Jerry … I have posted some about my choice of ISO settings. However, there is no real formula. I quite often change my ISO so that I can get to maximum flash sync, and then I change my ISO also to reach an aperture that I might need for depth of field.

Neil vN

I appreciate your work, and the time you take to educate through your blog! I have a question regarding softboxes. I’ve noticed lately you are using a 24″ ezybox. Have you ever used the 28″ apollo? I’m trying to decide which to buy, and wondering if there is much difference between the two.

Ben

Hi there Mark … here’s the article on how to pose and work with a model.

Neil vN

Thanks for the above answer. It is true what you say about Photoshop (and post processing in general) I am always trying to spend less time on PP.

I bought a second Canon 580 EXII and will have to try it outside as a slave. I don´t usually do much in direct sun so maybe it won´t be a problem.

On another theme, I was wondering if you would care to comment (or rather blog) on the directions you give to models (especially non-professionals), developing a rapport etc. I am good at this but sometimes “it” just doesn´t work so well. I work in Spanish which is not my native language so I know this is a small handicap but I always try to improve. Your technical details are a great help and I am beginning to domninate my flashes rather than the other way around! It would be interesting to “hear” the other part to your skills.

Thanks again for sharing. If you ever come to Madrid I´ll buy the beers!

Mark

Gene … fill-flash from the camera’s point of view would’ve looked very different from the fill-flash as shown here, off camera.

By taking it off-camera, there is no fill-flash on the side of her body turned towards the camera. Just her face. And by subtly lighting the side of her face away from the camera, we enhance the shape and form.

And thank you for the kind words, everyone : )

Neil vN

The ambient here was pretty dim at ISO 500 and f 3.2. I was wondering what the difference is in using TTL BL with a bare on camera flash and the soft box off camera. At -2 EV for the fill, would it not be barely perceptable that flash was used in either scenario. I usually use manual exposure for the ambient with TTL BL.

Thank you for being such a consistent blogger. Your masterful use of light, composition and and ability to create impact in your images is outstanding. Between your book and your blog, you continue to be an inspiration to me and have helped me better understand lighting. I will probably never get to meet you in person so I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you do here. Thanks again.

Sean

Mark … I am sure the more Photoshop-savvy amongst us could edit the photo without lighting, to look similar to the photo where the additional lighting was used. But I imagine it would be pain-staking work. Much more fun to do it while shooting. And easier, I’m sure.

Re using wireless triggers vs wireless TTL flash with the flashguns .. if the setup is simple and I have line-of-sight, then using simple wireless TTL flash with the speedlights, is just faster. And I can control the output of the Slaved flash from my on-camera flash.

I have problems with line-of-sight .. but indoors, the Slave flashes are surprisingly sensitive to the Master flash’s signals.

I have heard about bright sunlight interfering with simple wireless TTL flash setups, but I haven’t tested the limits of this by any means. So I don’t have an idea either of the distances under which it would work without resorting to Radio Poppers or other triggers.

Neil vN