Speedlites- when you need to bring your own light

Where are we going?

• Why use flash

• Flash progression

• Off camera flash

• Gear

• Lighting

• Scenarios

Why use flash

• Too dark

• Too much contrast

• Stop action

• Bring your own light

• Overpower the sun- light packs

Flash progression

• Built-in

o Easy

o Always with you

o Low power

o Ugly- DMV lighting

o Suggestion - use FEC to lower power

o Demo

Flash Progression II

• Speedlite on camera

o Easy

o Cost and capabilities vary

o Normal direction is UGLY (DMV)

o Modifiers

Tupperware (Sto-Fen, Gary Fong)

Foam light scoop

Mini softbox (Lumiquest)

o Demo

Bouncing on camera Speedlite

• To bounce, much have tilt/swivel head

• Ceiling

o Demo

o Better than straight but not very flattering

o Better if you can use reflector below subject (pseudo-clamshell)

o Color cast?

o Distance

Bouncing on camera Speedlite II

• Wall

o Demo

o Much better modeling

o Wall becomes softbox- point your flash where you would place a studio light

o Flag your flash - BFT (Black Foamie Thing)

Flash Progression III

• Off camera flash

o Handheld

o Light stands

o VAL

• Flashes - Manual vs TTY

o TTY if flash to subject distance varies

o Manual otherwise

Remote Control

• Wired

• In Camera control - light o You may already have

o Remote flash has to see the flash on camera

o Don’t forget to pop up your flash

• Wireless

o IR vs radio

o Radio works through walls and softboxes

o Possible interference with other photogs

Gear

• Flashes o TTL

Canon 600EX-RT $549.00 (60- 200)/Nikon SB910 $546 (34-35)

Phottix Mitros $299.99 (58)

o Manual

LumoPro LP180 - $199.99

Yongnuo YN-560 II $59.00 (III $78.99) (58)

Neewer- VERY COOL

• Wireless Triggers

o Manual

• Pocket Wizard Plus X $99.99 each

YN-603 $35.87 pair

o TTL

Pocket Wizard Mini TT1 $199.99 each

Yongnuo YN622 TTL $84.99 pair

Gear II

• Lightstands

o LumoPro Compact $35 (MPEX)

o Cowboy Studio Set $32.99 (Amazon)

o Paint stick with Kacey pole adapter

• Umbrella bracket

o LumoPro Compact $16

o Cowboy Studio $10.17

• Umbrella- bounce or shoot through

o Westcott 43” Collapsible $25

o Cowboy Studio 33” White $10.16

o Flashpoint 60” $44.95

Gear III

• Softbox • Shoot through

• Impact Quickbox ($134)

• Neewer ($31.95)

• Flash in

• Westcott Apollo 38” $129.90

• ePhotonic (Amazon) $37.99

• Beauty Dish

• Mola 22” $299

• Impact 20” $124

• DIY- $60

Controlling Light

• Positioning light (Direction and distance)- To create interesting light, you have to create interesting shadows. – Syl Arena

• Left/Right

• Up/Down

• In/Out

• In front/behind

• Hard or soft light

• Broad or focused light – zoom, diffusers

• Color- gels

Controlling Light II

• Softening light

• Diffuser

• Small

• Large

• Umbrella

• Softbox

For more information

www.strobist.com - Check out Lighting 101

neilvn.com/tangents/ - home of the Black Foamie Thing

www.joemcnally.com/blog/ - a master of speedlites

www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/category/tags/lighting great training at a great price.

Pinterest of gear:

https://www.pinterest.com/johnston1126/speedlite-seminar/

Pinterest on books:

http://www.pinterest.com/johnston1126/favorite-photography-books/