Flash question, envolving Rodeos

[OneShot]

Ok I shoot a lot of bull riding, most the time at night, I usually use 2 alien bee strobes mounted on the arena fence somewhere. I get great shots, but sometimes I dont have the time or resources to mount my bees.

Now the thing about using a hot shoe flash is that at night when you shoot with it, the dust in the air is a big problem. So it makes it impossible to shoot with the flash directly on the camera.

When I shoot Im using a Canon 50D with a 70-200, now the thing Im trying to accomplish here is to be able to use that with a 580EX II hot shoe flash on my camera and not get the snowing effect from the dust in the air.

Would flash bracket work?

[Village Idiot]

Originally Posted by OneShot

Ok I shoot a lot of bull riding, most the time at night, I usually use 2 alien bee strobes mounted on the arena fence somewhere. I get great shots, but sometimes I dont have the time or resources to mount my bees.

Now the thing about using a hot shoe flash is that at night when you shoot with it, the dust in the air is a big problem. So it makes it impossible to shoot with the flash directly on the camera.

When I shoot Im using a Canon 50D with a 70-200, now the thing Im trying to accomplish here is to be able to use that with a 580EX II hot shoe flash on my camera and not get the snowing effect from the dust in the air.

Would flash bracket work?

I'd say it might to an extent, but it depends how far off the camera you can get it vs. the angle at which it's hitting the dust and being reflected back to the camera. What about using whatever triggers (assuming they're radio) for the bees on the 580 and bungeeing it to a spot where you can sit for the best photos. I know it might not be ideal, but that way you'll definitely be able to get the light off axis.

If you have triggers, you could always hand hold the flash as far off as a bracket would take it and do some test shots to see how well it would work for you.

[craig_k]

lonny, light set up is 30min or less for me.... i place 1 1600 c-clamped onto the outgate overhead bar directed towards bucking chutes and the second 1600 ab back about 100 foot or midway into arena length then swival that particular lite to meet the event at hand direction ... thats as easy\effeciant of setup i've found in 4 years experience with rodeo\working ranches and 90% of my work other 10% is musicians.....thats it.....ab's made my life issue free

[OneShot]

Originally Posted by Village Idiot

I'd say it might to an extent, but it depends how far off the camera you can get it vs. the angle at which it's hitting the dust and being reflected back to the camera. What about using whatever triggers (assuming they're radio) for the bees on the 580 and bungeeing it to a spot where you can sit for the best photos. I know it might not be ideal, but that way you'll definitely be able to get the light off axis.

If you have triggers, you could always hand hold the flash as far off as a bracket would take it and do some test shots to see how well it would work for you.

If I was to use the 580 on remote on the fence around the arena Id just use my bees.

[OneShot]

Originally Posted by craig_k

lonny, light set up is 30min or less for me.... i place 1 1600 c-clamped onto the outgate overhead bar directed towards bucking chutes and the second 1600 ab back about 100 foot or midway into arena length then swival that particular lite to meet the event at hand direction ... thats as easy\effeciant of setup i've found in 4 years experience with rodeo\working ranches and 90% of my work other 10% is musicians.....thats it.....ab's made my life issue free

Ill still do that, but mainly Id like to get some other shots while Im out there, say switching to my small lens and shooting the guys getting on the bull, or some candid shots behind the chutes and such.

Its more for mobility for different type of shots that I cant just up root the bees and move them.

And Also when I do my youth rodeo stuff at one arena I cant move the bees for some of the events.