Light Stand Support, my solution.

[Kemble3]

I have been having some real issues lately with trying to keep my light stands from toppling over when shooting outdoors. There was a tread here a few weeks ago regarding sand bags, exercise weights and even ground spikes and I’ve tried them all but with limited success.

So today I decided to resolve this issue once and for all, and using a very high tech approach developed a solution that worked for me. The weather in Swindon today was perfect for the experimental phase, some very strong prolonged gusting winds.

So I set up a light stand, put a 30” shoot through brollie on the top and filled two old footie socks with a few ornamental pebbles from the flower bed. Hay-presto, even fully extended the stands stayed up (although they were bending slightly). I next tried with a portable softbox and had the same result, no tipping over at all. The socks weigh in at about 4kilos each, fit snug to the stands base and simply worked a treat.


Ian

 

[maninsuitcase]

Any shots of how you fitted them to the stand? I have had mine fall just walking past too quickly indoors!

 

[paul williams]

I have been having some real issues lately with trying to keep my light stands from toppling over when shooting outdoors. There was a tread here a few weeks ago regarding sand bags, exercise weights and even ground spikes and I’ve tried them all but with limited success.
So today I decided to resolve this issue once and for all, and using a very high tech approach developed a solution that worked for me. The weather in Swindon today was perfect for the experimental phase, some very strong prolonged gusting winds.

So I set up a light stand, put a 30” shoot through brollie on the top and filled two old footie socks with a few ornamental pebbles from the flower bed. Hay-presto, even fully extended the stands stayed up (although they were bending slightly). I next tried with a portable softbox and had the same result, no tipping over at all. The socks weigh in at about 4kilos each, fit snug to the stands base and simply worked a treat.


Ian

What I don't understand is why your method should be any more successful than using a sand bag or ground spikes? These are the traditional methods used by outside camera crews & isn't a pair of "...old footie socks ..." just the same as a lighting stand sand bag?

Paul