I only read a few of the 228 previous comments...and frankly, I'd rather ignore those who found fault or preferred to pick apart the methods by which these two amazing photographers chose to work. LOVED the presentation, the methodology and the location! Regardless of how everyone else may have photographed and lit their subject...I was totally enjoying how their set up was...We ALL need to break way from the conveniences...and create from a basic level of light, instead of communicating every which way they could have done it better....They did it this way...and it was informative, educational...and most effectively entertaining!
always always... very good pointers Joe! Thank you for doing this series and sharing your happy accidents that evolve into better light use... I use high speed sinc frequently... I particularly liked the idea of allowing the black cover to drop and cover the lower half of the umbrella... good one!
Thanks Joe for sharing your expertise with us. Even these short sessions give enough to learn to keep me busy for days trying to improve my skills. You inspire my photographing a lot.
Oh Man!!! I'm such an idiot!!! It never even occurred to me, to turn the SB-800 upside down and swivel the head, to aim the sensor to the commander unit! That hand held unit alone was worth watching this fantastic vid. THANK YOU!!! Such a simple thing and it's going to change my outdoor shoots starting today! Frederick Dunn.. thank you thank you thank YOU! BTW for those learning Nikon CLS, Joe McNally's... book "Hot Shoe Diaries" GET IT! it's indispensable in my opinion.
@zmiassor i used to strobist too. but later i found that using ND filter is more comfortable for me. 1) you open aperture widely. 2)put on intensive ND filter (4 stops or more). 3) use high power flash light. 10 flashguns will cost you 5000$ . you better buy a good light with generator wich can sync 1/8000 as well (broncolor or similar).
@Cinka To knock down the desert sun you have to shoot far above 1/250 of a second; the sync speed for most Nikon DSLRs. You can only do that with flash by using dedicated Nikon strobes that will sync at high speeds using the "FP Sync" feature. To use studio strobes you would need a lot of power and ND grad filters to get the exposure at or below 1/250.
Joe's books were recommended on a forum and I had some travel coming up so I bought them on the kindle (Price was right). This guy shared more information, tips, tricks and trade secrets in that short read than I have learned in the 5yrs I have held a camera in my hand. I bought the second book as well. really well written and fun to read,
@alphapaz You are only correct when NOT using high-speed sync. If high-speed sycn is used, then the shutter speed DOES affect flash exposure. Read your manual.
@zmiassor The ND filter would kill the background. So, with, say, a 6-stop ND filter, the background would be exposed at 1/250th of a second about the same as it would be exposed at 1/8000th without a filter. Then, with a high-powered strobe, you could drop a lot of flash on the subject to bring it up to the exposure you want, while not affecting the background. If you're shooting with 3 flash guns at full power, you're probably at around 250w/s - so one strobe @250w/s = same result...
@EpicsodeOne Sorry for late response .... YN560 has same power as Canon 580 EX, .. but ttl function... YN560 is totally manual ... it is definately stronger then 430exII ... I mostly use them as wireless slaves ... u can use them mounted on the cam but no ttl, everything has gotta be manual. Anyone who prefers manual control on speedlites will fall in love with YN560
@MohaimenK Wrong. I've been using HSS with 3 Sb-800s for some time now. It might be possible with strong studio strobes and ND filters, but this solution is a) wireless b) flexible c) probably more economical.
Because he was shooting high speed sync that blocks out or rather reduces the brightness of the sun. The sun is a very bright ambient light and by shooting with a very, very fast shutter speed you're able to reduce its brightness. Then it's possible to rely more on the strobes as a main light or bring the strobes more in balance with the sunlight.
Because a strobe is limited to the sync speed of the camera, which is 250. With Nikon flashes, he can use high-speed sync and go way beyond 250 - he explains it in the video starting at 2:35.
He didn't say that the shoot was only possible with a D3 though... There is also no way you can underexpose the full uncovered sun using one of those speedlites off-camera.
@MohaimenK Ah, now i catch your drift. You would trigger the studio strobe with a compact flash and use the big strobe's long Flash duration. Won't work here. There would be too much falloff at 1/8000 and one strobe wouldn't do. I tried this technique in bright sunlight and i got better results with my 3 compact strobes. I guess in the desert it's even harder to do this.
@MohaimenK Uh, the SB-800 isn't really on sale anymore, lol. It was available for around 350 $. And to get from 1/8000 to 1/250 (X-Sync), you would need a 6 Stop ND-Filter, which has it's cons, too. Plus with the Nikon CLS you can change the power in camera or use TTL (hurr durr, yes, even pros use this.). McNally doesn't need to look on price tags, anyway. All i want to say is: this method isn't "gay". It works, too, and it has it advantages (but looks ridiculous). Are we done now?
@EpicsodeOne I too live in Dubai and taken numerous pictures in peak afternoon (but not in summer months) with 4 speedlites (one Metz 58 AF-1, one Canon 430EX II plus two Yongnuo YN 560's) and got some really decent pictures. I could clearly see the flash burst even when one flash was working. But why would anyone want to have a photo shoot on peak afternoons in Dubai heat? in the intense dubai summer heat the model will most likely faint.
I think he uses elinchrom power packs now wich are AWESOME and are more affordable than profoto, about what you said I think would be better one pack with two heads or two packs with one head each so he can do a 2 light set up, sort of sandwich as chase jarvis would say :)
Wow....so much negativity. How about a thank you, to one of the most talented photographers in the industry, for the free educational session. There are many take aways from this short session if ones ears and mind are open.
Wow Joe really nows good lightning tech. There is some nice pictures here, but i most say that the composition in pic. 2,3 and 4 lacks some atension too leveling the background. Outwise it a nice video.
A bit silly trying to scrim that rediculous array of strobes. All you needed to do was bring them closer in and make sure they were distributed in an array to simulate having a big softbox. Would have liked to have seen a decent resolution in this video. Difficult to judge anything in 240p. Would also at least liked to have seen the results 800 pixels long. Anyway, thanks for the interesting vid. Gives me inspiration :)
Ricky you are mistaken and quite silly I must add. Flash-exposures are always controlled by aperture. Shutter speed has nothing to do with it. Shutter controls ambient light only.
@MohaimenK Whatever. I don't care about gear, I care about photography and my satisfied clients - and it just works flawlessly, no matter how you insult me. Why are you so mad about different approaches?
не самый простой вариант выбрал Joy, это больше реклама вспышкам, чем правильное их использование. Гораздо проще и дешевле было использовать одну мощную генераторную вспышку с питанием от аккамулятора. Но позабавил!
It's just two ways of accomplishing the same thing - there's almost always more than one way to skin a cat. Joe preferred one method for that particular shoot, and I'm sure he had his reasons, and nobody can knock him for it - he's Joe freakin' McNally, for cryin' out loud. But, others might prefer another method. And, hey, what works for you is what works for you.
@MohaimenK Nope, I won't get back to you. I will just continue shooting like this because I think it's the best way, even though some guy on TH-cam says it was "gay". You shoud just do the same and take some pictures instead of arguing on the internet. I'm out of here.
First, Joe is a Nikon Ambassador. Probably sponsored to a point. Also, with multiple flash units, each unit uses less energy to produce the same exposure at the model. It also means much faster recycle times. Additionally, Joe really enjoys solving problems using what he's got available. More than likely he and David were in Dubai teaching workshops all about shooting with small flash. That's why he's got so many.
I only read a few of the 228 previous comments...and frankly, I'd rather ignore those who found fault or preferred to pick apart the methods by which these two amazing photographers chose to work. LOVED the presentation, the methodology and the location! Regardless of how everyone else may have photographed and lit their subject...I was totally enjoying how their set up was...We ALL need to break way from the conveniences...and create from a basic level of light, instead of communicating every which way they could have done it better....They did it this way...and it was informative, educational...and most effectively entertaining!
always always... very good pointers Joe! Thank you for doing this series and sharing your happy accidents that evolve into better light use... I use high speed sinc frequently... I particularly liked the idea of allowing the black cover to drop and cover the lower half of the umbrella... good one!
Thanks Joe for sharing your expertise with us. Even these short sessions give enough to learn to keep me busy for days trying to improve my skills. You inspire my photographing a lot.
Oh Man!!! I'm such an idiot!!! It never even occurred to me, to turn the SB-800 upside down and swivel the head, to aim the sensor to the commander unit!
That hand held unit alone was worth watching this fantastic vid. THANK YOU!!! Such a simple thing and it's going to change my outdoor shoots starting today! Frederick Dunn.. thank you thank you thank YOU! BTW for those learning Nikon CLS, Joe McNally's... book "Hot Shoe Diaries" GET IT! it's indispensable in my opinion.
@zmiassor i used to strobist too. but later i found that using ND filter is more comfortable for me. 1) you open aperture widely. 2)put on intensive ND filter (4 stops or more). 3) use high power flash light.
10 flashguns will cost you 5000$ . you better buy a good light with generator wich can sync 1/8000 as well (broncolor or similar).
@Cinka To knock down the desert sun you have to shoot far above 1/250 of a second; the sync speed for most Nikon DSLRs. You can only do that with flash by using dedicated Nikon strobes that will sync at high speeds using the "FP Sync" feature. To use studio strobes you would need a lot of power and ND grad filters to get the exposure at or below 1/250.
Rodents of Unusual Size... thanks for the Princess Bride reference at the end...love your work
Joe's books were recommended on a forum and I had some travel coming up so I bought them on the kindle (Price was right). This guy shared more information, tips, tricks and trade secrets in that short read than I have learned in the 5yrs I have held a camera in my hand. I bought the second book as well. really well written and fun to read,
@alphapaz You are only correct when NOT using high-speed sync. If high-speed sycn is used, then the shutter speed DOES affect flash exposure. Read your manual.
Very instructive! Most grateful for your insights.
@zmiassor The ND filter would kill the background. So, with, say, a 6-stop ND filter, the background would be exposed at 1/250th of a second about the same as it would be exposed at 1/8000th without a filter. Then, with a high-powered strobe, you could drop a lot of flash on the subject to bring it up to the exposure you want, while not affecting the background. If you're shooting with 3 flash guns at full power, you're probably at around 250w/s - so one strobe @250w/s = same result...
it's always a good day when you find a Joe McNally video and Princess Bride references
best pics i have everseen very good job
@EpicsodeOne Sorry for late response .... YN560 has same power as Canon 580 EX, .. but ttl function... YN560 is totally manual ... it is definately stronger then 430exII ... I mostly use them as wireless slaves ... u can use them mounted on the cam but no ttl, everything has gotta be manual. Anyone who prefers manual control on speedlites will fall in love with YN560
@MohaimenK Wrong. I've been using HSS with 3 Sb-800s for some time now. It might be possible with strong studio strobes and ND filters, but this solution is a) wireless b) flexible c) probably more economical.
nice exposure on the sky, thought for sure it was going to be blown out!
@zmiassor Opps, typo - a 6-stop ND filter would bring you to 1/16000th from 1/250th, not 1/8000th :) But, the idea is still the same.
Because he was shooting high speed sync that blocks out or rather reduces the brightness of the sun. The sun is a very bright ambient light and by shooting with a very, very fast shutter speed you're able to reduce its brightness. Then it's possible to rely more on the strobes as a main light or bring the strobes more in balance with the sunlight.
great...amazing..thanks..a learn a lot...
great video. nice references to The Princess Bride too. lol :)
Are they taking out air from the tires to get tractions?
Know what? thats all fine and dandy to see and hear you all talk Joe pro. would it have been asking to much to see 10 of the photos from this shoot?
Nikon speedlights are a hardy breed and can spring up in large numbers in even the harshest environments.
Because a strobe is limited to the sync speed of the camera, which is 250. With Nikon flashes, he can use high-speed sync and go way beyond 250 - he explains it in the video starting at 2:35.
Didn't the SB-900 just come out not too long ago?
He didn't say that the shoot was only possible with a D3 though...
There is also no way you can underexpose the full uncovered sun using one of those speedlites off-camera.
where are the pictures of those so many speedlights?
what lens was he using?
that's why he is using high speed sync, he is using really fast shutter speeds to kill the ambient light.
@MohaimenK Ah, now i catch your drift. You would trigger the studio strobe with a compact flash and use the big strobe's long Flash duration. Won't work here. There would be too much falloff at 1/8000 and one strobe wouldn't do. I tried this technique in bright sunlight and i got better results with my 3 compact strobes. I guess in the desert it's even harder to do this.
what is the setting used for the camera? issit auto focus?
Looks like a lot of fun.
What lenses are Joe using during this photosession?
Whats the name of the music piece?
Thanks
@MohaimenK Uh, the SB-800 isn't really on sale anymore, lol. It was available for around 350 $. And to get from 1/8000 to 1/250 (X-Sync), you would need a 6 Stop ND-Filter, which has it's cons, too. Plus with the Nikon CLS you can change the power in camera or use TTL (hurr durr, yes, even pros use this.). McNally doesn't need to look on price tags, anyway. All i want to say is: this method isn't "gay". It works, too, and it has it advantages (but looks ridiculous). Are we done now?
las shot was amazing!
@alphapaz That's not entirely true. If you are shooting in TTL aperture has very little to do with flash exposures.
why use so many flashes?
Hey guys, if they are using off camera flashes, than whats the purpose of the on camera flash?
The SB800 on the camera is acting as a trigger only. A few of the Nikon flashes have this option.
I thought as well, but closer look, it seems to be 24-70.
Wit hall those speedlights, they could have bought a better light with batery pack to carry around
??? how do you say it?
Anyone pick up that Princess Bride reference? ROUS = Rodents of Unusual Size.
@EpicsodeOne I too live in Dubai and taken numerous pictures in peak afternoon (but not in summer months) with 4 speedlites (one Metz 58 AF-1, one Canon 430EX II plus two Yongnuo YN 560's) and got some really decent pictures. I could clearly see the flash burst even when one flash was working. But why would anyone want to have a photo shoot on peak afternoons in Dubai heat? in the intense dubai summer heat the model will most likely faint.
I think he uses elinchrom power packs now wich are AWESOME and are more affordable than profoto, about what you said I think would be better one pack with two heads or two packs with one head each so he can do a 2 light set up, sort of sandwich as chase jarvis would say :)
buy a couple of speedlights and shoot, experiment, shoot shoot shoot. and shoot more...
thats the best way to learn
ah...that strobe set up is insane. i think one would do the trick! maybe something a little stronger
Lovely setting to shoot in, pity the video was such low res
Muito bom este vídeo, consegui reproduzir a técnica com a maior facilidade!
that number of flash gun is how you overpower the sun...
Wow....so much negativity. How about a thank you, to one of the most talented photographers in the industry, for the free educational session. There are many take aways from this short session if ones ears and mind are open.
got enough flash guns ther mate??
@EpicsodeOne maybe he wants a lot of traced lights...
@zema438 Please explain the "poor result" comment...
17-55 2.8 i think, looks like a D2 or somthing he's using
recommend me a good school were i can learn the speed light technology
@THSimagery comander for the other flashes
i totally agree to that!
Wow Joe really nows good lightning tech. There is some nice pictures here, but i most say that the composition in pic. 2,3 and 4 lacks some atension too leveling the background. Outwise it a nice video.
@matthewblessssss Not in those conditions.
Kick Ass! Kudos!
they;re all pointing at diferent directions. Giving the subject certain light on it.
Dude, use ND filter to open your aperture. So many SB-X00 are great, but...
funniest looking horse i've ever seen! lmfao
of course you can. I do it ALL the time. So easy. Its called a radiopopper.
because nikon would pay him for say Sb-800 is a great flash.
and sure it is...
A bit silly trying to scrim that rediculous array of strobes. All you needed to do was bring them closer in and make sure they were distributed in an array to simulate having a big softbox.
Would have liked to have seen a decent resolution in this video. Difficult to judge anything in 240p. Would also at least liked to have seen the results 800 pixels long.
Anyway, thanks for the interesting vid. Gives me inspiration :)
christmas tree with speedlightsssssssssssssss
Can't you just use a good ND filter to cut the ambient light? then you would have to use an aircraft approach light to over power the sun.
Wow look at all those flashes, 7, i count, that's a lot of money man.whoa! sp 800's are frickin ' expensive!
1:50 OMG Joe is building his own sun!! XD
Nikon D3+24-70+sb800 built in ;)
Ricky you are mistaken and quite silly I must add. Flash-exposures are always controlled by aperture. Shutter speed has nothing to do with it. Shutter controls ambient light only.
Thats Joe Mcnally dude. Nikon are throwing all their gears at him.
@eggbertsmith It's because there are more indians living in Dubai than the actual Arab residents.
@MohaimenK Whatever. I don't care about gear, I care about photography and my satisfied clients - and it just works flawlessly, no matter how you insult me. Why are you so mad about different approaches?
4:02 check out the power of those strobes. Theyd probaby fry my camera phone!
Because then he couldn't sync faster than 1/250. With the SB's he could sync at 1/8000 and get a thinner DOF.
dang that was a lot of lights, I can barley afford one 800. I guess this means my work is determined sub-par.
ok I love his work and everything, but why so many flash guns?? just grab a couple of power packs with two or 3 heads and that's it!
mega strobe! respect! :)
No wow pictures.
Why so many flash guns ? You could get away with 2 strobes.
не самый простой вариант выбрал Joy, это больше реклама вспышкам, чем правильное их использование. Гораздо проще и дешевле было использовать одну мощную генераторную вспышку с питанием от аккамулятора. Но позабавил!
Omg ! speedlites DO grow on trees !
@sosvocaloid i would like but i can't...
It's just two ways of accomplishing the same thing - there's almost always more than one way to skin a cat. Joe preferred one method for that particular shoot, and I'm sure he had his reasons, and nobody can knock him for it - he's Joe freakin' McNally, for cryin' out loud. But, others might prefer another method. And, hey, what works for you is what works for you.
2:25 I love how americans say the word dune - "doon".
The music is way too loud. Nice video.
good sir
@MohaimenK Nope, I won't get back to you. I will just continue shooting like this because I think it's the best way, even though some guy on TH-cam says it was "gay". You shoud just do the same and take some pictures instead of arguing on the internet. I'm out of here.
@matthewblessssss You can do better than McNally and Hobby? I'd love to see it.
1:40 Where you realise
i don't understand why so many flash? we have one sun?
why not one bigger?
i can do it with less!
almanza.nl
First, Joe is a Nikon Ambassador. Probably sponsored to a point. Also, with multiple flash units, each unit uses less energy to produce the same exposure at the model. It also means much faster recycle times. Additionally, Joe really enjoys solving problems using what he's got available. More than likely he and David were in Dubai teaching workshops all about shooting with small flash. That's why he's got so many.
Had the godox 600w existed then, it would have been easier
the weird makeup of the group in the beginning seems like the introduction to a movie about an international jewel-thief gang.
Its like making a video with empty 35MM film camera talk talk talk.
"You could throw a car headlight at her face and it would look great." Oh, right, so that's why you're only using 10 SB-800s!
not bad
CREO QUE FALTO UN MEJOR CUADRO...NO HAY COMPOSICIÓN...UN VIAJE TAN LEJOS PARA NINGUNA FOTO BUENA.