Flash photography is a skill not many try to master. Its like people just don't want to learn it and just muddle through with their camera and flash on auto. I'm here to tell you: its super easy!!! The basics of flash exposure:
- Shutter speed affects ambient light only
- ISO and aperture affect ambient light AND flash
- Flash distance, power, and modifiers all change its output.
When you understand that concept its easy. If you want to adjust the flash change ISO, aperture, flash power or flash distance. If you only want to change the ambient light in the scene then adjust your shutter speed. I have all my students start out in manual exposure mode with the flash on manual too. That way you are controlling the flash and learning how it works, not just getting by.
Have any great flash photos? Let's seem them!
Photos after the break…
Photos also here…. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cazillo/sets/72157625860014208/.
ISO 800, 1/30th sec f2.8 NO FLASH
ISO 1600, 1/30th sec f2.8 NO FLASH
ISO 1600, 1/30th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/30th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/15th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/30th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/60th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/125th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
ISO 800, 1/250th sec f2.8 WITH FLASH
Comments
Thanks for this!
Great info and thanks for the settings on the different effects you can get. I can run down each and try them all without having to refer to the videos over and over.
Your site is really progressing.
Windows 8 is a great look but owning a touch screen I find I use tablet and keyboard still, as they are faster for me and I don't have to deal with fingerprints constantly. LOL.
Thanks!
Btw I wanna ask U about flash photography after I watched your video..
I have conclusion First we must know our ambient light setting (in this case you suggest with manual control but I'm still confuse.. set the shutter first n follow with the ISO or the opposite way?) and after that we set our flash power or one of exposure triangle..
Is that correct? Hehehe :), correct me if I'm wrong..
N my last question, what's your sb900 setting? (is it in SU-4 mode or others? n how much power do U use?)
Thanks a lot Greg..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giorgosm/5356488095/in/set-72157625730302219/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giorgosm/5777677025/in/set-72157626844671794/
Btw feel free to comment.
Much appreciated Stephen Roberts
Cheers!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70116203@N00/5346484821/in/photostream
Keep up the good work.
You can use the built in commander mode to control a recent Nikon strobe. I recommend buying a SB-700 or 900.
1 above and 1 on each side.
That was the goal!
facebook.com/ca zillophoto, twitter @cazillo or place a link here.
Set shutter and aperture first then ISO to get your ambient setting. Add flash at whatever power is required in the scene.
Nice job, the portrait is a little flat, next time raise your shutter to darken the ambient and add more interest/shadow s with off camera flash.
Can you do the same with none stationary objects? Because when shooting people, weddings etc. you might run in to problems with the long shutter speeds. I's love to see how you solve these problems of combining the ambient light with a moving couple in a church or something. Needing the flash to get the couple nice soft lighted, but not leaving the back all black so the ambient light is "nicely" present.
Thanks Greg, loved this video, going to post some pics soon using some 300w/s studio flashes.
Take care.
Yes, just keep your shutter speed above 1/60th of a second.
Apature controls the FLASH
Thanks,
gchamp
You are correct in telling everyone to STOP using Auto and learn Manual mode. It really is the only way to learn and understand what and why you are doing.
Thank You
PS: Off topic, but what is that 'bell' that rings during your videos? Is that a timer of some sort?
"SHUTTER CONTROLS THE SUN
APERATURE CONTROLS THE FLASH"
However in the case above the electronic flash is contolling the flash output.
The above RULE is more for "FILL-IN FLASH" WITH THE OLDER TYPE OF FLASH GUNS - (MANUAL)
I have a sort of related question or maybe not so related.
In my efforts to stretch out my experience, I just purchase a used medium format film camera (Bronica). It does not have internal metering and by todays standards it is very basic. For exposure readings I will rely on my inexpensive Sekonic L188 exposure meter. It's good enough for general shooting without a flash. How can I figure out the proper exposure if I want to use a flash for fill and controlling the background light? Last night while thinking about this, I used my DSLR to figure out that in my living room at maybe 2 meters, there is about a 5 stop difference. Back in the day, before they had $600 micro-processor controlled exposure meters, how did pro photographers calculate the exposure when using a strobe.
Thanks in advance. Niko