dsp_matt

<p>Not knocking anybody but I shoot a lot of high school events (sports, plays, recitals etc.) I have both Shoe mount flashes & mono lights. This year I was asked to shoot our high schools "Pre Prom Fashion Show"(a small school 460 student total). I wanted to go as light weight as Possible (I'm 70 yrs. old) I used two Canon 580 EX II's with CP-4 battery packs in 43" white Wescott Umbrellas (key @ full power fill @1/4 power) a Yongnuo 560 II @ 1/4 power with Rouge grid for the background and a Yongnou 560 III @ 1/8 power in a Rouge Flash Bender (rolled into a snoot) for the hair light. If you only have two shoe mount flashes try using a reflector for the fill even if its two 20"X30" white foam core boards taped to make a 40"X60" surface definatly a light background if you don't use a background light (as stated before you will lose the hair). One other thing to consider, If shooting couples make sure the person with the darkest outfit is on the same side as the main light.</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Kelly I, like you generally shoot high school sports. This year I was asked to shoot the "Pre Prom Fashion Show", fortunately for me I also do a little portrait work and had some equipment on hand. I use the Canon 6D & 50D. I started with two 580 EX II's and a 4'X6' white reflector & two 43'" translucent umbrellas. Figured out I needed a hair light & a background light to really get what I wanted so I purchased two Yongnou 560 II flashes (built in slaves) for $59.00 ea and an "Expoimaging" Rouge Flash Bender Master Lighting kit (has a neat grid and two modifiers that are great for controlling background and hair lights). It worked out so well I just purchased two more Yongnou's (560 III & 565 EX) four Yongnou 622-C ETTL triggers, four Yongnou 603 triggers and six Yongnou battery packs; total for all the Yongnou equiptment $741.00 The Yongnou Flashes have the same guide number as the Canon 580 EX II the 560 series are fully manual adjustable to 1/128 power, the 565 is ETTL capable ( but I use it on manual for portraits) of course you'll have to add stands and backdrops (I already had mine) to your cost but this can work for you. Check out Yongnou Products on Amazon. com they may surprise you. If you want to go cheap (inexpensive) monolights check out Adorama's "FlashPoint" series</p>