Riding Bikes
While I was at the Adventure Bike Festival UK, it was suggested that learning to ride a bike could open up more opportunities in the motorcycle industry. I am always pushing myself to learn new skills, and to develop opportunities further, so when our friend Andrew offered to help us get familiar with bikes, I brought my lights along, anticipating some potential action shots.
I set up a THREE with a reflector on a riverbank, aiming to create a pool of light at a river crossing surrounded by trees. I wanted the bike to be silhouetted with the splashes lit from behind, requiring high sync to freeze the water in motion. The plan was for the bike to enter from one bank, plow through the water, and power up the other side, creating dramatic splashes and highlights. James, another rider, sped into the river, creating a spectacular splash that soaked me again.
MotoGP
Back home, while editing a mountain of photos, I got another call from Sony to host their pro support stand at MotoGP during the Silverstone race. Having shot motorsport for a long time, and knowing the genre and circuit, it is quite valuable to other photographers, to be able to offer insight as to possible lens choice, camera bodies and combinations to try.
My Colleague Rafa quickly set up a shoot with two race drivers and their new helmets. The challenge, as always, was time—each shoot would last seconds, not minutes, making the THREE flash perfect for the job.
The first shoot was with Aleix Espargaró of the Aprilia racing team. As Aleix finished his debrief, surrounded by a team of about 25 people in the cramped pit box, I quickly tested the flash on Rafa.
With just seconds to spare, I captured a helmet shot and a hero shot, with Rafa as my interactive light stand, holding the flash perfectly. We nailed the shots just as Alex was ushered away.
Next, we rushed to Yamaha Racing for a shoot with Remy Gardner. He was discussing bike handling with his team while waiting for TV interviews to finish. I had less than a minute to shoot. This felt like ages compared to some shoots I have had recently. Therefore, we quickly took him to the back of the truck for a portrait with and without the helmet, then with it on, followed by a stand-up shot. Autograph hunters were closing in, but I managed one last hero shot just in time, before he had to run. The THREE performed brilliantly, easily overpowering the sun and controlling the ambient light in the paddock.
Adventure
For the last of my summer adventures, I finally got to shoot the long-awaited adventure style session with the YouTube girls I met at the ABR festival. We quickly scouted the location for hidden dangers, and the girls tested the terrain on their bikes. We started with natural light shots using a 50mm and 24-70mm lens. Once satisfied, I set up the lights.
I used the ELB 1200 with a 40cm reflector to create a natural-looking pool of light, mimicking sunlight. The THREE, with a 26cm reflector, provided a second pool of light further back, ensuring both bikes were lit as they moved through the trees. I aimed for a dark, painterly, Rembrandt-style effect, deliberately showcasing the fact we used flash. The Elinchrom system delivered consistent colour and sync, and while two THREE units could have worked, the 1200W ELB added a wow factor that’s hard to beat, I find the 1200 is definitely the light to pull out when you want to impress a client on a shoot.
Next, we moved to a river crossing. I placed one THREE in the reeds and the ELB 1200 on a nearby mound, with my daughter Rhona holding the 1200 ELB in place. I positioned myself between the bikes and a small bank; I trusted the girls’ riding skills but ended up soaked as they splashed through the water. The gear held up well, and I eventually gave up and stood directly in the river for the best angles.
Reflecting on The THREE
The Elinchrom THREE flash has not failed to impress throughout this whirlwind of summer adventures. It also comes in its own protective cube based backpack—super lightweight and easy to carry all day. It goes through flight security with ease, making it a versatile and powerful tool for any on-the-go photographer.
Here are six quick highlights about the THREE flashes:
- Compact and Portable: Designed for photographers on the go, the THREE flashes fit perfectly in my gear bag or the excellent included backpack, ready to go! At 1.6kg, they are carry-on friendly!
- Dual Pack: With two flashes, I had the freedom to experiment with creative lighting techniques and achieve stunning results (1.2 seconds at full power cycling).
- Versatile Power: The Elinchrom THREE packs a punch with adjustable power levels, enabling me to control the lighting for any environment or subject, up to a maximum of 261ws and 525 full-power flashes! Insane!
- Quick Setup: Time is of the essence during on-the-road events, and these flashes ensure a swift setup, allowing me to capture every moment effortlessly.
- Adventure-ready: Built to withstand rugged conditions, these flashes are perfect for adventurous photoshoots, making sure I never miss a shot, no matter where my journey takes me.
- Adaptable: The Elinchrom THREE includes the Elinchrom-Profoto adapter, so you can use your existing Elinchrom light shapers. The THREE is also compatible with most Profoto bayonet light shapers, greatly expanding your selection of available light-shaping tools.
The THREE is amazing as a standalone set for every day carry, anywhere I go. It is also an excellent seamless addition to my existing Elinchrom setup.
For the past 10 years my Elinchrom kit list has grown and evolved. Sometimes large events require multiple on site studio setups, as we will cover everything from race car/bike action, driver portraits and/or full body green screen, merch/helmets booth.
As I look ahead to new adventures, I’m excited to continue exploring the possibilities with the THREE by my side. Elinchrom strives to innovate and I’m sure there will be many more interesting products in future.
The journey has only just begun!
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