Remote Flash Ideas Wanted

Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived the
Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years I
bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population of
hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of them with my
E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the problems with taking
pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and they tend to go to the
feeder and such that I have around while in the shadows of some large trees
I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good quality,
but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote flashes
could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought about buying a
FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount the flashes on the
ground and point them up. Front the ground to where I usually capture them
is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

MoParMaN wrote:
Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived the
Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years I
bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population of
hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of them with
my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the problems with
taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and they tend to go
to the feeder and such that I have around while in the shadows of some
large trees I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good
quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote flashes
could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought about
buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount the
flashes on the ground and point them up. Front the ground to where I
usually capture them is about 6 feet.

I assume the remote flash is TTL wireless so the flash intensity should
be well controlled. Though you will need flash compensation to the low
side as not much flash return will come from the subject, and the BG
will be far enough off as to 'demand' more light.

For what you're doing, let's assume at least f/8. For ISO 100, 100mm at
a distance of 5 feet from the flash to the subject you would need a GN
of 40 feet (12 metres) or higher. A mid-range flash of about GN 40
(metres) should do the job with room to spare.

In such an environment (outdoor, open space) the control signals from
the camera will be very weak at the flash. Assuming the flash has a
pan/tilt head - turn the head 'backwards' (flash pointed towards the
birds of course) such that the IR sensor on the flash head is pointed
towards the camera.

I would elevate the flashes somewhat and keep them about 5 or more feet
from the birds. The birds will hardly pay attention to them - or will
get used to them quickly.


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"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:
Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived the
Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years I
bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population of
hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of them with
my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the problems with
taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and they tend to go to
the feeder and such that I have around while in the shadows of some large
trees I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good
quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote flashes
could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought about buying
a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount the flashes on
the ground and point them up. Front the ground to where I usually
capture them is about 6 feet.

I assume the remote flash is TTL wireless so the flash intensity should be
well controlled. Though you will need flash compensation to the low side
as not much flash return will come from the subject, and the BG will be
far enough off as to 'demand' more light.

For what you're doing, let's assume at least f/8. For ISO 100, 100mm at a
distance of 5 feet from the flash to the subject you would need a GN of 40
feet (12 metres) or higher. A mid-range flash of about GN 40 (metres)
should do the job with room to spare.

In such an environment (outdoor, open space) the control signals from the
camera will be very weak at the flash. Assuming the flash has a pan/tilt
head - turn the head 'backwards' (flash pointed towards the birds of
course) such that the IR sensor on the flash head is pointed towards the
camera.

I would elevate the flashes somewhat and keep them about 5 or more feet
from the birds. The birds will hardly pay attention to them - or will get
used to them quickly.

Thanks, so the size of the flash really doesn't matter, since basically the
camera is going to adjust the flash to the focus point....I am assuming
this. I use a FL36 now and it does a good job mounted on the camera, so
maybe all I really need is the FL36R to do what I want to do. The price
difference between the 36 and FL50R is around 200 bucks.


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

"MoParMaN" schreef in bericht
...
Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived the
Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years I
bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population of
hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of them with
my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the problems with
taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and they tend to go to
the feeder and such that I have around while in the shadows of some large
trees I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good quality,
but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote flashes
could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought about buying
a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount the flashes on
the ground and point them up. Front the ground to where I usually capture
them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,


You might try a radio or IR remote adapter on your FL36, so you can put that
remote.
--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

"AA" wrote in message
.home.nl...

"MoParMaN" schreef in bericht
...
Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived the
Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years I
bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population of
hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of them with
my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the problems with
taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and they tend to go to
the feeder and such that I have around while in the shadows of some large
trees I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good
quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote flashes
could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought about buying
a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount the flashes on
the ground and point them up. Front the ground to where I usually
capture them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,


You might try a radio or IR remote adapter on your FL36, so you can put
that remote.

The FL36R already comes as a remote flash. It's not that expensive and I
need another flash anyway... One can never have enough stuff.


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

MoParMaN wrote:

Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived
the Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years
I bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population
of hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of
them with my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the
problems with taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and
they tend to go to the feeder and such that I have around while in
the shadows of some large trees I have. The birds parts that are
directly in front of the camera are good quality, but the shaded
parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote
flashes could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought
about buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount
the flashes on the ground and point them up. Front the ground to
where I usually capture them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

OMG. I thought you were stretching the imagination telling us there was
a lake in Texas but the Harley? Naw... Couldn't possibly be Texas. They
all ride horses down there.

--
Meet D-Mac, the man they love to hate.
http://www.D-mac.info
6/02/2009 8:53:47 AM

"D-Mac" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:

Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived
the Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years
I bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population
of hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of
them with my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the
problems with taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and
they tend to go to the feeder and such that I have around while in
the shadows of some large trees I have. The birds parts that are
directly in front of the camera are good quality, but the shaded
parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote
flashes could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought
about buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount
the flashes on the ground and point them up. Front the ground to
where I usually capture them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

OMG. I thought you were stretching the imagination telling us there was
a lake in Texas but the Harley? Naw... Couldn't possibly be Texas. They
all ride horses down there.

Lake Hawkins, a small little lake that is the home to Ozarka Water... It's
not a Hardley, it's a Vulcan Nomad.
Hardley's are for guys that can't get it up, are scared of cars so they
think loud pipes will make them seen, and they are proud to buy an American
product that cost twice as much as a Honda.

Go figure....


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

MoParMaN wrote:

"D-Mac" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:

Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I
survived the Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two
years I bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large
population of hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really
nice photos of them with my E300 and last year I bought the new
E-3. One of the problems with taking pictures of hummers is
that, they are fast, and they tend to go to the feeder and such
that I have around while in the shadows of some large trees I
have. The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera
are good quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be
desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote
flashes could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I
thought about buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was
gonna mount the flashes on the ground and point them up. Front
the ground to where I usually capture them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

OMG. I thought you were stretching the imagination telling us there
was a lake in Texas but the Harley? Naw... Couldn't possibly be
Texas. They all ride horses down there.

Lake Hawkins, a small little lake that is the home to Ozarka Water...
It's not a Hardley, it's a Vulcan Nomad. Hardley's are for guys that
can't get it up, are scared of cars so they think loud pipes will
make them seen, and they are proud to buy an American product that
cost twice as much as a Honda.

Go figure....

Well.
I never was much on bikers. Sorry for the misunderstanding. You could
well be human after all!

I suppose you know that your Oly flash is good for 1/2000th sync?
Yeah. They make great glass and very nice flashlights. The problem with
a slave is that the sync speed drops to 1/250th at best. Even as low as
1/60th if the radio is not a high quality one.

I never saw a hummer up close but I've done some work with swallows
which are a pretty quick, darting bird. Even in daylight I needed a lot
of light to come close to freezing the wing flutter.

IF you hand hold the flash on a cable could you steady the camera on a
tripod and do a few experiments to get get it working on a single flash?

My experience has been that a single flash in high speed sync is the
way to go but sadly the jokers who last year posted some half way
decent hummer shots are secretive about their techniques.

A bit like where the Hardly riders get the dinero to pay twice as much
for the bikes with!

So is a vulcan a Honda?


--
Meet D-Mac, the man they love to hate.
http://www.D-mac.info
6/02/2009 10:10:49 AM

"D-Mac" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:

"D-Mac" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:

Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I
survived the Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two
years I bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large
population of hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really
nice photos of them with my E300 and last year I bought the new
E-3. One of the problems with taking pictures of hummers is
that, they are fast, and they tend to go to the feeder and such
that I have around while in the shadows of some large trees I
have. The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera
are good quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be
desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote
flashes could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I
thought about buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was
gonna mount the flashes on the ground and point them up. Front
the ground to where I usually capture them is about 6 feet.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

OMG. I thought you were stretching the imagination telling us there
was a lake in Texas but the Harley? Naw... Couldn't possibly be
Texas. They all ride horses down there.

Lake Hawkins, a small little lake that is the home to Ozarka Water...
It's not a Hardley, it's a Vulcan Nomad. Hardley's are for guys that
can't get it up, are scared of cars so they think loud pipes will
make them seen, and they are proud to buy an American product that
cost twice as much as a Honda.

Go figure....

Well.
I never was much on bikers. Sorry for the misunderstanding. You could
well be human after all!

I suppose you know that your Oly flash is good for 1/2000th sync?
Yeah. They make great glass and very nice flashlights. The problem with
a slave is that the sync speed drops to 1/250th at best. Even as low as
1/60th if the radio is not a high quality one.

I never saw a hummer up close but I've done some work with swallows
which are a pretty quick, darting bird. Even in daylight I needed a lot
of light to come close to freezing the wing flutter.

IF you hand hold the flash on a cable could you steady the camera on a
tripod and do a few experiments to get get it working on a single flash?

My experience has been that a single flash in high speed sync is the
way to go but sadly the jokers who last year posted some half way
decent hummer shots are secretive about their techniques.

A bit like where the Hardly riders get the dinero to pay twice as much
for the bikes with!

So is a vulcan a Honda?

No, it's a Kawasaki. With a 95 cubic inch engine.

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd208/shendryx0001/

Here's some hummers I uploaded for another person to see. I have about 5
years worth of photo's, these I was just holding the camera with a 50X200
Olympus lens (100X400 in 35mm speak). I was 15 feet away and was not using
a flash (at least I don't think I was) in these. I think I had the camera in
auto too....


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id=32113

MoParMaN wrote:
"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
MoParMaN wrote:
Hello

Long time internet user, Pine 1.0 was my first reader....I survived
the Usenet Wars of 88. I'm new to this group.

Now, my problem. I take wildlife photo's mostly. The last two years
I bought a place on a lake in east Texas which has a large population
of hummingbirds (hummers). I've taken some really nice photos of
them with my E300 and last year I bought the new E-3. One of the
problems with taking pictures of hummers is that, they are fast, and
they tend to go to the feeder and such that I have around while in
the shadows of some large trees I have.
The birds parts that are directly in front of the camera are good
quality, but the shaded parts leave a little to be desired.

Since the E-3 has remote flash capabilities, what kind of remote
flashes could I possibly use without scaring the hummers? I thought
about buying a FL50R, but I think it's too strong. I was gonna mount
the flashes on the ground and point them up. Front the ground to
where I usually capture them is about 6 feet.

I assume the remote flash is TTL wireless so the flash intensity
should be well controlled. Though you will need flash compensation to
the low side as not much flash return will come from the subject, and
the BG will be far enough off as to 'demand' more light.

For what you're doing, let's assume at least f/8. For ISO 100, 100mm
at a distance of 5 feet from the flash to the subject you would need a
GN of 40 feet (12 metres) or higher. A mid-range flash of about GN 40
(metres) should do the job with room to spare.

In such an environment (outdoor, open space) the control signals from
the camera will be very weak at the flash. Assuming the flash has a
pan/tilt head - turn the head 'backwards' (flash pointed towards the
birds of course) such that the IR sensor on the flash head is pointed
towards the camera.

I would elevate the flashes somewhat and keep them about 5 or more
feet from the birds. The birds will hardly pay attention to them - or
will get used to them quickly.

Thanks, so the size of the flash really doesn't matter, since basically
the camera is going to adjust the flash to the focus point....I am
assuming this. I use a FL36 now and it does a good job mounted on the
camera, so maybe all I really need is the FL36R to do what I want to
do. The price difference between the 36 and FL50R is around 200 bucks.

Probably fine with the 36 (I assume that's a GN of 36 metres).

Note that the flash system is probably not focus weighted (though some
systems like mine are with the right lenses) but pre-flash. In your
circumstances, the system will tend to over flash so use the flash comp
to get it down.

Advantage of digital is you can use the monitor and histo to adjust the
flash comp or set manual power if the flash will be at a constant
distance from the subject.


--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
-- usenet posts from gmail.com and googlemail.com are filtered out.