Due to work commitments, I am still without any significant amount of time to go out and take any photos. Hoping that work load will ease within the next few months, at last, I have acquired a flash and a hide for my avian photography and would like to start tuning them both in my own very shady garden.
I would really appreciate some advice as to how to set up the flash when photographing from the hide. Some pictures of set ups would be very welcomed too.
Thank you all in advance.
Pedro Martín
Posted by Alan Woolnough on September 18, 2006 at 1:50 PM
Hello Pedro,
I'm surprised nobody has chipped in yet, but maybe some more info would be useful.
I think much will depend on whether you are aiming to shoot towards a pre-placed/specific perch, or whether you invisage the need to pan the lens towards different areas.
If it is the latter, then you may need to attatch the flash to the lens/tripod head etc via a bracket to enable the flash to pan with the lens.
If you are planning on placing perches, or shooting towards a particular area exclusively, you may be able to mount the flashgun outside the hide and nearer to the target area {and use the saved power for quicker re-charging, without the need for a better beamer etc}. There is also the option to mount the flashgun independently from the lens/head etc, from within the hide {although you may have to cut a flap in the hides fabric, if the lens port uses a snoot, or the opening is too small }.
I personally have used both methods, and use a monopod & tiny ballhead for holding a flashgun outside the hide {the monopod has small feet for stability, or i sometimes just lash it to a fallen branch etc}.
When i use the flashgun from within my hide { with pre-placed perches etc} i mount my flashgun on a manfrotto articulated arm connected to my tripod, and then manuvoure the flashgun into position.
Things get more tricky if any panning is likely, and much will depend on your hide design/tripod head/lens etc, and whether you can attatch the flashgun to pan in unison {assuming the panning angle is likely to be wider than the flashguns angle of coverage}.
I don't think i can add much personally, but hopefully someone can expand on my views if more info is provided.
Discussion
1 repliesI would really appreciate some advice as to how to set up the flash when photographing from the hide. Some pictures of set ups would be very welcomed too.
Thank you all in advance.
Pedro Martín
I'm surprised nobody has chipped in yet, but maybe some more info would be useful.
I think much will depend on whether you are aiming to shoot towards a pre-placed/specific perch, or whether you invisage the need to pan the lens towards different areas.
If it is the latter, then you may need to attatch the flash to the lens/tripod head etc via a bracket to enable the flash to pan with the lens.
If you are planning on placing perches, or shooting towards a particular area exclusively, you may be able to mount the flashgun outside the hide and nearer to the target area {and use the saved power for quicker re-charging, without the need for a better beamer etc}. There is also the option to mount the flashgun independently from the lens/head etc, from within the hide {although you may have to cut a flap in the hides fabric, if the lens port uses a snoot, or the opening is too small }.
I personally have used both methods, and use a monopod & tiny ballhead for holding a flashgun outside the hide {the monopod has small feet for stability, or i sometimes just lash it to a fallen branch etc}.
When i use the flashgun from within my hide { with pre-placed perches etc} i mount my flashgun on a manfrotto articulated arm connected to my tripod, and then manuvoure the flashgun into position.
Things get more tricky if any panning is likely, and much will depend on your hide design/tripod head/lens etc, and whether you can attatch the flashgun to pan in unison {assuming the panning angle is likely to be wider than the flashguns angle of coverage}.
I don't think i can add much personally, but hopefully someone can expand on my views if more info is provided.
Best of luck
Alan