What the !@#$% am I doing wrong? Alien Bees Help!

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

12/20/2006 10:51:03 PM · #1

Okay, obviously I am doing something completely completely wrong. Below are three shots all at f/2.8 and ISO 200. The wall is painted white.

AlienBee 800 (sorry had that on the photos). Only have one Alien Bee and the Canon 580EX flash mounted on atop the camera.

Shutter 1/5th second
I believe the AlienBee was on 1/2 power

Shutter 1/5th second
I believe the AlienBee was on 3/4+ power

Shutter 1.6 seconds

But essentially, I am find myself at ISO 200 and f/2.8 way too dark. Or at such a slow shutter speed that movement is a major issue. As for the exposures I am using an Canon 580EX which triggers the AlienBee. I was shooting in manual mode.

So please HELP!!!!!!!

Need advice.

Message edited by author 2006-12-20 23:04:39.

muckpond

Nikon D200

12/20/2006 10:53:04 PM · #2

you may want to move the model away from the wall, aim one flash at the wall to whiten it, and then aim another at the model to light her however you want.

a little more detail about your setup would help. for starters, which alien bee do you have?

12/20/2006 10:54:15 PM · #3

k, obviously those results are all out of wack. 1st question - did you get a sync cord with your bees? Try connecting the camera to ONE of the bees and turn off your 580 - that will identify if its the 580's issue or something else.

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

12/20/2006 10:55:30 PM · #4

Oh and set your shutter speed to about 1/80 or 1/60....

kiwinick

Sony DSLR-A550

12/20/2006 10:57:44 PM · #5

I guess is that there is an exposure problem. I assume you are using a studio flash to light these shots. If this is the case you need to use your FLASH SYNC SPEED and the F/STOPthat thec flash meter indicates.

If you do not have a flash meter then a series of exposure test shots should be done.
I use my camera in MANUAL mode @125th sec my flash unit similar to an Alien Bee gives an exposure of about F11 when set about 1.5b metres.
as said use your sync cord or more simply an IR trigger device, P)M me and I will give you a seller of this item they are inexpensive but do away with sync cords

Message edited by author 2006-12-20 23:00:49.

12/20/2006 11:09:05 PM · #6

It came with a sync cord but it doesn't seem to plug in anywhere on my 20D. So I am just using the Strobe's auto system (flashes when my flash goes).

I don't see any way to use a 1/80 or 1/60 shutter. If I go much above the 1/5 shutter everything is dark.

Message edited by author 2006-12-20 23:13:32.

12/20/2006 11:11:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by theSaj:

There is a little door on the left side of your 20D - SIDE, not back, your sync cord will fit in the port on the bottom closest to the front of the camera. Your flash (580) may not me synching with the strobes - that's why I asked if you would try without it. :)

And for shutter, you should be able to go all the way to 1/250 and still do okay.

Message edited by author 2006-12-20 23:12:17.

12/20/2006 11:13:19 PM · #8

I tried plugging it into the PC jack on the 20D. It doesn't seem to fit.

Message edited by author 2006-12-20 23:13:28.

12/20/2006 11:15:21 PM · #9

Wait, I got it to fit. Don't know why it didn't slide on right the first time. But this time it slid right on. *boinks head*

Okay, maybe that'll help. I'll try taking some with the 580EX turned off and seeing if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

- Saj

12/20/2006 11:15:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by theSaj:

I tried plugging it into the PC jack on the 20D. It doesn't seem to fit.

not PC jack - its a flash jack. The rubber cover that is over the port has a little flash symbol on it.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/20/2006 11:16:09 PM · #11

Ah good you got it! Okay, I'll wait for your results and we'll trouble shoot more if you need it. :)

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/20/2006 11:16:28 PM · #12

Originally posted by theSaj:

So I am just using the Strobe's auto system (flashes when my flash goes).

There's your problem. The flash on the camera uses a "pre-flash" to determine how much light to put out. The pre-flash will trigger your AB's, causing them to flash before the shutter opens.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

12/20/2006 11:16:40 PM · #13

i don't know anything about canon flashes, but are you using the 580 on-camera or off? if it's off-camera, your body's flash may be setting the flashes off at different times. if that makes sense.

anyway, that's what happened when i was trying to use my nikon flash off-camera. then i read the manual.

12/20/2006 11:19:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

There's your problem. The flash on the camera uses a "pre-flash" to determine how much light to put out. The pre-flash will trigger your AB's, causing them to flash before the shutter opens.

That's why I use a sync cord now. Had the same problem when I first got the 20D - there is a work around, it involves taping off one of the connection points on the hot-shoe - but that wasn't a great fix - and I haven't bought transmitters yet - so I use sync cord every day in studio.

fotomann_forever

12/20/2006 11:25:40 PM · #15

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by theSaj:
So I am just using the Strobe's auto system (flashes when my flash goes).

There's your problem. The flash on the camera uses a "pre-flash" to determine how much light to put out. The pre-flash will trigger your AB's, causing them to flash before the shutter opens.

Was just about to mention that before I got to your post.

12/21/2006 12:00:18 AM · #16

Thanks...it's working MUCH MUCH better now. That pre-flash must have been the problem.

I appreciate everybody's help. That said, I wish I could reward you all by posting some of the better shots. However, the reason it was so important is that a few weeks ago my wife and I found out we were expecting.

:)

So I was trying to take pregnancy progress photos. I was using my wife's sister for setup (pregnancy making the wife rather tired) and when nothing was coming out right I was getting so frustrated. Hence my frustrated post...

Much obliged...

12/21/2006 12:01:54 AM · #17

Glad we could help, dude. Now get to practicing before you have baby portraits to shoot!! .... and congrats! :)

12/21/2006 12:02:14 AM · #18

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by theSaj:
I tried plugging it into the PC jack on the 20D. It doesn't seem to fit.

not PC jack - its a flash jack. The rubber cover that is over the port has a little flash symbol on it.

Actually, the flash jack is called a PC terminal. I believe it pre-dates the Personal Computer though.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/21/2006 12:03:51 AM · #19

Now I just need to work on white balance...

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

12/21/2006 12:05:51 AM · #20

Originally posted by theSaj:

Actually, the flash jack is called a PC terminal. I believe it pre-dates the Personal Computer though.

Or PC socket. PC being short for Prontor Compur.

fotomann_forever

12/21/2006 12:06:34 AM · #21

Originally posted by theSaj:

Now I just need to work on white balance...

Set to daylight

12/21/2006 12:10:56 AM · #22

I use auto WB in studio, but I know my lights well and even the ambient bulbs are daylight balanced.

12/21/2006 12:20:41 AM · #23

Not the best in the shoot (those are for priveledged eyes only)....but definitely an improvement.

MY WIFE :)

f/25
1/250th
ISO 400 (forgot to change it from before)

Definitely more to what I was expecting. Thanks all!
(for a while there I thought I had wasted a couple hundred $$$ and that I was just the worst photographer on the planet)