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How to gang three speedlights together
There are times when one speed light isn’t enough and using two or even three in different locations around the subject just doesn’t work. In these instances it would be nice to have a single flash light that is powerful, controllable and will give you the image you want, and by ganging three speed lights together you can get the powerful single light source you want.
Ganging speed lights together simply means grouping them all together in a single location and firing them all at the same time to produce a single light source.
If you want to gang three speed lights together you are not only going to need the right equipment, but also make sure it works in harmony together, otherwise your exposures are going to be all over the place.
Ganging speed lights together simply means grouping them all together in a single location and firing them all at the same time to produce a single light source.
If you want to gang three speed lights together you are not only going to need the right equipment, but also make sure it works in harmony together, otherwise your exposures are going to be all over the place.
The equipment you need to gang together speedlights
"Essential equipment to produce a powerful single light solution - speed lights, flash triggers and 3 way bracket"
The equipment you need to gang together three speedlights (and the equipment I use above) includes:-
Three speedlights (of course). You can use three different brands and models, however you will find they are easier to control, and you will get consistent exposures if they are all the same. You can of course use any brand of speedlight however I use Godox Ving flash guns and I can't be more happy with them . I needed a cheap replacement for a broken Canon 600EX so I bought I Godox Ving on a whim and was so impressed I ended up buying two more of them. If you're interested here's a full review of the Godox Ving speed light.
A three way speed light bracket. You can buy these that allow the speed lights to be mounted next to each other in a row, or mounted in a triangular pattern. The bracket you use doesn’t really make any difference and you can choose whatever you want. I use the bracket to get my speed lights in a triangular pattern because I like the way the overall light is spread using this set up.
Radio triggers to fire the flashes when you press the shutter button. There are loads of different radio triggers available, some of which are exceptionally cheap and some of which are extremely expensive (like the Pocket Wizards). The cost of the radio triggers will depend on the features. For example, some radio triggers allow you to control the settings of the flash units from the back of your camera or from a remote in the hot shoe, which means you don’t have to keep walking over to the speed lights and manually changing the settings. Some radio triggers, like the Yongnuo 622 triggers I use, also offer high speed sync (HSS) and also support full ETTL. Radio triggers with all the features can be pricey whereas radio triggers without these features are cheap as chips. If you're interested here's a full review of the Yongnuo 622 flash triggers.
A light stand to support the speed lights. Three speed lights aren’t super light therefore you need a sturdy light stand to support everything. You also need to remember the light stand is supporting quite a bit of money’s worth of photographic equipment so you should never scrimp and buy the sturdiest you can afford.
In order to gang three speed lights together you need the equipment above, period. As well as the equipment above I also consider a light modifier or two to be essential. Flash light can be harsh and when you gang three speed lights together this harshness increases. A light modifier will diffuse the light, make it softer and also easier to work with. There are loads of different types of light modifiers available, and they all do a different job. For general photography I recommend a shoot through brolly for indoor use (they are super cheap, easy to use and soften the light really well) and a soft box for outdoor use.
Godox Ving seed light
Buy the Godox Ving from Amazon.com (US citizens) or buy from Amazon.co.uk (UK citizens)
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Yongnuo 622 flash triggers
Buy the Yongnuo 622 flash triggers from Amazon.com (US citizens) or buy from Amazon.co.uk (UK citizens)
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Further Reading
If you found this article useful below are some other articles you may interesting. Please feel free to check them out and take a look:-
Basics of flash photography
If you want to capture great photos using your flash or speed light you need to go back to the basics, and once you do this you will be taking flash photos like a pro. For a quick summary the “Basics of flash photography” is a good read.
What flash should I get for my Canon camera?
There are many flash guns and speed lights available, most of which are very good. In order to choose the most suitable flash for your needs, and make sure you don’t waste your hard earned cash, there are key questions you need to ask yourself as covered in the article “What flash should I get for my Canon camera?”
When to use a flash in ETTL (automatic) mode
Many photographers scoff at the idea of using a flash gun or speed light in automatic mode, however there are certain times and situations when ETTL will get you not only the best shots, but also shots you would never have managed to capture if you were using the flash in manual mode. “When to use flash in ETTL (automatic) mode” is a good read that will change your approach to flash photography.
Off camera flash on a budget
There is a big trend towards off camera flash, and when you dabble in this type of photography it is easy to see why. Using a flash off camera is cool and whilst you do need some specific equipment it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, as “Off camera flash on a budget” proves.
