This image was shot with Maude Raymond in the Whistler Blackcomb high level terrain park in spring 2011. From a photographic point of view, what makes this shot interesting is that I used the Hypersync functionality provided by Pocketwizard transmitters. The light on the feature was in and out all day, but mostly out. I wanted to use some flash to add a little more contrast to the skier but the ambient light was extremely bright. It was a perfect time to use Hypersync , which allows you to sync your flash at much higher shutter speeds, thus enabling me to lower the ambient light down to a level that I could create a correct exposure with.
I used a Canon 1dMK4 and a 15mm fisheye lens with an Elinchrom Ranger just behind me and a little to my right triggered by a TT5 on camera and a Multimax receiver. You need either a TT1 or TT5 as the transmitter but it doesn’t matter what receiver you use. The effect of the flash is very subtle, I didn’t want it to look like flash at all but simply to provide the look of sunshine when the sun was hidden behind the clouds. The shutter speed was an incredible 1/1600 and yet I was able to sync the flash across the whole frame as it’s effect is visible both on the skier and on the side of the rail that she is jumping off. Hypersync is not always necessary, I often work in shutter speed ranges that sync under normal setting anyway but it’s an interesting feature to have in your back pocket. There is a certain amount of experimentation necessary as results will vary depending on your shutter speed and also your flash power (which changes the flash duration). Contrary to most peoples expectations….. a longer flash duration is actually better for Hypersynching. I was using the fast A-Head on my Ranger so I would have been able to achieve even better results with a slower S-Head.
I need to apprentice with you or something. Love what you do!
Thanks Tyler !
Would this shot have been possible with the skyports or do you need to hypersync feature? Could you explain how this works?
An exact replica would not have been possible with sky ports as hypersonic was A part of it. Explaining hypersonic is a whole post in itself though, essentially it allows you to sync at higher shutter speeds though. They have extensive info on their site.
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Thanks Dan!
I should point out that it should have read Hypersync, but my stupid iPad autocorrected it and I didn’t realize !