X-Small SB Pics for C&C

After seeing all the great work pfiltz does with the X-Small softbox and a shoe mount flash, I finally got one this Christmas. I've been busy lately so I haven't had time to post these sooner, but here are some of my first shots with this SB. So far I'm quite impressed at how handy this little bugger is, I can see why Phil uses it so much. I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. One thing I can see already is that a hairlight would be nice, but alas I only have one flash for now!

My fiancée: (always eager and willing to pose, thankfully!)



Fiancée again:



Her friend:



Another friend:



My sister and her boyfriend:



The first three shots also had the subject holding a white piece of paper below and to the right to bounce some light back onto the dark side of the face.

-= Brian Rondeau =-

Nice shots. just wondering if you would be able to post the model number/link to which softbox you are referring to. thanks.

to see your enjoying that SB. Hope it proves very usefull for you.

--
Taking mystery away from lighting.... There are no rules...

If you never fail, you never grow....

Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

http://www.precision-camera.com/product/98839

--
http://www.nomadphotography.net
http://www.pbase.com/ecuaso

Brian...very nice shots and excellent lighting. Can I ask how you triggered the flash?

Thanks,
John

wow I love the catchlight on the fourth image. How close was it from her face ? I have the same softbox, but I dont get this effect

EriC
http://www.ericpare.com

Thanks for the comments

The SB you linked to appears to have the same manufacturer model #, but the description does not sound right. Mine is this:

SB at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=42122&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Bracket You Need:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=197439&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

(You need this for a shoe mount flash, unfortunately it is overpriced for what it is)

-= Brian Rondeau =-

The flash (Sigma EF-500 DG Super) was triggered through the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2, found here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=12972&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

This cable works great for getting your flash off your camera while maintaining ETTL, but it also has a few drawbacks: 1) Price, simply ridiculous and 2) it is short and springy. I plan to solve problem 2 by lengthening it with some Cat 6 networking cable as others have described here. My solution to problem 1 is to hopefully never buy one again!

-= Brian Rondeau =-

In that shot she was pretty much eating the softbox You can get quite a "big" light by getting it as close to their face as possible without getting it in the shot. So in the case of shot #4, probably 8-12 inches away? If this makes a difference, I also am always hand holding it, no stands.

-= Brian Rondeau =-

thanks Brian for the explanation

EriC

Thanks for the links.

would you know what the biggest softbox is you can get for a shoe mount flash by any chance?

Cheers

I think this is the largest softbox meant just for shoe flashes. I don't own any other softboxes at the moment, so I can't say for sure, but I suspect the "L" bracket would mount to larger ones as well. Can anyone else comment on this? However, just because it can doesn't mean you would want to! I can see two problems: the narrowish beam from the shoe flash not filling the entire large softbox (so what's the point?) and the lack of power to push a good amount of light out of the large opening. Better have lots of charged batteries!

-= Brian Rondeau =-

canerashy said:

Thanks for the links.

would you know what the biggest softbox is you can get for a shoe
mount flash by any chance?

Cheers

Click to expand...

The white vinyl inexpensive ring by photoflex will accept much larger softboxes of the same brand. You have to risk breaking it, but I would'nt mind mounting a small (15x19 in) on . The small SB does'nt have an internal baffle, wich makes for a bit less tension. Then the speedlight thingie can be installed. I make my own thingies custom fit, using aluminum flat bars, heavy gauge. With a SB-800, set to 24 mm in order to cover the front baffle properly, exposure can be expected to be in the order of, ISO 200, f:5,6 at a maximum distance of 10 feet.

Anyway, at 20 ft or so, there won't be much benefits using such a small source...

Here is a pic (d?%mn ! sloppy assembling on this one) Showing the XS SB with custom-made L bracket, Nikon cable.
What you can't see is the whole thing is mounted to a Manfrotto flash

arm- bracket that connects to the camera tripod socket. Works beautifully in portrait and landscape, lots of adjustment possible. I used it with the small SB too, on-camera.



--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions

One light works best if kept in line with the nose. As these show when its moved to the side without enough fill the shadows get dark and unflattering. Just add a second flash on a bracket with a diffuser for fill and that problem would be solved. See http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/ for examples.

CG