I shot the 2009 Go Natural Multisport yesterday, and for it’s versitility, I used my 28-300. On a day where I had to move quite a bit and carry a variety of set-ups, the 28-300 really excelled.
Image Courtesy of Canon.com.au
I needed to be able to shoot cyclist, Kayakers, and Runners with the smallest set up possible. This lens, and a fish eye, are all I used all day. Some people have been quite harsh on this lens for not being as sharp as others (70-200), but for it’s range and size it does a really great job, and I can’t fault the results. Would I use it for a studio magazine cover…..not likely, but I’m not shooting for that. I’m outdoors lugging my fat arse backpack up hills.
Even with a hot-shot or wireless flash the lens performed admirably. I’ll definitely use this lens again when shooting adventure races.
Today’s goals were to test some mountain bike set-ups and remote flash set-ups. I am hoping to put in a good display at the MTB world champs in September with both stills and video snippets.
VIDEO TESTS
The main test here was sound. I am using the JCV 3CCD HD camcorder because of its compact size, but the on board sound is none too crash hot. I’ve made a lead that goes from the 3.5mm stereo jack to 2 x XLR connectors. These are attached to RODE M3 9Volt Powered Microphones. I wanted external sound and to exaggerate the stereo affect by spacing the mics well apart.
The first example is with runners….
Then MTB’ers….the set-up is at the end of this one.
FLASH TESTS
I’ve still got quite a bit of work to do on this, but getting there. My main problem is the lighting and location. Full sun is not too good, full shade or heavily backlit are good, but you need to get a location of the course that has these conditions, and a descent spot.
The Dual flash is working well. Shot most of today at 1/1000 sec and f5.6. The PocketWizards work really well with the high speed sync. Hypersync is ok from 1/400 – 1/800, but over that it’s not all that good.
Over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend end, I decided to drive to Blayney in western NSW to photograph some wind farms at night. It was going to be cold and the weather forecast said showers. It turned out much worse than that! The wind farms are at 1000m and were totally covered in low cloud. I got nothing, but cold and wet.
Everything worked well; my plans and location scouting on GoogleEarth were good, gear was good…..everything but the weather was on my side. Oh well….better luck next time.
Saturday 16th August saw the 4th running of MaxAdventures Go Natural Multisport. I was working for Aus Triathlete Mag and also to produce some marketing shots for the race organiser. My plan was to have shots look more commercial than normal event photography. Here is the final result.
I wanted to light the subject with the Sun as the main light and 2 x 580EX as balance. Here is the lighting plan in minute to-scale detail (NOT!!)
The sun is the main light as front 3/4 to the camera right, so to balance that out I used 1 x 580 as front 3/4 to camera left. For fill I used a second 580 at 180deg to the sun. To have full control over the flashes I wanted to use ETTL from the ST-E2. I have not used this unit nearly enough, and in this application, it was just perfect. I needed to be able to change camera settings without having to run around changing flash power. Bike riders are hardly going to wait for me!!!
Notice that the IR modules on the front of the 580s are pointed to where I was standing and the heads are pointed to the subject. This is to the IR receivers can “see” the ST-E2. The IR signal is line of sight so if they can’t “see” each other, then it just doesn’t work. The 580s are both set to SLAVE and one is A and the other is B. I have a ratio set on the flashes of A:B=2:1. With the ST-E2 I have full control over the flashes from the camera; Exposure, High speed sync, ratios etc…all from where I’m standing.
So what’s the down-side? These units MUST have line of site. If the flashes were in different locations, I might not be able to use this set-up. I have seen shots where flashes are hidden behind trees….not possible with the ST-E2s. However for this sort of thing….Brilliant!!!
