flash or natural light photography?

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:33

snow patrol said:
i absolutely love this shot mate! Did you bounce the flash off the wall opposite or the ceiling? Manual or ttl?

I'm trying to get more knowledgeable about using flash (have a couple / stands / brolly / triggers etc) but sometimes find it quite overwhelming

TTL On-camera flash bounced camera left to create directional light.
TTL is much easier in situations where you want to be able to get it right first time. Only took a few seconds to grab this portrait.

What I basically do is imagine where I would put a softbox or umbrella, then aim my flash at that location.

D.P. · 14 Mar 2012 at 14:41

jonneymendoza said:
how can we get rid of catchlights on peoples eyes?

Use natural diffuse light wherever possible

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 16:45

xaldub said:
Nicely balanced lighting there. Wish I could contribute to this thread, but it wouldn't be safe for work viewing lol.

@Jonney : try getting a 2nd flash and using both off camera. Use one as a key light to give directional lighting, and the other for some fill. Try different lighting ratios eg. 2:1 ( key:fill ), 3:1, 4:1 Once you have mastered a two flash set up it gets more fun adding in a third, for say a hair light or kicker light to give the subject separation from the background. Then a 4th .... for lighting the background with a coloured gel perhaps. Build up your lighting in layers.

I follow this thread on POTN, some really impressive work in there:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=761618

I keep meaning to have a go myself, but never get round to it...

jonneymendoza · 14 Mar 2012 at 16:53

Rojin said:
I follow this thread on POTN, some really impressive work in there:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=761618

I keep meaning to have a go myself, but never get round to it...

This threads FARR better http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=984150&page=95 as it shows the actual setup they done as well as the end resuls

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:03

Yes that thread is good also, although it has general stuff in it as well. I like the shots in the other thread better in general, there's some talented photographers in there.

jonneymendoza · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:07

i prefer that thread because u see peoples setups so u get more of an idea on how to do something similar.

i think we should rename this thread as the official Flash/strobe discussion thread

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:15

Yeah some are really interesting. Then you occasionally get the tripod in a field shot followed by the landscape taken... I think we may have guessed that one!

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:16

This is one of my strobist shot's...

Setup

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:29

Nice, I like the B&W better than the colour version.

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:33

Rojin said:
Nice, I like the B&W better than the colour version.

Me to, but I used to really like it in colour. It's funny how our tastes change over time...

Nexus · 14 Mar 2012 at 17:34

Nice.

That's also the perfect example of where you just couldn't get that shot without a fill flash. There's only so much a reflector could do.

D.P. · 14 Mar 2012 at 18:38

Nexus said:
Nice.

That's also the perfect example of where you just couldn't get that shot without a fill flash. There's only so much a reflector could do.

That exact shot no, but turning the subject around might have worked.

Nexus · 14 Mar 2012 at 18:43

D.P. said:
That exact shot no, but turning the subject around might have worked.

Of course, but that's not going to get you the shot of the sunset behind the subject, which is what he set out to achieve.