Until they start handing me two plane tickets or I can get a trained monkey that fits in my suitcase to be my VAL I will have to use the other options (just kidding about using a monkey).

I looked at the Lumiquist stuff this afternoon, but I like you feel that it will not quite get the entire car. I did have an idea about using the LTP, maybe I need to design a hat that could hold it (and make me not look entirely stupid at the same time). I would put it on a pocket wizzard so I could adjust on the fly, just a thought.

Scooby - Never underestimate the power of the voice activated lightstand (VAL, or more commonly, another person holding your flash). I'm the primary VAL for my lady, and she gets great results every time she uses it.

That said, you could try the lumiquist softboxes (either the Lumiquist Softbox III or the LTP if you can get a flash off camera), but I don't think you will get a wide enough throw to light an entire car when shot close in.

I've got the softbox III and it's excellent, but I think the LTP on your SB900 might be your best bet. If you can't round up a VAL, just attach your light via a TTL cord (on camera the LTP will block your lens) and hold it in your other hand.

Well figure I might get a few more suggestions, I saw several different types of light modifiers recently but didn't get a chance to ask about them. I have the Gary Fong product but honestly for me it helps but not enough, I have not tried it that much either. I see people put them together in several different ways and maybe I have not found the best one yet, to spread the light out the most. I should probably watch a video but I am not counting on this product to remedy the problem.

Here is the situation, I need something portable so the 36" soft boxes won't really cut it for me. I am taking pictures at car shows, I used to be outdoors but lately they asked me for indoor shows. If it works out I get a media pass and there is no problem but this lastest show, I wasn't able to make the media time frame and had to shoot with the general public all over the place. The result is the following, I underexposed this so the background is not blasting everything else out and obviously no flash:

I needed a wide angle lens to get up close so nobody was in the way but using a flash I only get like a part of the car and everything else is just too dark. I can crank the ISO up but would prefer to be able to illuminate the car and not have the background lights be so bright (and distracting). I hopefully will not get caught in the general public times anymore but figure I need to be prepaired incase I do. On another note, setting up 2 or 3 flashes really won't be an option either, last thing I need is someone to step on it or kick it.

For flashes I have the following: SB-900, SB-700, and an SB-400

Will it be difficult to do off-camera flash? I believe your flash will sync off-camera. This will give you more lighting options. I agree with sevencrossing about mixing ambient, definitely makes for more pleasing images.

+1 for sevencrossing

Plus, if using a small softbox whatever on your SB900, make sure to not shoot to much within a short timespan, anything put on that flash seems to make it more prone to overheating...

elvishefer said:
I'm investigating ways of making on-camera flash as palatable as possible,

Suggestion(s)
use the Nikon diffuser and maybe the warm tungsten filter, supplied with the SB900
Use bounce flash, just off vetical
Set the ISO as high as you feel comfortable with (say 800 -1600)
use a wideish aperture (say f4)
use a slowish shutter speed (say 1/30)
This should allow you to capture some of the ambient lighting and reduce the harshness of the flash

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I wasn't precisely clear in my original post; I said 'on flash' when I should have said 'on-camera'. In short, I'm investigating ways of making on-camera flash as palatable as possible, as I volunteered (never volunteer!! ;)) to shoot a charity event, and event photography isn't something I've done (no weddings, either, it's just not my thing). I figure I'd be unable to do 'proper' lighting because I'd have to be mobile and relatively unobtrusive.

You've all given me some great ideas for alternatives and brand feedback on Lastolite too, which is great, and very much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Jeremy

elvishefer said: Anyone have alternatives to suggest?

Not a soft box I know, but I've recently been trying the Gary Fong LightSphere. I've had some good results, although I do think it's a lot of money for what it is. I suppose if it works it works?

adamz said:
sevencrossing - are we talking about the same products, there's no way I could fit my eazybox on camera - it's way too big

I use my easy box with a SB900 OFF camera

The Ezybox Speed-Litecan is smaller and be use on Camera

sevencrossing - are we talking about the same products, there's no way I could fit my eazybox on camera - it's way too big

I also use an off camera medium sized Ezybox, it,s well made and does the job
but remember any small, on camera diffuser, may not be significantly different to the nikon diffuser that came with the SB 900. If you you want soft lighting, you must have a larger light source , if you want to put some modeling into you flash, it has got be be off camera

I'm using Lastolite for some time (almost two years) and I'm more than pleased with them. I have the medium size eazybox and it works like a charm, small when packed and big enough for portraits. Build quality exceeds the one found in similar products on ebay with a lower price tag - in this case You pay not only for premium brand but also for quality.
It works nicely with both SB-800 and SB-900.

I'm using the 24" Lastolite with SB-900 and it works fine. For lots of info about this combination, check out http://neilvn.com/tangents/
Neil van Niekerk also wrote two excellent books on use of on camera and off camera flash.

I use a Lumiquest Promax System (LQ-105). It is a multi use product which includes a cover that acts like a soft box. I like it since it is a lot more versatile and gives me 5 lighting options (Gold, Silver, white, 20/80, softbox with any of the gold silver or white inserts, in something very portable-smaller than a 6x8 notebook. If you are looking at a small size (6-10") it would work the same.

it looks like a well made product.

what do you want it for? it is only 8.5" square, so not very soft. about the same as the lumiquest softbox III (half the price), but quite a bit smaller than the lumiquest ltp. it will block your af assist if you are using it on camera.

i use my ltp on a sb-700 and a sinc cord. the sinc cord can also screw into a monopod if i need more reach than my arm. this gives a pretty soft light considering it is very portable. I can follow kids around with it no trouble.

if you are using it on a stand, get something bigger, or an umbrella.

if you are using it on camera, consider how i use it, or a bracket.

I've been thinking about getting an on-flash softbox for use with my SB-900s and the Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite appears to be a solid product. Any of my fellow NR people ever try/own one? Is Lastolite a good brand? Anyone have alternatives to suggest? I looked at a Lumiquest product but it seemed to get bad reviews around sturdiness.

Thanks in advance :)