My set-up for outdoor portraits....

[JETA]

I have outdoor portraits coming up for youth and high school football. I have to order everything now so I can start using it all and get comfy with the new setup.

The equipment I'll have is a diffusor panel of some sort, reflector, flash with gary fong diffusor.

As for the diffusor panel I've seen the white canopy tents used a lot. Do you think that would be ok, or should I buy a lastolite skylite?

http://www.fasttent.com/pop-up-tent-steel-frame.htm
http://www.adorama.com/LSMPSKSVWH.html

For the reflectors I'm unsure of the size. The high school boys will be kneeling for the shots. Would I get a white/silver lastolite reflector or would the cheap ones on eBay work (the 5 in 1's)?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=010

Any thoughts? Am I missing anything? I have some money for the setup, but the sky isn't the limit. I can't afford expensive lights, generators, that sort of thing.

I should be able to get all of the shots done in the early morning which will be helpful.

[Grandpaw]

I have no knowledge about this subject but would be interested in getting some reflectors myself. I can see these things taking flight if a small breeze kicks up, just something to think about, Jeff

[mattbikeboy]

I think I would lean towards the Lastolight Skylight -- only because it would be a little more flexible and give you a better and more controllable light quality. With your reflectors (like shown on the Lastolight Adorama page) and your flash you'll have all the light you'd need and your shots should turn out great.

mbb

[JETA]

I think I would lean towards the Lastolight Skylight -- only because it would be a little more flexible and give you a better and more controllable light quality. With your reflectors (like shown on the Lastolight Adorama page) and your flash you'll have all the light you'd need and your shots should turn out great.

mbb

mbb, I knew you were going to say go for the lastolite skylite!

Do you think the medium skylite would work for me?

What do you think of the cheaper 5in1 reflectors? Is name brand important?

[gahspidy]

I would say the Lastolite Skylight panel would be an excellent thing for this.
You have a speedlite already, and for future use you may want to consider getting another 580 EX ll and the ST-E2 transmitter. Then you could use two bounce umbrellas on each side. Can use these inside and out.
Lose the Fong diffuser for this gig. Too much light is lost unless your using it in a smaller room where the light can bounce around. thats what makes the Fong difuser effective. Outside, all that light is going nowhere but the sky.
The Lumiquest softbox works real well and will direct a large diffused light at your subjects
http://www.lumiquest.com/lq925.htm Fits easily on the 580 EX and works nicley. Not too expensive either.

[JETA]

Thank you so much for replying Gary!

Do you think the medium skylite would be the right size? (42x78)

I've been watching my Gary Fong diffsor dvd and they have a whole chapter on outdoor portraits. You aim it towards your subject and not up. I've tested it a bit outdoors and will look at the one you posted.

Thanks again Gary. I respect your advice and appreciate it all.

[Old Timer]

JETA I would not be afraid of the 5in1 reflectors. I have two of them in the smaller versions and they are very versatile and mine are made very well. I also agree that the tent would be a mistake in the long run. The sky light would be much more versatile and lend it's self to a lot more situations.

[mattbikeboy]

mbb, I knew you were going to say go for the lastolite skylite!

Do you think the medium skylite would work for me?

What do you think of the cheaper 5in1 reflectors? Is name brand important?

I think the medium skylight is perfect for individual shots.
As for the reflectors, shop around the web -- they are everywhere for not too much $. Look for something around the 36"x 48" size and you'll be ready. One of those reflector booms look pretty cool too.

Some websites:
http://www.amvona.com/?page=shop/fly...roduct_id=1657
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Reflector.html

mbb

[JETA]

JETA I would not be afraid of the 5in1 reflectors. I have two of them in the smaller versions and they are very versatile and mine are made very well. I also agree that the tent would be a mistake in the long run. The sky light would be much more versatile and lend it's self to a lot more situations.

Well, that seals the deal for me. mbb, Gary and you. I'm buying the skylite.

Also thanks for the reflector advice. I'll go for the 5in1.

Gary, I've been reading that particular soft is a pita because you have to stick velcro to your flash. What are your thoughts?

[JETA]

I think the medium skylight is perfect for individual shots.
As for the reflectors, shop around the web -- they are everywhere for not too much $. Look for something around the 36"x 48" size and you'll be ready. One of those reflector booms look pretty cool too.

Some websites:
http://www.amvona.com/?page=shop/fly...roduct_id=1657
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Reflector.html

mbb

Wonderful mbb!

B4 I pull the trigger tonight I'll post the list of what I'm going to buy if you don't mind. Your help is much appreciated!

[gahspidy]

Well, that seals the deal for me. mbb, Gary and you. I'm buying the skylite.

Also thanks for the reflector advice. I'll go for the 5in1.

Gary, I've been reading that particular soft is a pita because you have to stick velcro to your flash. What are your thoughts?

I have used the stick on velcro to my flash. It's very thin pliable velcro strips and goes far down on the flash head as to not interfere with any other diffuser i wanted to use also, including the Fong.
However, they make a velcro band that fits over your flash that you can secure the softbox to. You place it on and take it off like a rubber band. I will be getting one of those to have as a spare for my other 580 EX ll. I have watched the Fong DVD when I got my Lightsphere and the section about outdoor portraits is fine. The thing is, if your fairly close to your subjects, you will have good results with the lightsphere, but your flash will be working very hard to compensate for all the light that is being lost around those large sides. If your too far away, then you may have too much light loss to be effective and your batteries will die quickly.
The Soft box directs a large light source with all the light going forward and gives a nice wrap around light. It's also going to come in handy if your shooting an event indoors and there are very high ceilings and no walls nearby your subjects to bounce from.

Another idea here for the particuliar job you have coming up would be to get a large white panel ( a thin 4x8 ft of laminate board would be ideal) and prop it up behind you and a bit off to the side. Swivel your flash head to direct at it and bounce the flash off it to the subjects. That will give you a very pleasing diffuse light that will cover a wide area and will use the full potentil of your flash for hitting the subjects and group.

[JETA]

Thanks again Gary for the great info.

I completely understand now what you are saying about the fong diffuser.

Having the large white panel makes perfect sense. I think what I'm going to do is purchase the new diffuser, skylite & reflectors. I have six weeks to practice and see if I'll need to add the white panel.

Thanks again!

[JETA]

How does this reflector setup look?

reflector: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4016
stand: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=3945
arm: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4115

[gahspidy]

How does this reflector setup look?

reflector: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4016
stand: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=3945
arm: http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4115

It all looks good in the pics and the price is right. The set up should do the job. That boom arm looks exactly like one I got from Adorama. If it is the same or similiar, it is very good.
Just in case your interested, I bought this boom arm and stand from Adorama to hold a medium sized softbox. The set comes with a heavy duty light stand, boom arm with counter weight bag, and a carrying case. All for 59.00 I was impressed with it, especially for the price
http://www.adorama.com/LTBAWS.html

[JETA]

Gary, thanks for the link. Would the arm with this stand hold a reflector or would I need to get a reflector bracket?
http://www.adorama.com/LTPRB.html

[gahspidy]

Gary, thanks for the link. Would the arm with this stand hold a reflector or would I need to get a reflector bracket?
http://www.adorama.com/LTPRB.html

Yes, I believe you would need something like that in addition to hold the reflector, or, you could get a few multi clamps which are good to have around anyway

[JETA]

I placed my order after much agonizing. I've almost spent all of my money from the sale of my mark IIn which also inclued a gitzo tripod and rrs ballhead and l-clamp. Whew!

I went with the lastolite premium skylight kit, but went for the large. My friend has reflectors, so if I need them I will borrow his. I bought the softbox Gary recommended, a remote shutter switch and a new Tenba bag.

I'm going to have quite a few weeks to test out the skylite in different situations to see if that and my flash with a softbox will be enough.

Again, thank you EVERYONE for all of the help. I hope I can give back here some day as much as I have received.

[gahspidy]

Good luck, looking forward to seeing the pics when you finish.

[mattbikeboy]

:thumbsup:

mbb