EIGHT hot shoe flashes off camera

[brucep]

Here via Strobist is Dave Black using a bank of eight Nikon SB-900's to shoot surfing and motorcross:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2010/12...ave-black.html

Great use of off-camera flash!

[wulos]

VERY interesting - might have to have a bit of a play. Anyone feel like sending half a dozen 580EXII flashes my way??

[ScottL]

I love reading and seeing some of these videos. Whether it be 8 or 1, there are many times I forget the obvious and never really think to remove my SB900 from the camera and move it some distance away to get a different look or effect.

I also saw a crazy set up that either this guy or another photographer did to photograph the Red Bull car and possibly (Travis Pastrana) jump the longest ramp to ramp jump in a car. He did the same with multiple flashes in multiple locations to achieve the shot.

Strobists is a great website.

[Cadwell]

Whilst technologically quite interesting, I am struggling to see the point. Why would you want to make a dusk / night time surfing shot look like it was taken in full daylight? Why not do something creative with the dusk / night time setting instead?

As for the motocross shots, I am not entirely sure what to say other than don't do that without asking first or you'll get your head full of helmet.

Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily make doing it a good idea.

[ScottL]

The photograph that I am talking about was actually a planned photograph by Red Bull, the driver, and the photographer for publicity. I would agree that doing it without permission might not be the best idea considering that is ALOT of light.

As for the surfing, I definately see your point, and he actually had a few shots where he let natural light in and the affect was great. And I see another point, why not just shoot during the day when the light is bright, but who knows, maybe it was the best time for larger waves.

[Landis]

I agree, Glenn. Some motor sports drivers might take GREAT offense to having that wattage of lights go off in their night vision driving.

[wulos]

Lighting any 'high risk' sport like this(without the athletes knowledge / consent) would be quite irresponsible.
I guess it comes down to how people are expecting to see their sport captured.
For surfing, people are used to seeing everything completely frozen, hanging in space. I can see the potential for the surfing pics where you are wanting to capture the colour of the sunset reflected in the waves behind the surfer whilst still being able to capture the surfers face. I can also see potential in other sports where the lighting is generally quite poor, & people want to see the action perfectly frozen.
For motorcross, people are expecting to see motion blur at least in the wheels, and often in the B/G as well. I don't see the benefits in shooting motoX(or other 'wheeled' for that matter. possibly excepting skateboarding) like this.