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11/10/2011 07:29:04 AM · #1 |
I have never been too keen on flash photography always prefering natural lighting but since being here doing challenges have used it more and more.
Now the point is I use two old Minolta flashguns from ebay with a wireless trigger from my 7D on manual and work out the exposure by trial and error.
The question is if I where to spend £££s on dedicated Canon speedlites will my images improve ? Or really what I mean is, will the lighting improve ?
I was about to start buying when I thought hang on... are the flashes of light any different if I spend £££s than the flashes of light I can already produce?
Thanks for any help and advice. |
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11/10/2011 07:41:15 AM · #2 |
imho light is light. Can you modify the light guns you have now, ie diffuse it through a sheet, use a snoot etc... ? Are they adjustable, the power that is? I'm not too familiar with the flashguns but I know people that get spectacular results with a daylight bulb in a work lamp (the silver reflector) If yo are interested in more flash work I would suggest a nice light meter to help you with ratios etc...
Cheap, very cheap cowboy strobes 
Diffused speedlites 
Alienbees 
The biggest difference is I understood light better as I upgraded equipment but the light is still light.
Message edited by author 2011-11-10 07:46:13. |
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11/10/2011 08:06:15 AM · #3 |
| Nikon photons travel faster than Canon photons. |
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11/10/2011 08:11:05 AM · #4 |
Yes indeed, light is light, you won't get significantly better results with Canon speedlites (unless you need some specific features, such as stroboscopic light or very short flashes to freeze action). I agree with Joshua, modifiers are much more important (softboxes, beauty dish, snoots, etc.) and have way more impact on the final result than the brand of the source.
I tend to work with studio strobes when I can, essentially for convenience: shorter recycling time, no battery to change, more power to light larger subjects, etc.
Message edited by author 2011-11-10 08:11:27. |
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11/10/2011 08:40:28 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by gyaban:
...snoots... |
I make my own custom snoots using cereal boxes and tape.
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11/10/2011 09:14:47 AM · #6 |
I do think the more expensive flashes are more reliable and will have a quicker recycle time, but until you understand lighting it makes no difference what type of lighting you use.
I agree with Christophe the more important thing to spend money on right now is modifiers. A couple decent softboxes are a must. Also how many light sources you have is important as well. I would have at least 3 if not 4. I use 1 on camera 1 for fill 1 for the main light source and then sometimes I use a background light. You don't necessarily have to have one on camera I just point mine at the celing to trigger the other 3 flashes. But you could hotshoe it and use it and cut down on one flash.
The lighting for all of these images was done with cheap vivitar flashes, I got 3 used ones from yo_spiff for around $35. They are actually for a regular film camera and can't be used on camera, so I trigger them with my YN speedlight flash that I got for a little over $100(this is the one I use on camera.)
  
Actually all of my studio images in my portfolio were shot using these flashes but as you can see my photos improved once I understood how to use them better.
Here is an early example of my limited knowledge of lighting. Compare it to the one above and you will notice a huge difference. Same flashes same lens and camera, its only my understanding of lighting that changed.
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11/10/2011 09:19:27 AM · #7 |
I was going to mention how Jenn has been kicking butt with the cheapo Vivitars I sold her, but I see she beat me to it!
I do think I need to get a softbox to get the right look. The umbrellas don't seem to be getting me the soft light I want, but they are good for product photography, where I am just blasting the subject with light.
Message edited by author 2011-11-10 09:21:16.
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11/10/2011 12:57:48 PM · #8 |
I've thought of buying a flash and using that to help enhance my arranged studio shots for challenge...but I'm ashamed to say my absolute ignorance regarding flash photography has gotten in the way of me doing this. Afraid of the unknown I am.
Sooooo right now, my studio is in my bathroom using the bathroom lights :) Awesome. |
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11/10/2011 01:47:11 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Tiny:
The question is if I where to spend £££s on dedicated Canon speedlites will my images improve ? Or really what I mean is, will the lighting improve ? |
It's like anything else. More expensive tools won't make you any better, they will make it easier to do certain things.
Light is light. If you are getting pictures that you like from the flashes that you have, and don't feel held back by the features and functions of the flashes, then upgrading probably won't help too much.
If it were me, I'd spend the money on modifiers and accessories rather than flashes.
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11/10/2011 01:50:31 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
I've thought of buying a flash and using that to help enhance my arranged studio shots for challenge...but I'm ashamed to say my absolute ignorance regarding flash photography has gotten in the way of me doing this. Afraid of the unknown I am.
Sooooo right now, my studio is in my bathroom using the bathroom lights :) Awesome. |
Start here: //strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
Then here: //strobist.blogspot.com/2007/06/lighting-102-introduction.html
Read through them, and do the exercises. Any manually controlled flashes will work.
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11/10/2011 03:05:25 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
I've thought of buying a flash and using that to help enhance my arranged studio shots for challenge...but I'm ashamed to say my absolute ignorance regarding flash photography has gotten in the way of me doing this. Afraid of the unknown I am.
Sooooo right now, my studio is in my bathroom using the bathroom lights :) Awesome. |
Dave's advice is dead on. Also, there's no reason you can't use continuous lighting that you have to mess around a bit. Your exposures will be longer though because the intensity is way lower.
Overall, yeah, light is light. Different/more expensive flashes will enable you to do some things and may be easier to work with in general (ergonomics, constant color temperature, faster recycle, more reliable etc) but hypothetically the light is largely the same. What you do with it is always the crux, how you shape it, so yes, modifiers (and a variety of them) will go very far. It will go furthest, in my opinion, because it demands you look at the quality, the look, of the light from each choice. You develop an eye to see why one choice is different from another. It builds understanding, but it also gives you the latitude to put that into an image and craft what you want. |
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11/13/2011 08:23:50 AM · #12 |
| Thanks a bundle for all help and advice,all very useful. |
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11/13/2011 11:39:23 AM · #13 |
| I might just add that color temperature is also a factor. So whatever you use, be consistent, or you'll be getting some odd effects - which can also be very cool. |
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11/13/2011 12:36:18 PM · #14 |
| Thanks for that little extra me duck. |
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