Help with WB, speedlite strobes and BB

chris270 wrote in post #9385311
Yeah, I just used one ab800 superclamped to the second story track railing of the gym and pointed it towards the foul line. I will take a pic of the setup tonight if I remember when I'm there for a boys game. The mark III has a kelvin function for wb, just as you described...messing with the wheel per 100.

OK, that's what I thought with the Kelvin adjustments. I do that too, but I'm not throwing as much light as you. Cool. Thanks!

Mo power,Chas, mo power!. Try shooting at ISO 800 and increase your flash to at least 1/2 power. I have done it before with a pair of 540EZ's and it worked OK bounced off the ceiling. See examples below.

I don't know what to tell you about the focus issues. I shot a volleyball game at f/2, ISO 6400 and I had a lot of non-keepers also. The depth of field is really shallow.

I'd like to see you shoot at f/3.2 - f/3.5. That should help alot.
Good luck.
Mike

Example of 540EZ (pair) bounced off the ceiling from above and behind the backboard.

Nice image with the 580EX!

As of now, I'm shooting in a MS gym. Although it is nice and bright and new, it has no railings on a none existant upper level. I wish I had a bit more room to work in. The best I can do is clamp to a hand rail on the bleachers or on a chin-up bar or light stand. I'm going to try this coming Friday night shooting from the other end of the floor. There is more room to opperate there and a few more places to clamp strobes.

Also, I just had a thought to help increase power out put of the strobes. But I'll have to test my theory out first before saying it out loud.

Got a light stand? A few ball bungees and you are good to go.

Another good idea there. I've done stuff like that with TV lights before. It really works well.
Thanks again.

Chas, I concure...crank those suckers up! Having very similar results to yours along the way, all I can say is that more juice solves a myriad of problems for me. The camera tends to grab focus faster (more contrast?)with the additional light too. Good luck.

ChasWG wrote in post #9384726
Hey Chris, so just the one b800? Any set up shots of your light(s)?

I took some shots from tonights game of the one light alienbee setup...

So you only shoot from the side the strobe in on then? Have you thought about another strobe on the other side, even a speedlite for fill?
Thanks for the images. That helps too.
God I wish I had a second level rail to mount stuff to.

I can't answer for Chris, but that is the side I prefer to shoot on also. Just sit behind the baseline, with the light above and behind and shoot them as they come at ya. Looks like one light works pretty well.

That second level is nice.

ChasWG wrote in post #9392748
So you only shoot from the side the strobe in on then? Have you thought about another strobe on the other side, even a speedlite for fill?
Thanks for the images. That helps too.
God I wish I had a second level rail to mount stuff to.

Yeah I have a speedlight for the other side, just have to buy another pocketwizard and superclamp. Trying to get the best out of what I have, but would like another ab800 for the other side. Money is a little tight right now so just waiting for some more parent orders to get more equipment....

chris270 wrote in post #9393361
Yeah I have a speedlight for the other side, just have to buy another pocketwizard and superclamp. Trying to get the best out of what I have, but would like another ab800 for the other side. Money is a little tight right now so just waiting for some more parent orders to get more equipment....

Completely understandable. I was thinking about just buying the 50mm f1.4, but now I'm not sure. I think I'm going to pump up the light out put a whole bunch and shoot with my 70-200 f4L tomorrow night. I have a working plan to get 4 speedlights all firing at once at just one end of the court. We'll see how the extra light and different, much faster focusing lens helps things out.

Chas, check out image #10 in my gallery of Yates v Seven Lakes.

Look closely and you will see another photographers light stand attached to one of the vertical railings on the second level. That's the same level I had my Bees mounted on, only I was at one end only. This guy had a light duty 10 foot stand with 2 speedlights on it. Each had a battery pack. They were aimed out and slightly down towards each end of the court. He told me he was just licking the court with his lights. He had the same set up on the other side of the court. He was walking all around the gym. I haven't seen any of his photos so I don't know how they turned out. So far, I have sold enough prints to pay for the gas out there (110 mi round trip) and MaxPreps has used a couple of the pics in their articles and video about Joseph Young and Yates HS so I am cool with that. Plus I got to see an awesome game for free!

Note: Image #7 shows my flash. Fortunately the goal blocked out the brunt of the light.

Interesting set up the other guy has. Do you know if he gelled his lights with anything, maybe a green to balance with the over heads?

Sorry, I can't answer that one but I don't think so.

I also tried the 50 1.4 and it seems to do the same thing as yours. It locks on to something (usually behind the desired subject) and wont let go when the subject under the center focus point moves toward the camera. My Bball lens of choice is the 70-200 2.8 since there is no room under the net in our HS gyms.