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The Sigma BF mirrorless camera is now $200 off:
Additional information on the BF can be found here:
20 things you need to know about the new Sigma BF full-frame mirrorless camera with L-mount
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| Yikes! Image: @gupigupigupigupigupigupigupi on Instagram |
Sometimes, Instagram can be a source for creative ideas to put your own spin on. Other times, it can give you examples of what not to do. One of the videos that crossed our feed today was the latter: captioned "every photographer's worst nightmare happened to me," it shows a lighting stand with a flash attached crashing to the ground, ruining the photographer's laptop.
Despite the apparent misfortune, the clip actually shows someone getting extremely lucky, as the heavy rig could've easily come down on the photographer or the model they were shooting, which could've resulted in a serious injury or worse. So how do you avoid making the same mistake?
If you look in the comments (and at the photographer's post itself), you'll see a ton of people suggesting the same thing: sandbags or something similar to weigh the stand down. And indeed, that's an excellent place to start. With an overhead lighting setup, I'd probably look to use at least two: one on the leg that's in line with the load and another on a second leg. If the load were super heavy or very far away from the center of the stand, I'd even consider using three, though I'd check my stand's weight limit first.
It also appears that the wheels may not have been locked, given how the stand kicked out when it started falling. If that's the case, they definitely should've been, especially with an overhanging load.
If the weight is sticking out from the stand without a leg under it, it can tip much more easily
There are a few things the photographer in the clip did right, even if they ultimately weren't enough to save the laptop. Ironically, there is, in fact, a sandbag in the video: it's hanging as a counter-balance on the end of the rod. The photographer also appears to have roughly aligned one of the legs and the arm, which is an important step. If the weight is sticking out from the stand without a leg directly under it, it can tip much more easily. Of course, none of that matters if you don't first secure the base of the stand with, say it with me, everyone: sandbags.
Some more sandbag pro tips: if the bag is touching the ground, it's going to be less effective, since some of its weight won't be transferring down through the stand's legs. And if you're using a stand with unequally sized legs, like a C-stand, the biggest, sturdiest and tallest one should be the one sandbagged first, and the one facing the load.
That also generally makes it the one facing the most important thing on the set: the people. That way, if it falls, it falls away from them In the case with the video, though, the photographer should've consulted the stands' manual to see where the manufacturer recommended hanging sandbags from. If there isn't a safe place to do so, they should've used a different stand for an overhead setup.
Have any light stand horror stories (or tips on how to avoid them) of your own? Feel free to share them in the comments or over on our forums. Stay safe out there.
15Lb sandbag: $22 at B&H
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Panasonic will announce a new Lumix TZ300 compact camera on March 24th (see leaked picture above). Here are the details:
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