Remote SB800 to add some fill at reception

[kevin7]

greetings - i'm shooting a wedding soon. got the

preshots/posed/ceremony stuff covered.

 

however, i'd like to try to improve the reception shots - namely

adding some fill to the background using another sb800 remotely, but

stationary. the main is onboard sb800.

 

the room is perhaps 30X30 feet with a high ceiling (no bouncing the

main, will use a diffuser and/or lumiquest type set up on a flash

bracket). i'll be able to set a remote unit(s) on a balcony at one

end in a way to bounce it off the now closer ceiling. i may just

point the flash(es) down with wide angle diffuser flipped down. has

anyone tried this? i'll have time to set it up and try beforehand,

but just looking for feeback/experience. i have umbrella's, but i'd

like to keep it simple. i may just strap the sb800(s) to the balcony

railing using the included base as a platform. thoughts?

[crw]

Kevin-

If I understand correctly you have two(2) SB-800s and a D70 I'm assuming. First I like the idea of using a second remote "stationary" SB-800 for fill. I use one SB-800 and two SB-600s in various situations, with great results. Here are Concerns/Suggestions:

 

1. Watch the angle of your remote unit. You don't want to simply light the tops of peoples heads in the background. Nor do you want the remote unit firing into your lens. You may want to scout the location and decide on a direction in which you will use the background fill. Obviously you will be roaming, but for the extra fill shots you have an area marked out.

 

2. Ideally, the remote unit will be firing in the same general direction as your on-camera SB800, only from a different/higher angle, perhaps over your primary subject, or perhaps high and from the side...I think this will give you the look you are thinking of.

 

3. Definitely use the supplied diffuser with the on-camera flash. However, you may want to test a few setups with the remote. If you go with the directional approach as in #2 above, you may want to rig a little barn dorn on the remote unit with a piece of cardboard to block light from falling on you and your primary subject. And test wide angle versus slight zoom on the remote.

 

4. Consider using a light amber gel with the remote flash, I think it would provide a pleasing look, slight "Slow-Sync" feel.

 

5. While I have gotten the remote units to fire quite a distance beyond Nikon's maximum. This was under optimum conditions with direct frontal line of sight. When controlling from angles be careful aiming the light sensor on the remote unit. Sometimes it seems more consistent when the sensor is receiving the master signal bounced off a wall, reflector etc. Remember the ir reciever is on the side of the SB-800 unit.

 

6. I have used a three flash setup in portrait shots: SB-800 Key Light, SB-600 Fill, SB-600 Background/Accent/Hair. Just a thought for preshots/posed.

 

Hope I gave you some ideas.

 

Regards

CR

[lester_robertson]

Christopher,

As an aside, I have 2 SB800 units, but using the second as a portable remote flash has been a bit inconsistent. It only seems to flash when to the left of my on-camera flash. You say the sensor is on the side, which makes sense, but doesn't allow use on the opposite side of the camera (right). Is this just a poor design, or am I missing something.

thanks.

[timurilenk]

Lester, You can swivel the head 180 deg to have the sensor on the other side.

[lester_robertson]

Ian,

Doesn't that put the light sensor (since I have to use the remote in A mode) facing the wrong direction?

[timurilenk]

Lester, Hmmm ... That would be the problem with that then!

[crw]

Lester- When looking at the SB-800 LCD screen, the Light Sensor Window will be on the right side. It is small, round (1/4in diameter), and recessed.

 

 

"It only seems to flash when to the left of my on-camera flash"

 

You should be able to solve the problem by rotating the flash head. With 270 degrees of rotation(180 degrees left, 90 degrees right) and 90 degrees of tilt, the senosr can always be aimed towards the main unit.

 

One other thing to consider: If you are using the Quick Recycling Battery Pack (5th AA battery extension, came with the flash), this may be obstructing the sensor a bit. Rotate to compensate.

[crw]

Lester- Sorry, I missed your post about requiring remote in A mode. Keep in mind this is an IR system, IR light can be reflected into the sensor. Try using a small reflector, a Lumiquest bounce or tin foil should work, to reflect IR light into the sensor.

 

I just did it by setting the flash on a small piece of aluminum foil and bending up one side to capture light bounced of a wall. The remote flash was 15 feet to the side and behind the camera/flash, completely obstructed by furniture, with the sensor facing in the opposite direction.

 

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the remote setups you can get to work. Just setup your shot and press the red "Flash" button (below and to the left) on the main flash. This will fire the master flash, then the remote flashes, delayed and in group order.

 

Hope this helps!

[lester_robertson]

Chris,

Thanks, I'll try your suggestions.