Toddler at the park.

[MattK0138]

I am taking my son to the park to try and get some photos. What do you recommend I use? I have 1 tripod and a vivitar 285 and 383 flashes. No modifiers. I use paper as a snoot at times. Is there a cheap diy modifier I should use? Or will I be ok with what I have?

 

[tirediron]

I recommend that you immediately run out and spend $5000 on lighting gear and use that! If you've got a couple of good flash units, than modifiers are as cheap as your wife's Tupperware cupboard. Any translucent plastic such as the "clear" Tupperware, some types of water bottles, etc, will make a good DIY diffusers. Panels of white poster board or Coroplast make great reflectors. If I were doing this, I would set up the 285 on a tripod as your key light using a remote trigger or sync cord 30-40 degrees camera R/L (depending on where the sun is), a reflector about 80 degrees on the opposite side and start there. See what happens.

 

[MattK0138]

Damn I was afraid of that. I am applying for loans now.

 

[shortpants]

A flash on a light stand is going to be useless with a toddler when you're chasing your kid across the park. I'd worry more about the bribary to keep him still! As far as modifiers, you can easily make things at home like tirediron said. Good luck!

 

[MattK0138]

I have an assistant going with me. He loves the slide. So I was thinking of setting up at the bottom and getting shots when he stops at the bottom so I can set up a reflector and flash.