Multi-Flash Hummingbirds

[z06-jim]

Haven't been around for a while and just starting to get interested in multi-flash photography so I thought I would post a couple shots I took recently of some Hummingbirds on my deck.
I'm still experimenting and don't have a clue what I'm doing yet but I'm really enjoying playing around with it.
At the present time I'm using three Canon 580EXII flashes...two on stands as slaves and the other one on camera as the master flash...
The last photo shows my basic set-up...

5DII....300 IS 2.8 w/ 1.4Ex @ 420mm....f/5.0....1/8000 s.....800 ISO....HSS Flash

 

[chammer]

absolutely stunning! great job! the sharpness and color are astounding.

 

[Don Kondra]

Oh yes, I like this.... clarity, frozen wings/pose.

Good work, #4 is my favorite.

The bokeh on the first two I find a little distracting, just my personal taste

Cheers, Don

 

[JamesMason]

Nice, love 3&4

 

[benlonghair]

Those are awesome. Does the 5DII really support flash synch at 1/8000??

 

[DeadEye]

Nice work!!!

Nice set up. Cross lit strobist style and a WIMBERLEY mount SWEET.

 

[DeadEye]

Those are awesome. Does the 5DII really support flash synch at 1/8000??

He is using the focal plane mode on the flash, therefore the flash duration is around 1/200 long pulse the same amount of time the slit travels.

I think only a 580 on camera can controll this type set up with canon but possibly with the new ttl wizards also.

 

[Dao]

#4 is my favorite!

 

[Village Idiot]

Not exactly beginner stuff.

Anyways, you may be better off shooting at 1/200 and exposing for the background and shooting at the lowest flash power possible. Here's the durations for the 580 at lower powers:

Manual at 1/128 power = 1/35,000 second +/- 25%
Manual at 1/64 power = 1/31,000 second +/- 25%
Manual at 1/32 power = 1/19,000 second +/- 25%
Manual at 1/16 power = 1/15,000 second +/- 25%

Much faster than the 1/8000 of the camera and would stop the motion of the wings, giving a clearer no blurred shot? Some guy did this with humming birds and it was picked up on Strobist.

Strobist: Winter Treat: Frozen Hummingbirds

 

[z06-jim]

absolutely stunning! great job! the sharpness and color are astounding.

Thanks much....:cheers:

 

[Don Kondra]

Not exactly beginner stuff.

Strobist: Winter Treat: Frozen Hummingbirds

Interesting read, thank you.

Not a big fan of the dark background although it does eliminate any distractions..

Cheers, Don

 

[Village Idiot]

Not exactly beginner stuff.

Strobist: Winter Treat: Frozen Hummingbirds

Interesting read, thank you.

Not a big fan of the dark background although it does eliminate any distractions..

Cheers, Don

Easy fix. Expose your background to your liking then set your strobe's power to expose your subject.

 

[choudhrysaab]

they all look good but #4 is my favorite as well
everything about that picture is awesome.

btw thats a really nice patio

 

[Don Kondra]

Easy fix. Expose your background to your liking then set your strobe's power to expose your subject.

Oh, I do understand that.

It's just that my personal preference would be somewhere in the middle of z06-jim's shots

A dark background doesn't do the subject justice and somehow "feels" unnatural... IMO

Cheers, Don

 

[z06-jim]

Oh yes, I like this.... clarity, frozen wings/pose.
Good work, #4 is my favorite.
The bokeh on the first two I find a little distracting, just my personal taste
Cheers, Don

Much appreciated Don.....:cheers:...
I agree about the BG Bokeh in the first two myself....I've been experimenting with several different settings and techniques trying to come up with something decent....:scratch:

Don't have a clue about what I'm doing yet but sure is fun trying....