update: New gear for flash photography workshops
The material covered, and the gear used in the flash photography workshops, are constantly being fine-tuned and adapted with each workshop. With the first workshops (around 2006) centered around bounce flash photography. Over time the workshops expanded from that fairly simple premise, into what is a more comprehensive on-location lighting course.
The past two years there has been a surge in the various brands and types of flash. For example, Canon used to be just the 580 speedlights and wireless system. There’s now the 600EX speedlights with built-in radio transmitters as well. Phottix and Yongnou have become strong contenders in the field of flash photography with their speedlights and wireless systems.
When the workshops were presented across the country and in New York, there was a restriction – I had to travel light, and had to pare down on the gear I could bring. This meant that for the off-camera flash portion of the workshop, I could most easily help the Nikon and Canon shooters, and use their respective wireless control via RadioPoppers.
Now that the workshops are presented at my studio in New Jersey, and with a smaller class, I could make the big step and see if I could accommodate everyone at every workshop, regardless of system. With two models, it does mean doubling up on speedlights and systems. So I had a look around for soft boxes that would allow two speedlights … and still allow access to the speedlight controls from outside.
The Profoto RFi Speedring for dual speedlights (affiliate), looked like the best candidate – rugged (which means it is heavy), and it easily allows two speedlights. The two speedlights could be of different size and use different radio systems. I purchased two of these Profoto RFi Speedrings for dual speedlights (affiliate), and two of these medium-sized Profoto 1.3′ x 2′ softbox (affiliate). This means that with the flash photography workshops, we can accommodate up to 4 different flash systems simultaneously!
We can now more easily help photographers who prefer hardcore strobist manual-only flash, or Phottix or Yongnuo, or either of the two Canon options or Nikon, or Sony, or Pentax. Alternately, we can double up, or have a Nikon and Canon speedlight in each of the two soft boxes. More flexibility.
So if you’ve been considering attending a workshop, but don’t use Nikon or Canon speedlights, we can now easily help you with whatever challenges you have with off-camera flash photography.
Neil, how do you fire the second speedlight in this picture? Just set it to optical slave? Thanks!
The two speed lights can be entirely different systems, for example, the one can be a Canon 600EX and the other a manual flash fired with a PocketWizard. Or it can be a Sony flash. Or Nikon, fired with some wireless trigger.
Alternately, the two flashes can be the same and can thereby double up on your power.
I’ve been looking for a smallish easily transportable soft box like this that I can put two SB910’s in for faster recycle times and/or a bit more zip. Thanks for the post!
Eric
Make sure that you try-before-buy.
This Profoto speeding is sturdy and well made. But sturdy = heavy.
Can you also mount the Profoto OCF softboxes on the speedlight speedring, or just the RFi types?
According to Profoto, the new OCF Softboxes are only meant to be used with the OCF Speedring.
Hello,
For a octabox or softbox 36″ (except the catch and form in the eyes what is the really difference ?), one sb-910 is enough light ? or do I need another flash ? If yes can I buy for example a cheaper flash like the yongnuo or a sb-700 without any problem for this combination ?
Thank you very much.
This depends entirely on how much of your subject you want evenly lit. This will (in part) determine the distance you have the softbox away from your subject.
For the most, I am happy with light fall off to their feet.
Does a speed light in a softbox provide enough light? This will depend on how much light you need from this. If you work on a cloudy day or in the shade, you’ll be fine for most camera settings.
A second flash in a softbox doubles your power – this makes it more flexible … but more unwieldy and heavier. It’s always that balance in how you decide on equipment – finding that perfect intersection between price and flexibility.
If you need a manual speedlite in a softbox, then the cheaper versions are good.
Keep in mind that the SB-700 delivers half-a-stop less juice than the SB-910. This might make a difference, but probably not. What does make a difference for me is that the SB-700 can’t take a battery pack. This becomes important when you need to shoot faster.
I hope this helps make the decision easier.