I shoot a lot of natural light portraits in NYC. I'm looking for a way to rig an absorber over the subject's head. The bigger the better.

The requirements are that it has to stand up to the wind and be lightweight and portable (I rarely work with an assistant and often take the subway).

Just shooting in open shade or on a cloudy day puts the light too overhead. Sometimes I put the subject underneath an overhang or a bridge to cut down on the overhead light, but on rooftops, that's not an option. On some streets, there's nothing that will work.

What I'd love to find would be some kind of lightweight pole system with maybe a fabric panel overhead or something. I thought about a foamcor sentry box, but it'd be a little unwieldy for just me; plus, how do you rig it so that it won't bend or blow away? 4 light stands and a black panel would be a bit much to carry.

Anyone know of a commercially available system? Anyone hook something like this up?

Thanks!

sounds like what you need is either a Sombrero.....

or a jig and gobo from the provideo store. ( and some sand bags )

I think the Sombrero would be better... cause then everyone you photograph would be part od a series... harhar

Check out California Sunbounce products. I just recently purchased one or their relectors and it is the best reflector I have ever used. It was also the most expensive reflector I have ever bought. Check out their web site.

hmmm BIG ??, on the movie "Planet of the Apes" we had a 30' X 60' frame that was flown by a crane.. on a much smaller scale almost any Video/MotionPicture equipment rental house will have 8'x up to 20'x frames with all kinds of rags you can tie. nets to silks to grids.. stands and everything else. If you are looking to buy something, there is a place outside of Atlanta called "Advantage Grip" that has everything you could want or need..

cw

It sounds like you need something that rolls up and fits into a bag like a California Sunbounce.

California Sunbounce - Flag The Light

here is the link... you can easily make a run to HomeDepot or where ever and make your frame with Electrical conduit, then buy your rags elsewhere. That will easily hold up to a 12x12 frame size.

That system Brooks dropped on you looks very nice..

ADVANTAGEGRIP.com
go to "Over Heads and Butterflies"

cw

Hi Aaron,


How are you?

Look at the Scrim Jim setup by westcott - they are lightweight and modular with a great number of diffusers and reflectors available for them - they are made by westcott.

Philip

"The requirements are that it has to stand up to the wind and be lightweight and portable (I rarely work with an assistant and often take the subway)."

I'm don't think that's realistic. Lightweight and wind-resistant are mutually exclusive. I've had many a (good-sized Bogen) lightstand with 36" umbrella blow over, even in very modest breeze and with a 25 lb. sandbag.

Ya gotta pick: wind-resistant OR light weight, then decide if you can live with the result.

Whatever solution you use will need weight on it. Instead of carrying sandbags you may opt for camping collapsible water container to be filled up on site.

Pound for pound, an assistant beats out a stand when it comes to wind related issues. Plus, who going to carry the heavy stand for you?

mel

Finally: the cost of appeasing the passerby hit by the falling scrim you didn't see in time will, I guarantee, be greater than the cost of the assistant.

Butterfly frames are the traditional way to do this but the California Bounce design looks like a lighter, easier to use way to do it.

But either way you're looking at hanging a 6'x6' (or larger) sail/wing over your model. You'll need tall C-stands (not light stands, they're too light and flexy) and plenty of sandbags to deal with a breeze, and tie down ropes held by more sand bags to hold it in a stiff breeze.

I have a 6x6 frame with a silk but never use it anymore because it's such a hassle to use and virtually impossible without an assistant. Open shade with a reflector or fill flash is a much easier way to solve the same basic problem.

Another simple solution on the smaller size.

Mathews 24x36 Silk

The bigest problem you have is the wind. especially in N.Y. and on roof tops. If you work alone then you probably work spontaniously which means setting up any rig gets cumbersom.

I would'nt even consider a flag larger than a PVC colapsable frame bigger than 48" when working alone. Even a 5 mph wind can turn a metal frame and scrim into a leathal weapon especially if it's rigidly attached to a stand.

I hate to say this but use flash. Get a PVC frame and scrim and a stand with colapsable water gugs for weight. You can set it up fast and if it falls nobody gets hurt.

Change your style to accomodate the situation rather than change the situation to accomodate your style.

I think a hand-held flag would be the way to go. Because it can be positioned more easily than a c-stand setup, you probably can get away with a smaller size (closer to the subject) unit as well. Interchangeable fabrics are also great. I saw some nice frames from Chimera at NAB last year - might check them out.

BTW: Sabu - is there a US importer for Sunbounce? Last time I checked, it was web order from overseas.