Off-camera Flash Photography for Any Skill-level

Advanced Setup: 45 Wirelessly Controlled Flashes

Bob and Dawn Davis Photography

For a lighting workshop, Bob and Dawn Davis blasted this vintage prop plane with light from 45 Canon Speedlites. They used 580EX, 580EX II, and 430EX flashes, which were all fired by RadioPopper wireless flash triggers. They organized the flashes into three groups, and the output of each was controlled from a 580EX II in the camera’s hotshoe (A). The outer perimeter lights formed a group and were mounted on Manfrotto 501B Nano lightstands (B). A second group of Speedlites lit the plane’s underbelly (C), while a third group illuminated the interior of the plane (D). All were TTL-controlled from the camera position. The Davises shot with a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and 24–70mm f/2.8L IS II EF Canon zoom, for an exposure that slightly underexposed the sunset beyond: 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 250.
 

Kris Holland/Mafic Studios

Gear Used:

Canon 580EX II Speedlite ($500, street)
RadioPopper Wireless flash trigger system; receiver shown ($250, street)