Single Strobe Wide Angle Position? And Diffuser yes or no?

Im currently using a canon 10-22mm wide lens and a single Ikelite DS-160 strobe.

Im really struggling to find a decent position for this strobe for wide angle so looking for tips. If ive got it spaced a long way out from the housing i seem to drastically lose power to the extent i struggle to light the subject for example. Would directly in the middle help to evenly cover the target or is that just asking for backscatter chaos?

Also, as its wide angle and a single strobe is it best if i keep the diffuser on or off? (assuming i dont need the extra power without)?

Im really struggling to light up entire objects (specifically a diver!) currently.

What sort of position would people suggest i use for a close up, head on shot of a diver swimming towards me for example and would that be with/without diffuser? How close to the housing assuming subject distance is 0.5m or less? Stupid as it sounds, would i be better off going a bit further away, zooming in to compensate so allowing the expanded cone of light to better cover the diver?

I wrote up an article here that covers shooting wide-angle with one strobe. Hope it helps! I recommend a second strobe though

Scott

What sort of position would people suggest i use for a close up, head on shot of a diver swimming towards me for example and would that be with/without diffuser? How close to the housing assuming subject distance is 0.5m or less? Stupid as it sounds, would i be better off going a bit further away, zooming in to compensate so allowing the expanded cone of light to better cover the diver?

Never step back, never surrender! I would try positioning your strobe above the camera, about 12" away with the strobe angled slightly towards the surface and use a diffusor. You need to minimize shadowed areas, so shoot with the sun behind you. good luck!

Tim

I agree with tdpriest above, high and straight above at a slight angle facing upwards and slightly behind the port. Attaching a few pics below of which on one you will see a shadow of the port shade when the strobe was kept too far behind. Hope these help.

Cheers,

Diggy

Here's the one where the strobe was too low and a little too far back and you can see the shadow of the port shade cover.

Cheers,

Diggy

This isn't quite what I explained, as two strobes were used, but what I suggested would yield a similar image. Shooting into the sun would give dark shadows around the eyes and the neck:

Thanks to Sarah for modelling!

Tim

Im currently using a canon 10-22mm wide lens and a single Ikelite DS-160 strobe.

Im really struggling to find a decent position for this strobe for wide angle so looking for tips. If ive got it spaced a long way out from the housing i seem to drastically lose power to the extent i struggle to light the subject for example. Would directly in the middle help to evenly cover the target or is that just asking for backscatter chaos?

 

Also, as its wide angle and a single strobe is it best if i keep the diffuser on or off? (assuming i dont need the extra power without)?

 

Im really struggling to light up entire objects (specifically a diver!) currently.

 

 

What sort of position would people suggest i use for a close up, head on shot of a diver swimming towards me for example and would that be with/without diffuser? How close to the housing assuming subject distance is 0.5m or less? Stupid as it sounds, would i be better off going a bit further away, zooming in to compensate so allowing the expanded cone of light to better cover the diver?

Try thinking differently about what your trying to light up. If your trying to light the whole scene in a wide angle shot you really need two strobes, and the more juice the better. With one strobe, concentrate on good ambient light settings and then just aim it appropriately to light the subject or point of focus of the image. Techniques such as CFWA and snooting are good to use with one strobe. Placing the strobe at 12 oclock wont work if your trying to light a diver in the left/right third of the image, and you'll probably just be "wasting" light on empty water. Also, guage the distance of the subject and set the F-stop appropriately.