S2 with multiple flash units

[Steve Wynn]

Do to church rules, we only have 30 minutes at the alter to pose all formal shots. BUMMER. After more than 20 years of nailing the exposures with medium format and the Metz 60CT series I'm tryng to get the wedding photos down to where I can do them 100 digital.

Here's the problem, I've been trying to squeeze in a few shots with the S2 with the SB80 and it doesn't have enough power in the needed difused mode to light wedding party's of 14-18 in the dark churches with 50-70 foot ceilings. Two SB80's are now the next step.

I have (2) S'2 and as you know, they work in a wireless mode together.

I want to try a couple of shots this weekend for a test and wonder if anyone has a suggestion on where to start as to the settings.

It would be nice to have the opportunity to spend about 15-20- minutes alone in one of the churches trying various settings but that doesn't seem likely.

[Tom V]

With 2 flashes, you will get twice the light, which is ONLY one stop. If one flash is definately not enough, I don't think two is going to be much better from a purely at-camera position.

With such a large crowd, you must be back some distance, and/or using a wide lens, so DOF is probably not too big an issue. I would use a prime lens, down one stop, on a tripod, flashes NOT on TTL - but rather Auto or Manual.

I would either do it with the two flashes near the camera (double the power of one flash) - boring. Or, use one on-camera, and the other as a background light, that perhaps skims the people from the side, and lights up the dark background of the church and/or altar.

I would load fresh batteries in both flashes before doing the altar shots.

Use the S2's histogram on the LCD to judge exposure. I would shoot in RAW mode, for the best results, and some wiggle room in case you need it later. I would shoot up to ISO 400 easily, 800 only if needed to, and 1600 in an emergency.

When I used 2 Nikon Speedlights on TTL, I got wildly unpredictable results. Underexposed a stop on one shot, so I would open a stop, then the expsure would be over by 3 stops.

I would not bother with diffusing the light, but rather using direct light(s).

Since I don't shoot weddings, maybe I have written or forgot something that is totally obvious to a practiced wedding shooter.

[Steve Wynn]

Thanks Tom,

I'll try what you suggested. I've shot over 700 weddings on film and it's second nature. Digital with flash is a whole new ball game. Been playing with digital for a couple of years and it's like shooting that first wedding 27 years ago!

When you quit learning something., why live, it's your time to go. but since I can't take it with me, I'm not ready to go!

Steve

Like your new avatar :D :D :D :D :D

[Rockyw]

I also was very comfortable with medium format and flash. The S2 is very differant. We could never get good lighting in a church with out our studio strobs. We use two whitelightnings set on f5.6 or f8. The S2 likes to be 1/2 under the light meter we use. Maybe 1 stop less on a white bridle gown. Wiht the SB80 we use A mode and +1 flash comp. We then vary our f stop for the distance from the subject. The TTL mode just isnt dependable for a set it forget it like the good old RZ67 is. The last two weddings we hav done were all S2 and were very nice indeed. I took us 6 months of digital/film weddings to be confident in the S2 for a all S2 wedding. I still have a few fears each week. good luck.

[Wichita Wayne]

I set the on camera flash to auto and the camera to f-11 at 1/60 when I shoot weddings. We use at least one 1200 watt monolight and a 60 inch umbrella. I also check it all with a good flash meter to be sure that the f-stop is accurate, usually 11 works fine. And finally, I look at a lot of pictures and histograms on the LCD to be sure that I do not blow out the whites in the weddin' dress.

[Steve Wynn]

Rockyw...where are you located? I'm north of Lima, Oh 12 miles or so west of Bluffton and I-75

[Rockyw]

I'm about 10 miles East of bluffton. We are close to each other. We work a lot in Lima and Ottawa area but more to the east and south east of us.
movingpictursmp@aol.com

[Steve Wynn]

Rockyw....I also work Ottawa-Glandorf quit a bit. Only do about 1-2 weddings a year in Lima now. I limit how may I do so I have some family time.

I've gotten to know quite a few of the photographers from the Bluffton-Pandora-Findlay area. The Lima Society of Professional Photographers is drawing from quite a distance now. Good seminars/speakers and everyone is a good source of information. Have quite a few Certified Professional Photographers and a couple of PPA Masters....and a bunch of very serious part-timers. No body talks down their nose at any one.

Steve

[Steve Wynn]

Well everyone, I had a good weekend photographically!

I had a chance to try out the S2 with 1 SB-80 in some different circumstances. 70 foot + ceilings, not real bright and I decided to go against all the big experts and shot the flash direct without the diffuser at the wedding...in TTL Matrix. Histograms look good. Pictures look good in the computer, and I really don't expect to to be disapointed when I get some paper proofs back from the pro lab.

At the reception, really large and dark. I shot across the hall in various settings, putting the flash on A and setting the camera accordingly in manual, the shots were on the money. TTL-Matrix and TTL were really dark.

I've been playing with the Fuji S1 and S2 for 2-21/2 years and I think I was too intimidated by this new technology and all of a sudden I didn't think my problems through enough. UNTIL NOW.
What really makes me mad is to think I didn't go against the expert's opinions until now! I have really loved this Fuji in all other circumstances except altar shots.

Steve

[Ron Green]

No problem. Do it just like you used to do it with your medium format. Set ISO at 160, use the same aperture settings, use your White Lightenings (or Metz), and it will work just like your Blad and/or Mamiya did (at 1/125th or 1/180th of course). No need for automation here everything’s the same except for the digital vs film image. I do it all the time.