mcraven

I am about to try some speed light photography. right now I have two speed lights with stands and umbrellas. but my stands are very light and the leg don't spread out much.. in other words they are cheap and will blow over easy. if you can help me where can I find a decent stand and possibly a softbox for my speed lights...thanks in advance for any suggestions..

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I feel your concern and look forward to some good recommendations from experienced users of light stands. My first experience outside using umbrellas did not go well. With wind there is not much you can do. Indoors is not so much of a problem but some light modifiers can get top heavy.

mcraven

jay I have had that happen already but nothing was broken ..maybe I can find me some sand bags to weigh it down...

fuzzypaddle Loc: Southern Illinois

I use 10 lb ankle weights I picked up at a resale shop pretty cheap to hold down my light stands. Works great.

mcraven

thanks fuzzy. I may make me something to save money..

fotodon Loc: Oberlin, OH

Sandbags are probably the answer even if you were to purchase heavy duty stands. Good ones are expensive, but if you think you only need a couple that may be the way to go. However, if you are a DYI guy you can make your own.

It is important to properly dry the sand first. I like to make two 4-5 pound bags and attach two together with a strap. This makes them very useful for various applications. However, you can use whatever design you like, simple or complicated. First, dry some sand thoroughly in your oven. This not only dries it but also sterilizes it. As soon as it is cool enough to handle fill an appropriate size DOUBLE zip baggie squeezing out all the air. The baggie is then placed in a black canvas bag of whatever design works for you. Sewing skills are helpful but not necessary. Pop rivets, grommets, post-binders, and even staples may work. Spraying the bags with Camp Dry is also helpful for those raining day shots outside.

Another helpful DYI trick that I just gleaned from Kevin Kubota is: Get one of those inexpensive (shop around online) Magna Cart folding two wheel dollies. Load it up with equipment, sand bags, or whatever at the bottom for stabilization. Firmly attach a light stand to it and you can easily roll around your equipment and light at a shoot without the hassle of multiple movements for sandbags, light stand and equipment which usually requires a helper or two.

If you are a DYI guy I would also suggest, for outdoor shoots, you look into the plentiful online tutorials for building soft boxes and other light modifiers. Some are very easy to build, are cheap, and work very well. Better yet, they don't cause that rush of expletives when that gust of wind blows up. Kevin Kubota has a design that incorporates foam core, parachute cloth and a toilet floor flange. LOL

mcraven

thanks ptotodon.. those are some helpful tips. I will consider one ore 2 of them..

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Sand bags are always good.
If you desire something heavier, buy bags of shot from a trap range.
Another weighty situation is milk jugs filled with water. The nice thing is you can empty them for transport, and fill them at location if water is available. ;)

As far as a stand: I just got my first speedlight. I use it as an off-camera flash indoors so far. I mount it to an Artists easel that was my Mom's. It makes a very lightweight tripod for it.
And use it as a slave, flash triggered. Really upped my photo's quality for Christmas.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

If it were me I'd buy or make a few sand bags....I wouldn't buy a more beefy stand.

The way I see it, the big ones will still blow over and are much heavier and harder to carry.

Easier to have a few empty sand bags on hand and fill them as needed.

Or if you have soft ground, you can use curved tent stakes to stake the legs down.


The empty water jug idea is brilliant....good job to that commenter

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I see those a lot at swap meets to hold Easy Ups.

mcraven

very nice sugestions..I will be putting them to use...thanks photos guys.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Value priced stands do not have the spread of the better ones. Taller stands also have a greater spread. If you need a 9 ft stand, get a 12 or 14 ft stand, and just extend it to a lower height. Bring some sturdy bags that you can fill with rocks or bricks or whatever - this will save you the trouble of carrying around 40 lbs of sand-filled bags.

I use Matthews turtle base stands in studio, and Avenger stands on location - the ones with the leveling leg so you can make them perfectly vertical - they are not light, but they are not likely to be unstable. These are designed for studio strobes or monolights, so they are quite hefty and solid.

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

Cheetah stands automatic closing and opening legs easy to move around.
https://www.cheetahstand.com/category-s/1867.htm

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

Gallon zip-lock bags were my solution - light for transport, heavy when filled. Can hold water (8 lbs./gal.), sand or rocks. I use velcro to attach mine to the stands.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

If making your own "sand bags", do not use sand. Sand and photographic equipment do not get along well together.

I use epoxy coated aquarium gravel, left over from fish hobby days