Handheld softbox setup for event photography

I am looking for a handheld setup to be carried by an assistant for event photography.

I might be using flash in the softbox. Are there any kind of kits available readily?

I tried searching, but didn't find what I am looking for.

Till now I was bouncing flash, but additional light would be of great help.

Thanks in advance.

see this blog post

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/2589

Phani2 wrote:

I am looking for a handheld setup to be carried by an assistant for
event photography.

I might be using flash in the softbox. Are there any kind of kits
available readily?

I tried searching, but didn't find what I am looking for.

Till now I was bouncing flash, but additional light would be of great
help.

phila_guy wrote:

see this blog post

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/2589

Now that "is" interesting.

JPP801 wrote:

phila_guy wrote:

see this blog post

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/2589

Now that "is" interesting.

same idea as strobe on a stick (monopod or folded up lightstand)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruimleal/3165008088/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruimleal/3164174931/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidhobby/2413803998/

whole blog post here
http://lightingmods.blogspot.com/2009/01/tip-dvds-you-must-have-part-1.html

I have this set-up with both sizes Lastolite softboxes for a while.

The light quality is obviously nice but most bothersome is that the flash bracket fences the IR signal off.
Need to turn the flash body to side in order to "see" the signal.

I thinking of buying some radiopoppers just for reliability outdoors and expanding the range.

Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe with the handle:

http://www.lastolite.com/ezybox-hotshoe.php

They have several demo videos.

ThruDragonEyz wrote:

I have this set-up with both sizes Lastolite softboxes for a while.
The light quality is obviously nice but most bothersome is that the
flash bracket fences the IR signal off.
Need to turn the flash body to side in order to "see" the signal.
I thinking of buying some radiopoppers just for reliability outdoors
and expanding the range.

I use my Lastolite Ezybox with a cord back to my camera (instead of using IR to trigger the flash). It allows for Nikon's CLS, and is very reliable.

My complaint about the Ezybox (and probably most hotshoe softboxes) is that they are still relatively small. I think it works great for headshots and small product shots. If you are looking to light a few people, they are too small. Of course, they work far better than a bare strobe, but you can't expect outstanding results.

On the other hand, if they were bigger they would be too bulky for "event" photography.

So, not a perfect solution, but a handy tool to have in some situations.

http://alzodigital.com/online_store/alzo_porta_flash_soft_box.htm

Jim Kaye wrote:

Do the Alzo versions (either size) have two layers of diffusion
material like the 24" Lastolite EzyBox does?
--
Jim Kaye

'I believe that the electronic image will be the next major advance.
Such systems will have their own inherent and inescapable structural
characteristics, and the artist and functional practitioner will
again strive to comprehend and control them.' -- Ansel Adams, 1981

I have the smaller one and it does not have two layers. I don't know about the larger one.

Bruno Doyle wrote:

My complaint about the Ezybox (and probably most hotshoe softboxes)
is that they are still relatively small. I think it works great for
headshots and small product shots. If you are looking to light a few
people, they are too small. Of course, they work far better than a
bare strobe, but you can't expect outstanding results.

I tend to agree that with small softboxes you won't get much improvement in lighting if used on camera.

Recently I bought a couple of the Norman 19" softboxes for Quantum/Lumedyne http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/350615-REG/Norman_812315_Octagonal_Softbox_for_Norman.html if used slightly off camera without very much light around I found that you would need to use a reflector as well to kill the strong shadows which wouldn't be needed with a larger softbox. If this 19" was used as a fill/main light outdoors this would probably be a good solution.

For events, if you want to use multiple flash off camera, bare flash alone would work OK, but adding a softbox like the lastolite or the Norman will probably give you an improvement as long as you have the power available.

BTW. Often people cringe at the cost of Quantum and Lumedyne gear, but check this out.. 15" Lastolite softbox for hotshoe flashes $150. 19" pop-up softbox for Quantum/Lumedyne $45 !!!

The Alzo softbox listed above looks like good VFM.

Thank you very much for valuable inputs.

Just got some more questions.

What is the setup used by most wedding photogs?
Do they have the softbox attached to the camera?
Assistant holds the softbox?
Do they use hotshoe flashes or any other better flash?

Is it preferred to have on flash on the camera on hotshoe (bouncing of ceilings) and other one handheld with softbox?

For formals there is a scope to use bigger softbox and powerful strobes, something like AlienBees etc. I am looking for event photography setup.

Just trying to see what is the workable solution, before I empty my pockets.

dylanbarnhart wrote:

Most wedding pros don't use external flash or softboxes at all.

???? Where did you get THAT information !!

I
have only seen enthusiasts do it. It's rather complicated to setup
such a remote flash, as the bride and groom are mobile, and there
might not be a place to set it up. At today's cut-throat pricing, it
doesn't make sense to share part of your income to an assistant.
Even with an assistant, it's hard to hold the softbox without
disturbing the wedding in some ways. Heck most churches don't allow
flash at all.

You can use remote flashes controlled from camera very easily, no assistant neccessary. Most professional wedding photographers are pretty damn good at co-ordinating when and where they use remote flash without interupting proceedings and that doesn't mean it needs to be used in church.

Softboxes are useful for the formals. That's about it. Other than
that, bounce whenever there's a low ceiling, or bump up the ISO with
the F1.2 prime otherwise.

Disagree. My 1.2 is a 50mm - far too long for general use - and you don't list one in your plan, so how do you manage?

I brought along my remote flash to the last 7 weddings, and could
only used it once.

Theres no rule saying that you have to use it. They serve a useful purpose when you need them or when you need an improvement over whatever you already have. Good photography exists side by side with good lighting. Lighting is more important than even cameras or lenses.

The OP wanted:
'Just trying to see what is the workable solution, before I empty my pockets.'

This requirement consists of a system capable of working at the basic level of a flash on camera through high speed sync to high output formals. This can all be achieved, but it will empty your pockets, so best to do it slowly and correctly.

After spending many months years solving this problem I use Lumedyne and Quantum lighting with radio controlled remote lights (or just radio fired) with even studio strobe fired by the same system. The solution is totally scaleable, versatile and includes softboxes, grids, umbrellas and reflectors.. off camera flash makes a considerable improvement in the vast majority of situations.

is there any set up like this with soft box that we can try with metz76

regards

you may be able to use a large hose clamp to attach the flash to the speedring or make your own adapter using an aluminum or steel angle bracket.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/159950-REG/Stratos_SIHMSA_Handle_Mount_Flash_Adapter.html

umer siddidy wrote:

is there any set up like this with soft box that we can try with metz76