shoe flashes?

the only real problem with using monolights for automotive photography is portability. Battery packs like vagabonds or a small generator can do the trick.

steelbluesleepr wrote in post #14630921
If that is the case, then explain how lots of people get some great shots with hot shoe flashes?

....

Easy. Low standards. Hi ISO. Low image magnification, such as web publication. Wide apertures, instead of small (and sufficient and well controlled depth of field). I suspect polarising filters will be few and far between, when they may have been a benefit.

Also sheer probability. When you have millions of people, with Photoshop, uploading millions of images, chances are that at least a few will be pretty spectacular.

It's like shooting stuff on an iphone, point+shoot etc. You can get some nice images that way too but is that a good option, just because you can do it? I use a couple of small hot shoe flashes amongst my other flashes but I would never be able to use just hot shoe flashes, they're just too weak for most (car) photography. Of course you could limit yourself to silver (or light metalic) cars and then you'd be just fine.

Regardless, I second the 400ws plus view, and even that is a minimum IMHO. Most (high end) hot shoe flashes are in the 100-150ws ballpark, very roughly (depending on the zoom settings you use).

Lighting setup can be found in my facebook page http://www.facebook.co​m/stehophoto

StE823 wrote in post #14632270
Lighting setup can be found in my facebook page http://www.facebook.co​m/stehophoto

Saw this posted on stancenation today. It's amazing dude I love it!

StE823 wrote in post #14632270
Lighting setup can be found in my facebook page http://www.facebook.co​m/stehophoto

This is awesome. I love shots like these. I need to work on my lighting game lol.

StE823 wrote in post #14632270
Lighting setup can be found in my facebook page http://www.facebook.co​m/stehophoto

Epic shot.. Saw it on Stance nation's Facebook Page!

Nice shot! Gotta' love that kind of paint.

Excellent capture of the 370/Fairlady.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #14638764
Nice shot! Gotta' love that kind of paint.

Agreed Frank, makes it so much easier.

The setup is people holding the flashes behind the pillars closest to the truck. I wanted a different parking garage shot then the norm, I have never seen this.

2 580ex's at 1/4 power
Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 46 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/matttrombley/7​460908188/

PhotosGuy wrote in post #14638764
Nice shot! Gotta' love that kind of paint.

I agree Frank, in my day the called it primer

Mick Emmett wrote in post #14644461
I agree Frank, in my day the called it primer

You clear coated primer? I painted for a while but never cleared primer.

stumbows wrote in post #14626451
Can anyone tell me if 2x 120W strobes would be useful in shooting cars? I have one speedlight which I can use off camera but want to purchase 2 strobes to go with it for shooting cars.

yes you easily can. seriously, don't listen to any one that says you can't. its a pretentious arrogant thing some photographers resort to when they think their work is superior and feel the only way to get the job done is how they did it themselves.


400 will be easier, but very possible with 150. with 400, you can shoot from as far back as you need. with 150, you'll have to get close and then crop your stands out. very easy task.

yes, 400 will make your job much easier, obviously. But if you know lighting and photography, you'll know how to make the job work with 150. why would you need 400ws? when you work with paying clients.

Set-up. Three B800s @ half power, one is behind my mustang.