Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Love the distant speedlight which gives nice rim lighting.

My Key light was a bit low .........

So tonight I'm going to setup the new off- camera system and play with the setting/power in my backyard.

1- Key Light, a Canon 600RT on a 12 foot stand bouncing into a 4 foot umbrella set as a reflector. Start at 1/8 manual power

1 - Rim Light, a Canon 600RT on a 12 foot stand set as bare light. Start at 1/32 manual power. I've been told to use 1/32 to help keep a nice looking starburst.

1 - on-camera Fill Light, a 600RT fitted with a Super Scoop II modifier. Set to ETTL + 2/3 flash compensation

Using my new Canon 6D and 24-105mm F/4 IS lens with starting settings of:

Shutter at 1/180
F/stop at 6.3
ISO set to 640

Then I'll hone in on the ratios/power settings/camera settings

(Download)

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Can I ask where you came up with your settings? Was it from something you read, or just trial and error?

I'm asking because it seems that I never come up with the same lighting layouts, and have still never come up with the magic formula. I also wonder if it doesn't depend a lot on the camera body/lens combination as well.

So......I'm not critiquing anything, just wondering.
bk

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I've really studied the settings from everyone imaginable.

Manual settings on off-camera seems to fit 90% of the people I've read. 1/8 - 1/32 seems to be the power setting most use, mainly depending on the ISO used. When shooting wide 10mm - 35mm you can get by with 4.5 - 7.1 on the aperture as you have so much DOF when shooting wide. When you have lots of light like I produce you can get by with a high shutter speed, as I prefer when possible. Sure others like to drag but I use the theory, "keep it simple stupid". Once you have your ratios dialed in it's just a matter of shutter speed for ambient and F/stop for illuminating the subject. The settings I gave where a good starting point. The idea is to dial it in and snap away without worrying about changing a bunch of stuff during the night. My starting ISO will be 800 with the settings I gave.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I guess my thing is that I still don't really like/trust TTL and would just prefer shooting manual everything. Problem is, I keep getting lectured that I need to let the camera do the work. I guess all the old school, all manual stuff for me is just easier. I rarely get the light meter out, and within 2-3 shots, I can pretty much get the exposure I want, but somehow, fiddling with all the flash compensation is supposed to make my life easier? Maybe I should just stop listening to those that tell me to take a giant leap into this century, and just do what I do?

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Notice all the camera settings are manual and 2 of the 3 speedlights are manual ;)

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I caught that........the second time. I think once I got to the flash compensation on your fill, my brain just shut off. :oops: