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05/05/2010 04:59:55 PM · #1 |
Actually, I ordered two.
I've always avoiding using flash. I've tried unsuccessfully to use my on-board flash for fill flash.
I'm getting a Canon 580EX II and a 430EX II.
What's the best way to learn how to use these effectively? I've always been a "read the manual" person. Is the manual good enough to figure things out, or are there better books, dvds, etc for learning how to use these effectively?
Or was it a dumb thing to buy?
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05/05/2010 05:05:37 PM · #2 |
//strobist.blogspot.com
Lighting 101... Read on ! =) |
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05/05/2010 05:06:45 PM · #3 |
Strobist
For me, if I just need fill flash, I'll use AV mode. What your shutter speed, if it goes over your sync speed, put your flash in "High Sync" mode.
If I'm shooting indoors, I'll use the camera's manual mode. Set the shutter speed to about 100 and the aperture as wide as my lens. The flash will try to fill in with the rest of the light.
If you really what to know what you're doing, read PhotoNotes.
Enjoy. |
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05/05/2010 05:18:02 PM · #4 |
Flashes will open a whole new world for you - a portable light source.
Soon you will be buying stands, umbrellas and triggers so you can do portraits etc.
You will love it. |
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05/05/2010 05:22:43 PM · #5 |
| get loads of carboard and tracing/wax paper and make your self a soft box, costs absolute pennies and they are such a quick and useful device for great soft light |
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05/05/2010 05:31:41 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by RamblinR:
Flashes will open a whole new world for you - a portable light source.
Soon you will be buying stands, umbrellas and triggers so you can do portraits etc.
You will love it. |
Stands for the hot shoe flashes? I was hoping that these would be an alternative to big lights, but I wasn't sure.
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05/05/2010 05:32:28 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by brightspark567:
get loads of carboard and tracing/wax paper and make your self a soft box, costs absolute pennies and they are such a quick and useful device for great soft light |
I was hoping I could make one. I see them for sale in the stores, but I figured you should be able to come up with the same thing.
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05/05/2010 05:32:44 PM · #8 |
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05/05/2010 05:35:15 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Looks like good reading! |
Lots of DIY light modifiers on there too. Light stands are nice but right now I have one decent light stand and an old tripod for stands. Actual stands are nice because they can telescope out higher than tripods. Of course there are some DIY stands too... |
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05/05/2010 05:48:04 PM · #10 |
You can make your own light modifiers, I have made a number of them.
Shoot through umbrellas (ebay) are cheap and portable.
Don't forget to get yourself a set of reflectors (about 42" I think mine are) these are also quite cheap
The ones that do 5 things are the best (black/white/silver/gold & a diffuser)
Very handy and portable
You could just use white boarding and a windshield reflector to begin with. |
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05/05/2010 06:14:40 PM · #11 |
| Easiest thing to do first is just to aim it upwards and bounce off the ceiling. You'll quickly move past that, but it is a start and a diffuser that is usually available. I did find the lighting 101 on Strobist to be helpful. Lots of specialty lingo and it takes a while to understand what they are talking about. My approach to lighting is still trial and error much of the time, but I'm learning and the errors are getting to be fewer. |
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05/05/2010 06:15:55 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by RamblinR:
You could just use white boarding and a windshield reflector to begin with. |
That's what I use right now. 2 for $9 at Wal-mart.
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05/05/2010 09:02:40 PM · #13 |
You guys are making this sound actually doable! I never thought you'd use the same type of setup with flashes that you do for lights (but I hadn't thought any of this through yet)
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05/05/2010 09:19:25 PM · #14 |
As much as I love the strobist site... It's not what you need as I assume your going the eTTL path buying 2 flashes like that - otherwise ya just paid too much $$$.
The site you need for the technical info is Chuck's Site
Another worth checking out for better technique then Chuck IMO you might disagree -- mostly on camera eTTL -- is Neil's Site (he has a great book also). |
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05/05/2010 09:56:21 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by robs:
As much as I love the strobist site... It's not what you need as I assume your going the eTTL path buying 2 flashes like that - otherwise ya just paid too much $$$.
The site you need for the technical info is Chuck's Site
Another worth checking out for better technique then Chuck IMO you might disagree -- mostly on camera eTTL -- is Neil's Site (he has a great book also). |
Thanks! Yes, I wanted to do the eTTL path!
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05/05/2010 09:58:52 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Easiest thing to do first is just to aim it upwards and bounce off the ceiling. You'll quickly move past that, but it is a start and a diffuser that is usually available. I did find the lighting 101 on Strobist to be helpful. Lots of specialty lingo and it takes a while to understand what they are talking about. My approach to lighting is still trial and error much of the time, but I'm learning and the errors are getting to be fewer. |
I had a hot shoe flash for my old film camera. I tried bouncing it off things, but it never seemed to make a difference. So I never really used it. I will learn to use these. I will, I will, I will! (I'm shooting a wedding in October)
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05/05/2010 10:09:25 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by robs:
As much as I love the strobist site... It's not what you need as I assume your going the eTTL path buying 2 flashes like that - otherwise ya just paid too much $$$.
The site you need for the technical info is Chuck's Site
Another worth checking out for better technique then Chuck IMO you might disagree -- mostly on camera eTTL -- is Neil's Site (he has a great book also). |
Thanks! Yes, I wanted to do the eTTL path! |
Keep in mind that just because the ROUTE is different, the information on technique in strobist is still relevant. You can test pop with ettl, use it as a baseline, and then switch to manual for more control. Or, you could just keep things in ettl and fire it to get an idea, then drop it down on whichever side a few stops and raise the other and zoom it as a key light.
Basically what I'm saying is strobist helps you envision how light will fall in a controlled and manageable fashion. It's how to create the lighting you want, which anybody can use. |
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05/05/2010 11:15:39 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
I had a hot shoe flash for my old film camera. I tried bouncing it off things, but it never seemed to make a difference. So I never really used it. I will learn to use these. I will, I will, I will! (I'm shooting a wedding in October) |
I have definitely found it takes not just bouncing (which does make a big difference in my tests), but bouncing at angles. That way you get kind of a side light to give a bit of depth to the photo. I'm still in my early learning phases with this, so I end up shooting multiple different bounce angles before I feel like I get it right. |
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05/06/2010 08:30:49 AM · #19 |
I second the Neil site for tips on fill flash, bounce flash, dragging the shutter, and more.
Planet Neil
Here is a great flash bounce/diffuser that is easy and cheap to make. I've made the unit as shown and a smaller version.
Do it yourself diffuser
Tim
Message edited by author 2010-05-06 08:32:34. |
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05/06/2010 09:00:26 AM · #20 |
| bouncing off the ceiling is very limiting especially for portraits, the light coming down onto the subject causes shadows under the eyes, not so flattering |
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05/06/2010 09:30:49 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by brightspark567:
bouncing off the ceiling is very limiting especially for portraits, the light coming down onto the subject causes shadows under the eyes, not so flattering |
Bouncing on camera light is a whole lot more the bouncing off the roof in front of you. Might want to check out some of Neil's images... They are not exactly bad. No technique is all bad - it depends on the situation and how well it's done. It has certain advantages over off camera light in some cases. Likewise... eTTL and Manual each have differences where one or the other might be the better option - a lot of the time it's not that relevant as either work just as well. |
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05/06/2010 10:04:41 AM · #22 |
I wasn't suggesting that bouncing off the ceiling was a great technique, but it works and I think it is a natural starting point for someone who has not previously used anything but the forward facing pop-up. Gotta start somewhere and the strobist stuff will confuse the heck out of you if you try and start at that level.
Message edited by author 2010-05-06 10:05:08. |
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05/06/2010 04:23:41 PM · #23 |
| oh its definately a good starting point for using a flash, just from past experiences i have been disappionted by my flash in some portraits because of these big dark eyes, i thought id just wasted cash, turns out it actually produced a better photo with the flash straight on. For say photographing small objects on a background, off the ceiling is great because youve effectively got a huge light source so very soft light, however depending on your ceiling height the flash sometimes may not be powerful enough! Basically each situation requires different treatment! |
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05/06/2010 05:29:22 PM · #24 |
| If you have the time and $ attend a Canon Speedlite workshop. I haven't read the whole thread but it looks like there's a lot of good flash tips, but the workshop will show you how to get the most out of your 580EX II. |
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05/06/2010 05:58:01 PM · #25 |
| Only thing you need to know is to GET IT OFF THE CAMERA!!!! As you said yourself, you had it in the hot shoe and tried different things, but... |
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