Tele-Flash Question

I'd like to hear from those who use a Better Beamer or other teleflash rig on their preferred setup. Are you using brackets like the Really Right Stuff B91 or the Kirk equivalent, shoe mounting, or something else? Similarly, how are you handling power? With a Quantum, regular alkalines or AA rechargeables, or something else? I'd also like to hear from any who feel that tele flash isn't necessary, preferring perhaps to always have the sun over their shoulder.

Thanks

Rick

I almost never use flash. That's simply my personal preference. If the light isn't good, I probably won't shoot. I have friends, however, who almost always use flash, and to good advantage.

A Better Beamer attached to a flash mounted in the camera's hot shoe inhibits being able to rotate to a vertical position using the lens's tripod collar in a gimbal mount. Because of this, a flash bracket is almost a necessity.

I use a flash to either minimize harsh shadows or to separate the subject from the BG. Better Beamer on the flash. If I am using my 500 I use a Sidekick and the Wimberly flash bracket. If I am using shorter lenses I use the flash on camera in the hot shoe.

I typically set the flash to - 1 2/3 to - 2 so it is not overwhelming.

A trick I recently learned is to have your camera set to fast frame rate. Take 3 shots. The first one will have the flash as you set it. The second will have the flash at less than full power as the recycle time would not have allowed the flash to get up to full charge and the third will be no flash at all for the same recycle reason. You can then pick the image you like the best.

I use flash on a regular basis for 3 different situations. First, when the light is bright and there are shadows that I want to minimize. Second, I do a lot of shooting in the rainforest where there's not much available light, by mixing in some flash, usually at about -1.0 in very dim light, I can shoot at a lower iso than I would if I was just using the dim natural light. Third, when I want to freeze the action (example: hummingbird flight). I've got a flash bracket that I use some but I will often just put the flash in my hotshoe. Sometimes, it's because I'm shooting handheld and sometimes I just don't want to deal with another piece of equipment, which could get caught on a tree limb while hiking in the forest. With a wimberly I can rotate the flash to vertical when its in the hotshoe even with a better beamer on it. I do use the Better Beamer most of the time. The downside of putting the flash directly into the hotshoe is that you will often get steel eye, the eye of the bird will be flashed out to some extent and will need some repair work in photoshop. For batteries I use either rechargeables or lithium batteries. I find that alkaline don't recycle fast enough or last long enough. I use a 500mm Canon lens most of the time.

Hello Rick

I use the Better Beamer with a Wimberly gimbal tripod head and flash bracket. For batteries I use Energizer, Lithium AAs because I find they last about 4-5 times longer than others I've used. The lens I use this setup with is a Canon 600mm. When I use my Canon 100-400 with the Better Beamer I mount it on the hotshoe. Under low light conditions you have to be careful for, as mentioned previously, you can get steel eye reflection quite easily. I've found the flash and Better Beamer works wonders in harsh light conditions to remove shadows.

Have fun and I'll see you in September in Yellowstone.

Sincerely,

Pat Wall