Is this a crazy idea?

[John]

I’m new to portrait photography, so I’m stumbling around, trying new things, and asking goofy questions. Would it be bat-crazy to mount a speedlite on top of the backdrop support in order to give me a hair light? The reason that I’m even entertaining the idea is that I noticed a ceiling mounted softbox in a local portrait studio.

[danchez]

try it and find out....

[John]

Originally Posted by danchez

try it and find out....

I think I’ll try it. I have an extra hotshoe bracket that fits on a light stand. I’ll run down to the local Ace Hardware tomorrow and check out their PVC fittings. They may have a fitting that will slide right onto the backdrop tubing. I would think that it would beat mounting one in the ceiling. All that you would have to do is lower the backdrop poles in order to change the batteries in the speedlite.

[Azul]

Go for it and see what happens.

[Tom]

This is what you need: Justin Clamp

I have a couple of these bad boys. Lets you put a speedlight anywhere.

[z-monster]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

This is what you need: Justin Clamp

I have a couple of these bad boys. Lets you put a speedlight anywhere.

x2

[BRosePhoto]

Go for it. I've done it using a big clamp with a bracket on it and it works fine. However, you'll want to be mindful of the angle and height above your subject or it could look bad. Also, use a snoot or a grid to control the beam, otherwise it will light up much more than the hair and probably give you some lens flare.

[John]

I bought the parts to make the bracket today, but it will be Monday before I have time to put it together. I’ll post some pictures when finished. It looks like the total cost will be less than $10.00. Brett mentioned using a snoot to contain the light. DIY has some plans for making a homemade speedlite snoot that I may tackle, as well.

[DoublyDan]

Here's my Dano Clamp...the 1/4 threaded stud came from those window locks...the A clamp came from Home Depot the hole was already there and the rest is a nut in between the A clamp and cold shoe.Works perfect. Cost was nil as I had everything already in the garage.




Image taken with my EVO

[John]

I finished it today. I used one copper fitting, a short piece of copper tubing, and a set screw. I think the total expence is about $5.00.

[DoublyDan]

Great idea. may have to try this as well..

[BenE]

I believe the spread of the light will be too much. It will be difficult ... well nearly impossible...to adjust the output.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by BenE

I believe the spread of the light will be too much. It will be difficult ... well nearly impossible...to adjust the output.

That's why we 'try and see'.

John,

I say go for it and let us know how it works for you.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by Sonny

That's why we 'try and see'.

John,

I say go for it and let us know how it works for you.

Perhaps I should have said.. I have already tried it and see-d it."

Without some sort of snoot or a modifier, the light is spread too wide (horizontally), and most likely too much in the vertical direction. But with a modifier, or not, there is no modeling light to enable a person to "see" where the light will hit.

The purpose of a hair light is to light .... hair. The purpose of a small strobe, such as this, is to have a large horizontal spread.


This one still produces a rather large spread.

http://www.fjwestcott.com/products/p...head=speedlite

Or this one.. which is similar to what I tried.

http://www.fjwestcott.com/products/p...ead=haloapollo

[John]

I’m very green at the studio stuff, so this may indeed turn out to be a dead end experiment. However, I love trying new things and sort of pushing the old envelope. A light on a boom would probably be easier to move around and adjust because you could simply move it rather than your subject. I’m pretty sure that I can modify the light from the speedlite with a grid or snoot, but the subject must be positioned to the light.