Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hello,
I have a small time gig with a local adult sport and social league, and it pays enough to buy more equipment :) I shoot a Canon 7D with a f/2.8 lens, so I am going to start buying some lighting so I don't have to shoot at ISO 4000 (bouncing off the walls).

I bought a white lightning ultra 1200 from a friend last week, and I have yet to use it in the gym. Part of me thinks I need a second one just for balance... but I'm entering uncharted territory for me. does anybody have recommendations as far as if I actually need a second monolight, and if so, what w/s is recommended?

Also, what is the difference in an Alien Bee and White Lightning? The specs for the 640 w/s flashes look identical to me.

Thanks!
--Russell

before I spent any money, I would use the one light a few different ways. The problem is you dont specify anything about the sport or the facility, so it is hard to give specific advice.

A second light can definitely help as a separation or fill light, but it may not be necessary, depending on how it is used.

The X800 and AB800 are similar lights. They have the same power range, color and flash duration.

The X series lights have a brighter modeling light (250W, and is independently controlled), thermostatically controlled fan, aluminum housing, and 5 year warranty. The 1600 and 3200 have a 1/4 power switch, which gives them a broader power range (this is absent in the X800).

The Bees have a Lexan housing, 150W modeling lamp, continuous fan, and a 2 year warranty.

For indoor action, though, the Einstein will be the best option for freezing action. The max power will be the same as an AB1600 or X1600, with a similar flash duration (a tad longer). But when you reduce the power, the flash durations get shorter and shorter, compared to the longer flash durations of the other lights.

I agree - I would try a single light for a game or two before adding a second. And, I would try to find someone who would loan me a light in the meantime.

I used an Einstein bounced off the ceiling (bungied a light stand to the bleacher rail at one end of the court and mounted the light to the stand, pointed it to the ceiling and used either the standard or 70 deg reflector). Depending on the iso, I would use half to 3/4 power. My concern was that I didn't want to trigger it into anyone's eyes. I would use f3.x or f4 so I had adequate depth of field. Everything has to be perfect to get 2.8 or lower with the right thing in focus. I also used single spot focus.

I have seen people using an on camera flash shooting from the baseline - so maybe the prospect of distracting a player with the flash is not a real issue. I never saw anyone complain.

a group which gets photos at high school games actually suggests two strobes mounted in the stands pointing at the top of the key with the idea that there will be plenty of light in the action zone. I havent tried that (though I have used two Einsteins in the bounce configuration - the goal was to lower the power and get a faster recovery and less shadow).

good luck - let us know how they come out.

Ceiling bounce can work, with a caveat: The light comes from above and this can lead to dark eye sockets and areas beneath the chin, and missing catchlights in the eyes.

A big PLM distributes light from a very large area, dramatically reducing "blinding" effects via very low surface spot intensity compared to smaller modifiers. 64" Soft Silver gives a nice balance of softness, specularity, soft shadows, good catchlights, coverage and illuminating power. 8mm straight shaft is quite easy and predictable to use.

Thank you all for your input. I am shooting basketball, volleyball, gym soccer, and inner tube water polo. I have actually used an on-camera strobe with a Fong diffuser, and even when asking people to pay attention they still say that's not a distraction.

Since I'm at my mom's house for Christmas I don't have my catalog accessible, but this shot kinda shows the gym... half is a basketball/volleyball court, the other half has workout equipment, and there is a track going around the upper half.

Thank you for your suggestions... I will be shooting some Volleyball in a couple weeks and will let you know how it turns out!

I have shot charity fashion shows in a gym almost identical to that. Once I had several lights bounced off the ceiling, and it worked OK, but the lights were at full power and slow to recycle. The next year, I used a single Einstein in a silver PLM, as Paul suggested. FAR superior results. Crisper colors, lower power, faster recycling.

You can't light the whole gym evenly with one light, but you can probably shoot each half with one well placed light.