I have an 86 inch parabolic umbrella from Paul C. Buff. Are there any videos or tutorials on how to use a parabolic umbrella? Really couldn't find any videos on Youtube that would help me out. Also, how can I create this kind of effect during the day using either my 36 inch octabox or parabolic umbrella with my yongnuo 560 iii while using colored gels? Thanks.
Trying to overpower the sun with speed lights is really not something I would recommend. You need something like alien bees or other and a battery pack.
Also I think you need to shoot at least three speed lights to get anything useful from an umbrella as big as a parabolic.
I am all for strobist lighting but often I see people doing all these hacks with speed lights when it would be easier and way better lighting to use a real studio flash unit. Just my opinion
I agree, I really wouldn't try to overpower the sun if you can help it:
Attached below is a test shot I took with my Sony a7rii with the Phottix Odin Triggers to get HSS (1/2400th of a second shutter here) and an Alien Bees B1600 w/ a 30 Percent Grid at full power w/ the vagabond lithium II. I also had a 3 stop VU ND on my lens as well, to shoot this at a f/1.8.
This is as far as I could get away, and still underexposed her by 1-2 stops (had to adjust her in post). I would have had to have this RIGHT ON TOP of her to get the right exposure I wanted with DIRECT light.
Granted, this is an extreme case, and no sane (or not well paid photographer) would EVER shoot the way I did below, but I think you get the idea as example. You COULD pull it off with the right gear, but it won't be easy, and it won't be cheap. The Odin triggers (x2) was $280, and receiver (x1) was $160. The VU filter ND was $50.
Parabolic reflectors/umbrellas are best used with a focusing system, to take advantage of light-focusing (i.e. controlling contrast/punch/spread/falloff etc). I will be adding lighting tutorials to our website starting in the very near future, using all parabolic reflectors and the lighting-focusing system. For now there are some useful discussions on this system in the tutorials/education section.
cheers,
David
First of all that image is not shot in the day time, If so, Someone used Profoto and or Leafshutter lens to sync at 500/th or above probably 1600/th. Does not look like day light at all, you can even see the lights on inside the metro or train passing buy. You never get that look in daylight with a normal lens and freezing the train passing by with 250/th no matter what light you throw on it with ND filters on the camera.