Lighting on location with generic dedicated flashes

kkamin · Nov 26, 2009

I'm going to be doing a model shoot, and for one of the locations I do not have a power source but there will we a fair amount of even ambient lighting for me to shoot. But I still want to light the models face with maybe a 1/2 to 1 stop more light, to give it dimension and to make her pop a touch from her surroundings.

1. Can I put a compact flash inside an 18" softbox, and have my assistant hold it in place? Would that work? A monolight softbox with a small compact flash?

2. If so, would this approach look good on an overcast day, if I did this outside?

3. How can I get a compact flash to fire if it is disconnected from my hot shoe? Do they make something for them to communicate? I have Canon gear, but my flash is a generic flash and doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles.

Just trying to get some ideas. Let me know If you have any other ideas.

Thanks,

Kkamin

IgsEMT · Nov 26, 2009

1. Can I put a compact flash inside an 18" softbox, and have my assistant hold it in place? Would that work? A monolight softbox with a small compact flash?

YES. Might not be identical to monolight, but it'll work.

2. If so, would this approach look good on an overcast day, if I did this outside?

I think it'll work on any day as long as you can accent your subject's features.

3. How can I get a compact flash to fire if it is disconnected from my hot shoe? Do they make something for them to communicate? I have Canon gear, but my flash is a generic flash and doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles.

radio transmitters: pocket wizard, quantum, some generic on ebay.

Don't forget a reflector, you might want to subtract the light to here/there

good luck

kkamin · Nov 26, 2009

IgsEMT said:
radio transmitters: pocket wizard, quantum, some generic on ebay.

My dedicated flash doesn't have an input like my monolights do? Does the transmitted I would buy slip on the bottom contacts?

IgsEMT · Nov 26, 2009

some have hotshoe on them and they get mounted onto a lightstand or just ducttape it to a tree

Body of mine got some on ebay, i think something like this Flash Trigger Kit +3 Receiver for Canon 580EX 430EX - eBay (item 170359204283 end time Dec-13-09 00:39:37 PST)I have NO CLUE how good/bad they are. They supposed to come in this week so we can "brake them in" this weekend - guy wants to learn light go figure :lmao:

PHILLIP MAC · Nov 30, 2009

I used to use a power converter linked to a car battery slow recharge but great for using studio lights outside, don't forget to keep your engine running.

Village Idiot · Nov 30, 2009

kkamin said:
I'm going to be doing a model shoot, and for one of the locations I do not have a power source but there will we a fair amount of even ambient lighting for me to shoot. But I still want to light the models face with maybe a 1/2 to 1 stop more light, to give it dimension and to make her pop a touch from her surroundings.

1. Can I put a compact flash inside an 18" softbox, and have my assistant hold it in place? Would that work? A monolight softbox with a small compact flash?

2. If so, would this approach look good on an overcast day, if I did this outside?

3. How can I get a compact flash to fire if it is disconnected from my hot shoe? Do they make something for them to communicate? I have Canon gear, but my flash is a generic flash and doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles.

Just trying to get some ideas. Let me know If you have any other ideas.

Thanks,

Kkamin

What strobes?

www.flashzebra.com makes shoes that fit speedlights that have connections for pc cables or small mono plugs. I'd reccomend the latter as PC cables can be very unreliable. Those them plug into your triggers.