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03/27/2008 10:02:24 AM · #1 |
| Photoshoot next Tues and weather permitting I'll be shooting outdoors at a park. The park has a nice pond with an arch bridge over it. I want my clients on the bridge with me shooting from the shore. Bridge will be probably be 30-40ft away. I'll be shooting at sunset shooting into the sun. Any advice? Thanks everyone! |
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03/27/2008 10:14:56 AM · #2 |
The maximum Guide number of a 580EX is 58 in metres at ISO 100. To calculate the aperture use the formula:
Guide number / Distance = Aperture.
So in your example assuming a distance of 10 metres your would need an aperture of f5.8 (58/10). This is near enough to f5.6.
If you changed your ISO to 200 then the aperture would be f8.
This assumes there is no other light. If there is ambient light then you would need to adjust your exposure accordingly. |
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03/27/2008 10:51:42 AM · #3 |
My experience has been the flash is only good to 20 feet, maybe 30. As distance doubles the amount of light is 1/4th...it drops off fast.
My suggestion is go outside and try it. The light changes every second around sunset. You need to practice before the shoot date.
Bring a tripod and shoot in Manual mode so you can set the exposure to capture the sunset light/colors and the flash for fill/subject lighting. eTTL on the flash might work, but manual might be better. I've only done this with studio strobes and once I set the flash I can forget it and just dial back the shutter as the sun sets to keep the sunset properly exposed.
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03/27/2008 10:55:40 AM · #4 |
Shooting against the sun is difficult. You generally need to keep the subject close in order to get enough light on the subject to compete with the sun. Of course, as the sun goes down, that requirement gets easier and easier. So... if you can wait until the sun is below the horizon so that nothing is left but the sunset colors in the sky, then I think you might have a shot.
One other thought:
- Put the 580EX on camera in master mode
- Get a cheap 420EX and put it off camera, in slave mode, down by the couple, with the body facing back towards the camera, but the head pointing at the couple.
In that scenario, assuming the 420EX can see your 580EX from that far away.... the 580EX will fire the 420EX. The 420EX will be close enough to the couple for good exposure and it'll all work like magic! :-)
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03/27/2008 11:24:45 AM · #5 |
| Off-camera would be beneficial here. And if you're including anything in the foreground (with the flash on-camera), it will likely be overexposed the closer it is to the camera compared to your subject. |
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03/27/2008 01:14:10 PM · #6 |
| Some great pointers, thanks! |
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03/27/2008 02:19:56 PM · #7 |
If you know anyone into wildlife photography, they may have a Better Beamer or some other type of flash extending fresnel. It's worth asking around. Assuming the spread is sufficient it might work well for you.
And it's inexpensive should you choose to get one.
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03/27/2008 02:20:58 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by rich:
If you know anyone into wildlife photography, they may have a Better Beamer or some other type of flash extending fresnel. It's worth asking around. Assuming the spread is sufficient it might work well for you.
And it's inexpensive should you choose to get one. |
ask  doctornick or  ellamay. They use the Better Beamer. It's for use with lenses 300mm or longer.
Message edited by author 2008-03-27 14:22:37. |
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03/27/2008 03:20:16 PM · #9 |
| Wow that Better Beamer looks cool! What a great idea for nature photogs. |
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