Mtn bike jumping w/off-camera flash

[tadrscin]

So the only good thing about crashing at Whistler and banging up me knee is that now I have time to do some shooting. My wife and I went to our local jump park and I took some shots of her with my SB-24s and Skyports. I didn't get too many shots due to time restraints and the fact that no one else was there to shoot. Plus we seemed to have a bit of a communication problem as to which lines my wife was going to do. These are straight out of the camera with just some cropping, resizing and a small amount of USM.
1) This is the best shot of the night.

2)
I really couldn't get the flash where I wanted to since I didn't want to haul in my light stands, but I still like this one. It has kind of an erie look to it.

3) I still can't decide if I like this one or not.

[JETA]

The 2nd pic is phenomenal & your wife is pretty darn amazing.

[jorgemonkey]

You got some keepers there! I've only hauled out a light stand once for a shoot, and it wasn't too bad.

I found getting some really light stands that you can clip onto you backpack, and once your light is setup, you can hook your bag to the stand to add some stable weight to it.

That second one though, you nailed it!

[Jimmy B]

Tad you caught Linda perfect on #2
JB

[tadrscin]

Thanks for the comments. I'm quite happy with what I got, just not enough time to do more. I have a few of her off of a jump where she had bad form so I'm not allowed to post them. They didn't turn out as good anyway. I was worried about blowing out the highlights on the bike and pads, but except for the 3rd one, they came out very nice. I suppose I could do some PP on that one to fix it though. I have to admit that #2 is starting to be my favorite and I still can't decide if I like #3. That was an awkward spot to shoot. I actually brought my mini tripods with hot shoe mounts, but I forgot to cover the pins since the mounts have a metal bracket and that was causing problems with the flashes. Laying them on the ground was actually easier anyway. The problem on the 2nd shot was that there wasn't any ground to set it one where I wanted to. I had to place it right at the edge of the tranny. In the end I guess that was for the better.

[SenorNikonMan]

Wow, those are great! I like #2 best also, but I'd be proud to claim any of them as my own. Can you give us more details as to your technique on these? Thanks!

BTW, I know that I'm new here, but I'm pretty sure that JETA's comment about your wife was in reference to her bike riding skills so don't worry.

[tadrscin]

1st technique was to listen to what others here had to say. It took a few trial shots at each location to determine the flash output. On the 1st shot I used one SB-24 on 1/2 power on the ground right below me and one just off to the right and below my wife(lower left corner of the pic, but cropped out) on 1/4 power. 1/40th at f5, ISO100 underexposing the background by 2 stops. On the 2nd shot I used a single SB-24 from below and to the left of my wife on 1/4 power. 1/50th @ f4.5, ISO 100 underexposing the background by 2 stops.

[SmartWombat]

I wouldn't take a stand - the trees are really tall light stands

In my culmann travel kit there is a 6" ground spike, and a woodscrew - both with 1/4" screws to take their mini ballheads.
Maybe something like that woodscrew mount would work for shooting in amongst trees?
Or perhaps a spring clamp with a 1/4" screw, to clamp on a thick branch.

[tadrscin]

Yeah I don't have any intention of taking any lightstands any place that I can't park near the shoot. I've seen on the Stobist forum that you can get photo clamps with the 1/4" screw and use that for the flash. I'll probably get a couple of those. For the most part I think just setting them on the ground or using the mini tripods will work just fine.

[Muddy Beast]

I know its your wife and all...but who honestly wears full body armor at SST?

I've never even worn my full face there...all the stuff is so safe, even when I crash I dont get hurt.

P.S. Good shots though. :-)

[Jimmy B]

Us older folks who have to get up and go to work are better off being well protected! I have busted a XC helmet at St.Ed's.
Jimmy

[berrywise]

Dragging up old threads.

Get yourself some ball ended bunjee cords. Perfect for attaching a flash to a tree.