Female Ruby Throated HB

[Joel Eade]

This a backyard setup, it's been so hot here in just a couple of hours my flowers started to wilt but I did manage a few frames just before dark this evening.
1D3
300 f/2.8L + 25mm extension tube
tripod + wimberly II
manual mode
1/125
f/13
iso 400
4 flashes : 580 EXII on camera with better beamer and 3 430 EXII's on light stands triggered with pocket wizards all set to manual 1/32 power.

ACR and CS5, removed the extra catch lights.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

IMO the best of the series, I like the lighting better here. Others seems a tad dark to me but this one is spot on. Love the foreground flash lighting subject with dark background. Just curious, I have not tried this. Is the BB needed with extension tube. Can't argue with the results just trying to learn more about the setup.

[Joel Eade]

Jeff,

Thanks for the kind words.

The idea is to use flash as the sole source of light. The exposure is set so that without flash you would get a totally black image (thus the black background)

I am using the extension tube so I can reduce the minimum focus distance. I don't think the better beamer would be absolutely necessary as I am only 6-8 feet from the birds.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Joel, that seems a bit close for the beamer, you must have had your FEC set at -2 or less? Whatever the setting, your exposure looks perfect. I've always wanted to buy up a few extra flash units and give this a try. You've done a really nice job with them here. Well done!