So, among the many things I’ve been busy with this past few months, is a few assignments for Bicycling magazine. I’ve had a lot of fun with these past few jobs, and although I can’t yet share the images from the shoots (the images will be posted after they’ve been published this coming spring), I thought I would share a quick little bit about what I’ve been using to light some of the shots. These past few assignments I have been covering cycling events, instead of doing a portrait or more posed type shot. So my goal has been to travel light, but yet still have enough lighting equipment with me to compete with the strong day light. I used natural light for the majority of the shots, but I do like to have lighting equipment with me when I need it, to really make some of the images pop.
I used an Alien Bee 1600 strobe powered by the Vagabond Mini, and triggered with Pocket Wizards. The new Vagabond Mini, is a life saver when it comes to its weight and versatility, especially compared to its predecessor. I pack all of this into a Domke J-2 bag, which fits the strobe, battery, and cords perfectly. Also, instead of using a light stand for the strobe, I just attach it to a tripod because it can be adjusted much better for rough and uneven terrain. While carrying all this around with my two cameras and lenses may not be considered traveling “light” by some, it does give me a lot of flash power, mobility, and options compared to just carrying around a small speed light.
