Please help me understand flash photography today
Mar 25, 2018 09:36:56 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
I have been shooting video with constant LED lighting.
I have a flapjack and different sized LED's. Historically I had a dynalite
strobe with lights. And I have a Nikon SB800 that still works great. Kind of big.
I bought a little Sony HVL-F20M flash and it has decent power to use on my small
Sony's like the a6300 bounced. I am being asked to shoot stills at casual events.
Where are we with flash and strobe. I like don't harsh but fill lighting but also like the
small powerful single shots for creative shooting. It is pushing more me to want
to do stills I think I need a serious flash or strobe.....
Thanks
I have a flapjack and different sized LED's. Historically I had a dynalite
strobe with lights. And I have a Nikon SB800 that still works great. Kind of big.
I bought a little Sony HVL-F20M flash and it has decent power to use on my small
Sony's like the a6300 bounced. I am being asked to shoot stills at casual events.
Where are we with flash and strobe. I like don't harsh but fill lighting but also like the
small powerful single shots for creative shooting. It is pushing more me to want
to do stills I think I need a serious flash or strobe.....
Thanks
Mar 25, 2018 09:51:42 #
Tom Daniels wrote:
I have been shooting video with constant LED light... (show quote)
You put the word "Today" in your sentence and with that I would say Today you use flash when it's bright not when it's dark.
Mar 25, 2018 09:53:40 #
This master photographer has a Web-site and books on flash lighting. His teaching may help you: https://neilvn.com/tangents/
His first book opened my eyes and gave me the understanding for doing flash photography: https://neilvn.com/tangents/about/book1/
This book has been revised, but I found the first edition most helpful. You likely can find it used. I can recommend this book for anybody trying to get his mind around how to use flash lighting.
Good luck.
His first book opened my eyes and gave me the understanding for doing flash photography: https://neilvn.com/tangents/about/book1/
This book has been revised, but I found the first edition most helpful. You likely can find it used. I can recommend this book for anybody trying to get his mind around how to use flash lighting.
Good luck.
Tom Daniels wrote:
I have been shooting video with constant LED light... (show quote)
Mar 25, 2018 10:27:02 #
petercbrandt
Loc: New York City, Manhattan
Under-exposed flash will give you 'fill'.
Shoot for available light and set your flash to underexpose 2 stops, then by trial and error go or down 1/2 stop until you like the effect.
Put yourself into a similar situation and test before you need to do a shooting.
Peter
Shoot for available light and set your flash to underexpose 2 stops, then by trial and error go or down 1/2 stop until you like the effect.
Put yourself into a similar situation and test before you need to do a shooting.
Peter
Mar 25, 2018 10:27:57 #
Stop it; you said you have a constant video lite. Use a small led one (5900 or less to match the sunlight)and you will not only have fill lite but you will be able to control the shadows with positioning. I use auto flash and a small hand held lite-bar to shoot inside for church and group meetings. (don't see much red eye like that) It works great outdoors also.
Try it; what you got to loose. and Mr. Lamar is right breaking the rules and still creating "Master pieces" is at the forefront right now... Breaking the rules gives at a totally new look when it works.
Try it; what you got to loose. and Mr. Lamar is right breaking the rules and still creating "Master pieces" is at the forefront right now... Breaking the rules gives at a totally new look when it works.
Mar 25, 2018 11:00:48 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
The SB 800 is a serious flash. Make sure it's on TTL mode, set camera to Manual, ISO 400, shutter at 1/200, and aperture at F4. Get a Lite Scoop or other style of diffuser, or bounce the flash. I use a Lite Scoop on my SB600. Your 800 has the power to reach out farther than my 600 and you can always boost the ISO to give you more reach too. Set your camera for high speed sync and you can increase the shutter speed to reduce a bright ambient ligh background. The TTL feature controls the light on the subject, not the shutter speed. You can also change the F stop to increase or decrease DoF.
Mar 25, 2018 11:35:31 #
It's not clear if you want a different speedlight or a strobe. Your D800 speedlight is a decent flash with good power. If you want to continue with it you might want to get a swivel umbrella bracket and umbrella. For a swivel bracket, I would recommend one of Kupo's swivel umbrella brackets. They have a large clamping area and will not slip. I had a swivel bracket with a small clamping area and it would slip even when tightened a lot. For an umbrella, I would recommend one that has a beaded silver interior. The silver interior reflects more light than a white one. The beaded surface texture helps to produce more even light.
A strobe would give you far more power. I have two of the Paul C. Buff DigiBee DB800 strobes. They're very compact yet have decent power at 320 watt/seconds. If you get one be sure to get their 7UR umbrella reflector.
A strobe would give you far more power. I have two of the Paul C. Buff DigiBee DB800 strobes. They're very compact yet have decent power at 320 watt/seconds. If you get one be sure to get their 7UR umbrella reflector.
Kupo swivel umbrella bracket - large clamping area prevents slippage.
Mar 26, 2018 07:59:57 #
look for strobist in google. That's one of the best sites for learning and understanding flash photography.
--Bob
--Bob
Tom Daniels wrote:
I have been shooting video with constant LED light... (show quote)
Mar 26, 2018 09:05:07 #
rmalarz wrote:
look for strobist in google. That's one of the best sites for learning and understanding flash photography.
--Bob
--Bob
http://strobist.blogspot.com/
Another good resource - https://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/
Mar 26, 2018 11:10:16 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
Great book just his first paragraphs about on camera flash looking great got me into it. Thank You.
Mar 26, 2018 11:13:31 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
petercbrandt wrote:
Under-exposed flash will give you 'fill'.
Shoot for available light and set your flash to underexpose 2 stops, then by trial and error go or down 1/2 stop until you like the effect.
Put yourself into a similar situation and test before you need to do a shooting.
Peter
Shoot for available light and set your flash to underexpose 2 stops, then by trial and error go or down 1/2 stop until you like the effect.
Put yourself into a similar situation and test before you need to do a shooting.
Peter
Thank you Petercbrandt i actually tried that the other day. It worked but your are right need to experiment what light less looks good.
Actually that lighting kind of looked like the on camera LED panel I have which you can dial up or down. And change kind of light.
Thanks
Mar 26, 2018 11:19:03 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
This is why I look at Ugly H almost everyday. You fellow imagers are just terrific.
Thanks again
Thanks again
Mar 27, 2018 00:00:51 #
I completely agree with gvarner with the addition of getting your flash off your camera. Use an extension bracket and cable the Speedlight to the camera, or put your flash on a light stand and use an RF wireless such as Pocket Wizard or Odin. If you have to leave the flash on camera, bounce the light off the ceiling (if you are inside) or use a diffuser such as a Gary Fong.
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