Wireless ETTL set up help for high key

[todd_masters]

First, I have read manuals, searched web and experimented so hoping someone out

there has some advice. I do alot of onsite shooting and have been using JTLs

mobilights but have just gotten tired of lugging them along everywhere so I got

a ST-E2 and I have 3 550s. The situation I am having trouble is with lighting

up a high key white backdrop with a background light. I want my main light,

call it A to my camera left, fill light B to camera right and my third light to

hit the background and light up the white backdrop by +3 stops. What I thought

I could do was use ST-E2 with AB ratio to 1:2 for main and fill and then put

the backdrop light on group A with a +3 manual setting. However ETTL seems to

not want to light up my main subject with enough light because the background

overpowers the reading. I can force this with FEL and HOLD on the STE2 but

such a pain. Anyone else ever try to use STE2+ETTL for this set up? Or should

I just scrap the STE2 and get wireless triggers and shoot with manual setup?

[steve_crist]

Go to strobist.blogspot.com. Post your question there. That spot specializes in portable flash custom uses.

[mark u]

Your problem is that the ST-E2 only handles group A and B, whereas you need group C for the background. Three groups requires the use of a 550 or 580 as the wireless master. You can either get another 550 to act as the controller, or use one as masterand main or fill on a (lengthened) off camera shoe cord.

 

http://www.eosdoc.com/manuals/?q=ETTLRx

[jnicholson]

Why not set the whole thing up in manual mode?

[james_taylor11]

Can just the background light be on manual?

[james_taylor11]

Can just the background 550 be on manual?

[todd_masters]

I tried keeping it on manual but I can only "trick" to get my pseudo group C 3 stops over if I do an FEL without having the meter pick up the background but that is a pain. I dont really want to get another 550 to act as a master only with three other bodies and was hoping to have ETTL functionality, but I guess you can't have it all. I will post on strobist, get another 550 or resort to manual and at least save all the packing of my mono's. That or just not use the white background for those shoots and save that for the studio.

[williampower]

I am having success with just this setup with just my 580exII and my 430exII (as slave in C for background mode). I wasn't sure how old

this posting was and what sort of success you were having. I wanted to suggest the background light(s) in C be in Manual and be turned

down very low. I have my lone 430 behind the model turned down to the lowest level and still get a brilliant white backdrop (head and

shoulders to three-quarter length). I use the brilliant white backdrop in a studio setting also and cannot match the quality of the studio light

with the strobes but this setup has been making for some neat portraits. I like the ETTL as it works nicely with the ambient light .... Bill

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