Workshop at the Ranch – September 2006 – Tandem SB800 Speedlight Set Up

Hi and welcome to this edition of Workshop at the Ranch. I have been using the Nikon SB800 Speedlight system for over two years now and I have written several articles illustrating their usefulness in the field (NOTE: see previous editions of WATR and OTR for SB800 instruction.) I have written about how I use two SB800s ( TANDEM ) banded together to form one easy handheld unit at sports events and location feature assignments. I have received more emails regarding the “Tandem” SB800s and “how to put them together” than any other technique question. So, for those who have asked, here is what I do ………..

Image #1 TANDEM SB800 Speedlights … Simply take two SB800s and place them one on top of the other. I place a small foam pad in between the two units to prevent them from being scratched. I use two thick rubber bands to hold the two SB800s together. The two SB800s are not electrically connected in any way. They work independently performance wise and are placed on top of each other to form an easier unit that I can hold in my left hand while shooting with the camera in my right hand. I like to use two SB800s in Tandem instead of one because I get twice the power and half the recycle time. Make sure the sensors are on the same side. Make sure that you do not cover up the sensors and that the sensors are facing the Master SB800 or the SU800 on the hotshoe while you are hand holding the Tandem Speedlights. If I want to use the Warming Gels (orange gels) that come standard with each SB800, I usually select a WB of 3600K, a very cool blue WB setting (NOTE: 2006 FebruaryWATR … My Moody Blue Location Lighting Formula.) In this Image notice the color of my hand is a cool blue because of the 3600K WB. The Warming Gels will counter the cool blue WB and warm up my subject to a beautiful skin tone as illustrated in image #2. I set the Tandem SB800s on the i-TTL mode. The Tandem SB800s are in the Remote setting. I set the zoom of the Speedlight according to how much spread of light I want. Sometimes I zoom the Speedlights to 85mm or 105mm and sometimes I set the zoom wider at 50mm or 24mm. When setting my exposure for this stylized lighting situation I like to underexpose my background, usually by 1 stop. This usually will cause my subject to be in shadow or a Silhouette. The light from the SB800s will reveal the subject from shadow or silhouette and give me a dramatically lit subject. Use the LED screen on back of your camera and the Flashing Highlights setting and “Take a Shot, Take a Look” to determine your background exposure. Then turn on your SB800s, Take a Shot, Take a Look and determine the power output settings of the Tandem SB800s that you need to reveal your subject by dialing the power output up or down depending on what looks good to you. I cannot emphasis the concept of trial and error and experimentation more then when learning lighting.

Image #2 Hand Held Tandem SB800 … I’m holding the Tandem SB800s with warming Gels in my left hand. I make sure I do not cover up or block the sensors which are faced towards the camera with the Master SB800 or an SU800 Commander. I hold the tandem unit high enough to illuminate my subject through the face mask while I hold my camera in my right hand. The WB setting of 3600K blues the background while the warming gels on the tandem SB800s counters the blue and warms my subject to a pleasing skin tone. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/15 at f11, Nikon 12-24mm Lens, WB 3600K, Rear Curtain Sync, Two SB800s Tandem with Warming Gels power output +1.7, one SB800 as the Master, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #3 Keep’em Close … I like to keep the SB800s close to my subject for a dramatic lighting effect. Too often, photographers tend to place their lights far away from their subject which creates a flatter light. I like the Nikon SB800s because they are so portable and easily hand held.. As with this image, my assistant followed the subject with the Speedlights on the fly. This mobility is especially useful when shooting a pre-game sport feature. The i-TTL keeps the power output perfect even though the distance from the Speedlights to my subject varies. These two sets of Tandem SB800s are only 5 feet away from my subject and are hand held by my assistant. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/3200 at f5, Nikon 12-24mm Lens, WB 3600K, Four SB800s (2 sets of 2 Tandems) with Warming Gels power output +1.7, One SB800 as the Master, Two Bogen 175F Clamps attached to a Bogen Lightstand, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #4 Bogen 175F Clamps … It can be helpful to mount the SB800s on a Bogen 175F clamp. This insures that the sensors will be in clear view of the Master on the hotshoe of the camera whether attached to a lightstand or, as in this image, handheld by an assistant. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/1600 at f5.6, Nikon 17-55mm Lens, WB 5600K, Four SB800s (2 sets of 2 Tandems) power output +1.3, Two Bogen 175F Clamps, One SU800 Comander, Lexar 4G Flash Card. For this image I did not use any warming gels and chose a WB of 5600K which is a daylight setting with a slight touch of coolness.

The Nikon SB800 Speedlight is one of the most useful pieces of equipment to come along in years. I take them on every assignment and find new and exciting applications for them each time I shoot. The tandem use of two SB800s provides twice the power which in turn provides half the recycle time. I use the Energizer e2 Lithium Batteries. I bring a couple of Bogen 175F clamps with me to secure the SB800s to a lightstand, a fence, a railing, a chair etc. or to have an assistant handhold them.

I hope you all have enjoyed this edition of Workshop at the Ranch. ………….. Adios, Dave