Discussion on flash to recreate press photo look in sports

[Arklatexian]

I'm considering a project for this summer to photograph a roller derby tournament with an old TLR on black and white film, and thought I would post here to throw some ideas around and maybe get some input from anyone who has attempted something similar.

My thought was to purchase something like a Godox AD360 (Or similar modern bare bulb portable flash) on a grip for my C330f, and use that as a directed flash and a fairly narrow aperture and single point light for a very harsh and aggressive look.

Will do some test runs early in the season to see which film I prefer for the task, and there is also the debate about whether the single on camera flash is going to be too aggressive, or if I should add in my rovelight as well. (The players were very impressed by the digital I produced last season while using the rovelight in a 7' reflector umbrella, and I figure something like the AD360 might pair well with my existing kit while I explore film.)

Any thoughts on the matter with regards to a light setup for such a project?

Unfortunately the sports photography that I was exposed to was and is the very best basketball action pictures that I have ever seen. This was in the 1950s and consisted of a Monostrob slave at each end of the court aimed at the baskets. They were fired by an SR2 (100WS) electronic flash (strob) mounted on each of two 4x5 Graphic press cameras which the photographers aimed at the action. The pictures that I remember were made when the action was at one basket or the other. Needless to say, the two photographers did not shoot hundreds of pictures at each game but most of what they shot were usable. Everything was shot on 4x5 Super Pan Press, Type B. I never saw either of those photographers use a single flash for anything other than straight news stories or flash fill. Both were "real" photographers, one of which was nominated twice for Putitzer Prizes. He is no longer among us and the other is the same age as I am and has a hard time getting out of bed in the morning as do I. They were using electronic flash (Wabash) in the 1940s. Don't believe I ever saw one use a flashbulb. Those were for us Amateurs as we were known in those days. My point, don't fool with flashbulbs. Electronic flash has been around longer than most of you have been alive......Regards!

 

[CropDusterMan]

You should check this out...has some cool images and video interviews...

http://www.si.com/longform/neil-leifer/

I got to meet Neil when I assisted a Sports Illustrated guy back in the early 2000's. Neile Leifer was
a great sports photographer and pioneered many flash techniques for sports work. Many don't realize
that the famous photo below was lit by flash he set up the day before the famous fight between
Ali and Liston...if I remember correctly, they were ASCOR (American Speedlight Corp. strobes with
very fast flash durations. What also adds to the images of then vs now is the haze of cigarette smoke
in the air...another great example is the 6-day cycling races held on velodromes in Europe through
the 50's-70's. Hey...you could always sneak in a fog machine for a few minutes! lol (just be sure the fog
is not between the flash and the subject!) An added note...SPorts Illustrated had two photographers
at the fight that night...Leifer and Herbie Scharfman, who is the guy in the photo between Ali's legs
with the Rolleiflex below his chin...Leifer was lucky to be on the opposite side of the ring!
Jason

 

[CropDusterMan]

One thing to remember with flash photography in sport is rear-curtain sinc...otherwise you'll end up with shit like this...

.

 

[CropDusterMan]

I think the flash bulb thing, although a cool idea, is going to be logistically tough...how easy are those to get now?
Can you show some examples of work you'd like to emulate?

 

[BrianShaw]

I'd sure like to see the mat-level pic of the KO by that very distinguished looking gray-haired gentleman with the Rollei and Strobonar!

 

[CropDusterMan]

I'd sure like to see the mat-level pic of the KO by that very distinguished looking gray-haired gentleman with the Rollei and Strobonar!

It's a nothing shot though, Leifer had the angle.

 

[BrianShaw]

True enough. But I'm still curious!

 

[CropDusterMan]

True enough. But I'm still curious!

Ya, nothing like good sports images on 21/4.