Off Camera Third Strobe Positioning

Hi guys,

I'm getting fired up for Cayman next month and I've started thinking about trying to use my spare YS110 as a backlight for seafans, corals etc. Is there a slick way to attach a soft weight so that the strobe will stay in position? If I remember correctly it's just about neutral. Any recommendations?

Steve

It depends if the strobes are positive or negative. I tend to tie-wrap the Ultra-Light arm to a dive weight.

Alex

Hi Steve,

I use a YS-25 as backlight strobe and mount it on a third, forward reaching ULCS arm (2 x 12" float arms) which is great for backlighting 'moving quarry' like lions. As its fixed to the camera I can also use a FO sync and not rely on slaveing off either of my on-board Z-240's as I may wish to switch them off.

I have another YS-25 which I may start to use as a remote fourth strobe and I was wondering about fixing it to a small neoprene bag filled with sand. I'll give that some more thought...

Thanks guys, I was thinking of putting the 110 in my BC pocket and using a softweight to keep it in position. I guess you could use a short sand stake but I'm not crazy about that idea. Seems too potentially damaging. I'll play with tie wrapping. I'm trying to find a way to put it on the sand behind a subject and keep it pointed the same direction.

Steve

I've stuck the arm in the sand

Hey Steve

ULCS makes a tripod (3 way clamp and 3 arms of your choice) which would offer good positioning of the strobe. It may be a little bulkier than you had in mind. I've been thinking about using it myself.

Mike

Thanks guys,

I wasn't thinking of using an additional arm or three. I can see how that would work very well. I 'll play with a soft weight first so I can carry it in my pocket. Once again I'm probably making this too hard.

Steve

I'd also add Steve, that I was also planning to set up some off camera strobe chains in the caverns - if the conditions allow - so everyone can go down and trigger them at F8 - or what ever exposure I set them for.

Alex

How about using a slave, ah, I mean buddy :-)

(never let my buddy find out this message :-)

Thanks for that Alex, really looking forward to it. How's Cayman's water this week?

Gerard, LOL,

Steve

The water is really clear out East. But having been flat calm for a few days the wind is picking up now so we are shore diving on the West side for the next couple of days. Been a bit over cast, so I have been mainly shooting macro.

Temp is 27 degrees C, not sure in F. People on the boats are diving in everything from shorts to doubled up suits. For next month I would say 3mm full length if you are warm blooded. 5mm if you are cold blooded. If you go for the 3mm option, then bring a hood or vest, just in case.

Alex

I'm getting excited too. Alex do you bring any equiptment for people to try, magic filters, lens or other?

Temp is 27 degrees C, not sure in F.

That's about 80 F, around here that would be nice and toasty.

Steve

how about modifying one of those GPS dash mounts? with the ultra-cool super non-slip patented space-age material, of course.

you could probably glue a clamp or just cable-tie it to your strobe. i think some of them are adjustable too.

how about modifying one of those GPS dash mounts? with the ultra-cool super non-slip patented space-age material, of course.

Hi John,

Do you mean one of these "Bracketron" holders? (Only a marketing guy could come up with "Using the physics of weight distribution along with high tech anti-skid materials" to describe a sandbag.)

Steve

Hi John,

Do you mean one of these "Bracketron" holders? (Only a marketing guy could come up with "Using the physics of weight distribution along with high tech anti-skid materials" to describe a sandbag.)

 

Steve

Hi Steve,

Yup, that's what I'm talking about. I've seen some that come with an articulated arm ending with some sort of bracket for the GPS. That might make it easier.

Psst. If you want to get this at a fraction of the price, check out www.dealextreme.com. It's probably the best-kept secret on the internet. Those guys ship from Hong Kong, but they're reliable. I've spent quite a bit of money with them when I'm bored at work.