Strobes Don't work Outside?

[mshockley]

Okay, so I've just spent the last hour trying to figure out why in the hell my studio flashes will not fire outside!

I have 23 people arriving on scene in 30 minutes for a team photo and wanted to use my studio flash as I have more power than with my speedlight.

all set up, flashes do not seem to receive any signal. After trying many different things and checking extension cords, etc I bring one flash head inside and it fires right off when I trip my shutter. WTH....I feel like I have the camera, flash, subject distance well within range. I'm at a loss, have torn it all down and decided to go with natural light, and speedlight as I'm now out of time on this issue.

Any ideas what I was doing wrong so I can figure this out would be greatly appreciated. I'm kicking myself as it is for not investing in 2 more speedlights instead of these strobes so please don't rub that in

Thanks all!

[kevingeary]

Originally Posted by mshockley

Okay, so I've just spent the last hour trying to figure out why in the hell my studio flashes will not fire outside!

I have 23 people arriving on scene in 30 minutes for a team photo and wanted to use my studio flash as I have more power than with my speedlight.

all set up, flashes do not seem to receive any signal. After trying many different things and checking extension cords, etc I bring one flash head inside and it fires right off when I trip my shutter. WTH....I feel like I have the camera, flash, subject distance well within range. I'm at a loss, have torn it all down and decided to go with natural light, and speedlight as I'm now out of time on this issue.

Any ideas what I was doing wrong so I can figure this out would be greatly appreciated. I'm kicking myself as it is for not investing in 2 more speedlights instead of these strobes so please don't rub that in

Thanks all!

What were you using to trigger them?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by mshockley

Okay, so I've just spent the last hour trying to figure out why in the hell my studio flashes will not fire outside!

I have 23 people arriving on scene in 30 minutes for a team photo and wanted to use my studio flash as I have more power than with my speedlight.

all set up, flashes do not seem to receive any signal. After trying many different things and checking extension cords, etc I bring one flash head inside and it fires right off when I trip my shutter. WTH....I feel like I have the camera, flash, subject distance well within range. I'm at a loss, have torn it all down and decided to go with natural light, and speedlight as I'm now out of time on this issue.

Any ideas what I was doing wrong so I can figure this out would be greatly appreciated. I'm kicking myself as it is for not investing in 2 more speedlights instead of these strobes so please don't rub that in

Thanks all!

Without knowing what you're using to sync, it's hard to say.

If you're using a LoS Infra red signal, being outside, especially if it's bright, can be an issue.

If you're relying on another version of optical slave, again being outside is a crap shoot.

If you're using wireless radio triggers, which ideally you would be, I couldn't say.

However, for the future, you ought to consider having hard-line sync cables for eventualities like this.

It sounds like an issue related to the environment vs the signal form however if it works inside and you're working inside of typical distances.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by mshockley

Any ideas what I was doing wrong so I can figure this out would be greatly appreciated. I'm kicking myself as it is for not investing in 2 more speedlights instead of these strobes so please don't rub that in

Thanks all!

Not a chance. I use strobes outside all the time and prefer them to speedlight, as speedlights just don't have the power to reach the subject if you are in the f16 range, or have a ND filter on to bring down the aperture to defocus the background.

I have a shiny loonie (Canadian Dollar) that says you are trying to trigger them optically. It just will not work on a bright day. As suggested hard wire or radio triggers are the only way to go.

[mshockley]

Scott and Niresangwa--you are spot on, I was trying to trigger them optically and it was very bright today!

Niresangwa "However, for the future, you ought to consider having hard-line sync cables for eventualities like this." Now on the list of things to buy this week!

Thanks guys, it was very frustrating and of course had to happen when I had the largest group of people I've had to shoot to date, so I was already thinking and planning how to get everyone into the frame, then to have that happen! I just did not know that the flash would have issues outside, never even thought of it. Lesson learned!

It went off okay, took much more time bringing everyone into position then it did to fire off the shots

[Jim Bryant]

We use those Pocketwizards. Wireless signal is better than optical.

[autofocus]

Michelle, did your strobes come with cables that can be directly connected to the camera?

[inlina]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

We use those Pocketwizards. Wireless signal is better than optical.

Which Pocketwizards do you use Jim?

I have a TT1 and a couple of TT5s which I am a bit dissapointed with. I have never used the ETTL functionality to it's fullest and I found out after I bought them they sometimes have issues triggering due to the EMC output of the flash interfering with the RF comms.

CG

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by mshockley

Niresangwa "However, for the future, you ought to consider having hard-line sync cables for eventualities like this." Now on the list of things to buy this week!

Glad it went ok, but my advice would be to get wireless triggers. If you're ok manually setting your power (not that hard at all), pick up a Tx/Rx set of RF-602's. Very affordable, reliable and easy to use.

Keep the cables for true back-up emergencies like today's... otherwise they're clumsy if you're not working in a tight studio area. Good to have just in case though.

[mshockley]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Michelle, did your strobes come with cables that can be directly connected to the camera?

Vince, they did not come with sync cord, as Niresangwa has suggested I have on hand...lol.
And as you know from one of our conversations I have the Pocket Wizards, which unfortunately had been acting up and the guy at our local camera shop is attempting to have a look at them for me.

I was not worried about not having them, figured I would just let my speedlight trigger the 2 strobes, which in theory and practice works perfectly fine-INDOORS. This is how I tripped them before I got the Wizards. As I said, I didn't even think about the bright outdoors situation causing a problem. I've never had a use to take them outside. On most of my shoots I'm doing 1-4 people on average and my 2 speedlights and the Wizard have been what I've been using.


Today is a perfect example of why I don't do weddings yet. I just feel like I am not knowledgeable enough and do not have enough back-up equipment to take the risk of possibly totally screwing up someone's day! It's not like you get do-overs on those. I made the best of today's situation and it all worked out, but I would have liked those strobes firing-it would have given me a little more creativity to play with.

In a way I've decided I've learned a valuable lesson today and will be buying sync cords when I go to shop--at which time I'm really hoping the handy-dandy Wizards will be working!