What kind of flash setup for Weddings using a D70?

[D70FAN]

After that endorsement, I headed straight to Mr. Fong's website for my Lightsphere II. Thanks for the tip!

Yup. I guess I could have used an inverted plastic milk-jug (as eluded to by Jamie), but the opaque ones (milk jugs) are really hard to find here in Arizona, and it doesn't look very professional or fit the SB800 very well.

Seriously, it seems to do a great job on the SB800, but I have only had it for one day.

[jamison55]

You have to wash out the milk jug diffusers quite well, too; otherwise the smell is unbearable! Seriously, though, I have seen some beautiful work done with a LSII...can't wait to see some of yours, George!

[mrshaase]

Plastic Milk Jugs, Lightsphere II, the diffuser that comes with the sb-800, a 3 1/2 x5 white index card. I have been reading and reading today and I guess I just get more confused. I really don't want to fork out the $40 for the lightsphere II when somthing else will do the same job. I keep reading that when you use a diffuser that your wide angle range on the flash is more limited. How do you compensate for this with as little hassle as possible?

[D70FAN]

Plastic Milk Jugs, Lightsphere II, the diffuser that comes with the sb-800, a 3 1/2 x5 white index card. I have been reading and reading today and I guess I just get more confused. I really don't want to fork out the $40 for the lightsphere II when somthing else will do the same job. I keep reading that when you use a diffuser that your wide angle range on the flash is more limited. How do you compensate for this with as little hassle as possible?

Like everything else, sometiems you have to take the plunge and experiment. The Lightsphere II is not a panacea, but it does cut down on reflections and glare, even on a great flash like the SB800.

The LS II does not restrict wide angle illumination as severely as the included diffuser which is actually for wide angle only. All diffusers have a different effect at different focal lengths, and with different exposure systems.

[D70FAN]

Seriously, though, I have seen some beautiful work done with a LSII...can't wait to see some of yours, George!

Me too!

[TheWheels]

Don't underestimate the power of the diffuser that comes with the SB-800 ... its pretty incredible. The D70 and SB800 combo is killer! As for the gels that come with the 800 ... they are to correct the flash to match color tempatures of tungstun and floresent lighting. They work really well actually. As for the light sphere ... some photogs love it ... some hate. Its just a tool. Figure out what you like best and use it. The diffuser that comes with the 800 does a fantastic job. Rule #1 if you have something to bounce light off of, including the diffuser, then use it. As Dave Keiser says ... Direct flash sucks! In probably 95% of all my wedding work in which I use a flash its pointing straight up ... used only as a subtle fill flash. I find that works best and looks most natural. As for a bracket ... try not using one. Years ago I used a bracket because that is what I saw most the other pros using ... About a year ago I stopped for some reason ... I love the freedom.

Just a few random thoughts from the peanut gallery.

Oh and don't even think about buying something other than the Sb-800 if you are doing weddings ... and for that matter you better have at least one other D70 and another SB-800 for when your main camera and/or flash goes out on ya. YIKES but it happens. Had a S2 go out on me and a Sb-24 a few years back for that matter. Don't EVER shoot a wedding without backup gear. I got lucky for the lack of insight in my weekend warrior days ... but what if you don't.

Matt

[jamison55]

As Dave Keiser says ... Direct flash sucks! In probably 95% of all my wedding work in which I use a flash its pointing straight up ... used only as a subtle fill flash.
Matt

A fellow DWF'er dropping in? I agree 100%, nothing beats a bounced flash. That's why I like the Flip It! card so much. I can angle it to throw just a little light or a lot of light forward depending upon my bouncing surfaces. I went quite a few weddings without a diffuser at all, bouncing my flash off of different surfaces (even my hand) after reading Dave Kaiser's article. The Flip It! helps avoid the racoon eyes effect.

As for going bracketless, I tried it for a wedding or two when my off shoe cords went down, and, though my arms thanked me, I found that the convenience of not having a bracket was outweighed by the inconvenience of having to rotate the flash head every time I changed the orientation of the camera.

I suspect if you talked to 15 different wedding photogs, you'd get 15 different answers! It's all about finding what works for you. Oh, and ditto on the backup, though when you're starting out it can be a film camera and a less expensive flash. Just so's you have someting that you can finish the wedding with if your main gear goes down.

[D70FAN]

Thanks guys. Even though most of us will only shoot weddings as a guest, there are a lot of commonanlities with shooting family get togethers, and other social occasions. It's just that with a wedding, you are responsible for a (hopefully) once in a lifetime occasion, where you are being paid to preserve that memory. Quite a responsibility.

[TheWheels]

A fellow DWF'er dropping in? I agree 100%, nothing beats a bounced flash. That's why I like the Flip It! card so much. I can angle it to throw just a little light or a lot of light forward depending upon my bouncing surfaces. I went quite a few weddings without a diffuser at all, bouncing my flash off of different surfaces (even my hand) after reading Dave Kaiser's article. The Flip It! helps avoid the racoon eyes effect.

As for going bracketless, I tried it for a wedding or two when my off shoe cords went down, and, though my arms thanked me, I found that the convenience of not having a bracket was outweighed by the inconvenience of having to rotate the flash head every time I changed the orientation of the camera.

I suspect if you talked to 15 different wedding photogs, you'd get 15 different answers! It's all about finding what works for you. Oh, and ditto on the backup, though when you're starting out it can be a film camera and a less expensive flash. Just so's you have someting that you can finish the wedding with if your main gear goes down.

Yes yes ... DWFer here. It was down last night so I ended up here somehow. First time ... and couldn't help but make a comment on flash. As I said in my post ... its all a tool. Find what tool works best for you. Then when you done with it ... find another tool and use it.

About the backup stuff ... just makes me nervous that someone might be shooting a wedding without it. Maybe I threw too much of my opinion in there. Good luck to anyone starting off though. Its an interesting road.

Matt

[mrshaase]

Oh, and ditto on the backup, though when you're starting out it can be a film camera and a less expensive flash. Just so's you have someting that you can finish the wedding with if your main gear goes down.

I have a Nikon N6006 with a Quanaray flash that I have as Back up Equiptment just in case so I think I am covered there. I did a few "free weddings" you know friends just out of college who where really poor, our sunday school teacher's second wedding, ect and used my N6006 with great results so if all else fails I have that in the trunk and film in the freezer.

That also answer's my question about Brackets. I will get the less exspensive one and if I like it I will get the better one when the cheap one dies. If I don't like it I guess I sell it on ebay!

I was looking at the Lightshpere II and discovered that just as recently as last week Mr. Fong has intorduced a new Lightshere called LIGHTSPHERE PHOTOJOURNALIST! It is really cool you might want to go HERE to check it out. It is a flexable Lightsphere! No adapters fits all cameras. Looks really COOL! But he won't be doing a prerelease on these. Only 500 to go arround at a time. That way won't have to deal with the problem's had apparently had in the past with missing orders. Where do I get in line?


Candice