Prop Arc with Strobe

[tvrphoto]

So I was doing a dusk portrait shot of Jacquie Warda at the airport in Livermore.  Using three studio strobes and a slaved camera flash inside the cockpit, I worked on various power settings along with combining slower shutterspeeds and leaving the modeling light on during long exposures.  Regardless of the settings I tried, I still couldn't get a full prop arc.  I know this sounds odd, after all a flash is a flash, it only lasts for so long!  But I've seen this done and was unable to duplicate it.  I was hoping that by having the modeling lights on, they would provide enough ambient light to get the arc and the strobes would simply act as fill-in for the background.

Anyone have any recommendations as to slowing the flash duration to obtain a full prop arc during a nighttime exposure?

[Jorgo]

Just a guess, as I know nothing about cameras or those flashy thingys.

A flash is always of a super short duration. You could try and very long exposure combined with a multi-strobe flicker.
But that will always freeze the propellor.

Otherwise, I strongly suggest a strong constant light, along with the slow shutter speed.

[Jorgo]

Also, I presume she had a highish RPM as you took the shots?

Sorry to ask...

[M.M.]

I can't believe Tyson is having problems getting a photo to turn out the way he wants.

Can there be any other solution to this than the obvious one, i.e., more and constant light on the prop?  Yes, this will complicate the lighting setup as you try to limit where the extra light falls and stop it from casting unwanted shadows....  But that's why you're paid the big bucks, eh?

-M.M.

[Eric]

Tyson,

Jorgo is right. You need constant light on the prop - without flash. The stipulation is, if you use constant light AND flash on  the prop, you'll get the arc you want AND a brighter image of a frozen or slightly blurred prop on top of that - which I assume you don't want.

Put constant light on the front of the plane (I use Lowel DP Lights) and use flash to enhance the parts of the plane and person needing emphasis. Set your exposure to optimize the arc.

Also, I couldn't help but notice that if you had been successful in obtaining the full arc in your original round of photos that the pilot's face would have been obstructed by the prop stripes due to the hard lighting on the prop. I might even move to the camera left a bit so the pilot's face was outside the arc (but maybe face inside the arc is what you desire) or put a little more light on her so she pops. You'll have to experiment to achieve the proper balance.

[tvrphoto]

Thanks Eric, et al, I totally forgot about Lowel!  Mine were Dynalite 1000ws & 2000ws packs.  Of course, I don't have any Lowel lights but I'm sure it was something I could have rented upon swinging through San Jose.  I was just racking my brain on how to make the flash duration longer.  Usually, more power does the trick but it just still wasn't enough.

I do have a series of shots taken from a few degrees difference to allow her to be seen despite full arc.  Once I noticed I wasn't getting it, and didn't want to make her idle until I could figure it out, I moved the camera for a more head-on view and shot a bunch of frames until I got with the prop where I wanted it.

Usually I shoot dusk shots of CJ-1's and CJ-2's with the strobes for a Cessna brokerage firm.  Of course the only thing I have to worry about is timing my exposure to match the interior ambient lights and use the strobes for exterior fill-in.  A wee bit easier.

Always learning!!!

[FotoDJ]

Tyson , looks like all you need is longer exposure with lit propeller  and another stronger light on the subject's face, the efect will be similar to this one on the picture below, and the pilot will be visible even through the prop arc...I think the correct angle of the lightning on the prop is very important as well.


Dariusz

[FotoDJ]

I think we need more light on the face....now it is much better   



I know that one day you gonna kill me.....


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[Roger]

LOL

[tvrphoto]

Thanks for the info Dariusz!  I wish I had a Lowel with me to get the intense light needed.  Now we just have to do something about that spooky image in the prop!  I'm gonna have nightmares now!

[Eric]

Actually, that's a good demonstration of something I "kind of" eluded to in my previous post, and that is:
Depending on how the prop reflects light back to the camera, you may get a less transparent disk than you would during a day light shoot, thereby blocking the face of the pilot you intended to photograph.

The two ways to correct that error would be to move the camera to the left so the pilot's face is outside of the disk, or increase the reflection of the pilot and fuselage relative to the reflection of the disk.