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flash photography & lighting

the essential articles on flash photography

• flash photography essentials
• the importance of understanding max flash sync speed
• so what are your camera settings? – the thought-process
• gelling flash for tungsten
• using the histogram to determine exposure
• effective on-location portraits (model – Anelisa)
• tutorial: high-speed flash sync
• using a neutral density (ND) filter with flash
• on-camera TTL fill-flash
• manual flash vs TTL flash

more …

• when aperture does NOT control flash exposure
• ‘urban legends’ of flash
• shutter speed does not necessarily control your background exposure!
• lighting for boudoir photo sessions
• overpowering hard sunlight with flash
• simple on-location lighting techniques – reflector & flash by Chuck Arlund
• what if there is nothing to bounce your flash off?
• when NOT to use rear-curtain flash sync
• first curtain sync vs rear curtain sync
• using multiple speedlights with high-speed flash sync – off-camera flash

• video clip – using the black foamie thing
• presentation at B&H’s Event Space in NYC – with link to a video clip
• cameradojo podcast interview – taking your flash to the next level

• getting the most out of your flash / speedlite / speedlight
• tutorial: how to use the guide number of your flash
• bounce flash photography & the inverse square law

metering / ambient light with flash

• balancing flash with ambient exposure
• balancing flash and ambient exposure – where do you even start?
• off-camera TTL flash – Amy
• metering for manual flash with a softbox
• exposure metering and adding flash
• combining flash and ambient light
• background exposure and flash
• off-camera fill-flash in bright sunlight
• an example explaining ambient exposure metering and TTL flash
• photographing in hard sunlight, with or without flash (flowergirls)
• Off-camera flash in low light – choosing your shutter speed (model – Molly K)

bounce flash photography

• the black foamie thing
• tutorial: bounce flash photography
• an example of bounce flash technique – the cutie
• throw away the tupperware! – improving your bounce flash photography
• bounce flash technique – mimicking soft window light
• bounce flash & short lighting: model from workshop in Cork, Ireland
• bounce flash & direction of light
• bounce flash & catchlights
• why use a light modifier that is black?
• directional light from your on-camera flash

• a light touch – an example of bounce flash w/ available light
• using bounce flash outdoors
• favorite image from the weekend – bounce flash
• bouncing flash off non-white surfaces such as brickwork
• bouncing off exterior walls for fill flash
• directional bounce flash
• an approach to flash modifiers
• flagging your bounce flash – vs – simple bounce flash
• bounce flash vs video light
• video light vs bounce flash (model – Shawna)

• using on-camera bounce flash outdoors at night
• bounce flash for bridal portraits
• bounce flash photography & white balance settings
• black foamie thing to the rescue – bouncing flash forward
• modifying the foam light modifier
• New to flash photography? Where to even start …
• finding something to bounce your flash off
• my choice of flash modifiers
• bounce flash example – trumpet player
• bouncing flash behind me

• bounce flash portrait – a consistent technique  (model – Shawna)
• materials for the Black Foamie Thing
• wedding photography – using bounce flash outside  (bride – Justine)
• using on-camera bounce flash outside  (model – Precious)
• off-camera bounce flash  (Amsterdam workshop)
• portrait with bounce flash
• bouncing on-camera flash in manual mode  (Julie)
• photo session – Modern Gypsies – mermaid
• bounce flash portrait & post-processing  (model: Ulorin Vex)
• flash photography – bouncing flash behind you  (model: Anelisa)

• what if bounce flash isn’t strong enough? (Bar Mitzvah)
• photographing the wedding processional w/ extreme bounce flash  (Allison & Scott)
• how do you meter for TTL flash & ambient light
• bounce flash with and without the black foamie thing
• my favorite lighting setup to photograph kids indoors – bounce flash!
• bounce flash photography tip – bouncing flash towards a window

off-camera flash

• here’s why I love off-camera lighting
• review: Lastolite Ezybox (model: Jess B)
• softboxes with speedlights
• softbox vs shoot-through umbrella vs bounce umbrella
• finding the light – a tongue-in-cheek look at using off-camera lighting
• flash + fireworks
• favourite image from the weekend – off-camera flash – kids on the tracks
• off-camera flash – bringing sparkle on a rainy day
• using direct, bare (un-modified) off-camera flash (model – Lea)
• positioning the softbox and flash

• feathering the light – off-camera flash and softbox
• using a small softbox for lighting an intimate photo session
• favorite image from the weekend – using additional lighting at events
• distance between softbox and subject
• manual off-camera fill-flash, controlling contrast (model – Ulorin Vex)
• off-camera flash – adding dimension with back-lighting (model – Lea)
• using high-speed flash sync / Auto FP  (model – Aleona)
• off-camera flash for dramatic light
• example: direct off-camera flash vs softbox  (model – Ulorin Vex)
• Canon wireless e-TTL flash triggers / radio transmitters

• favorite wedding image – city lights & off-camera flash
• flash photography technique – turning day into night
• photography lighting patterns  by Chuck Arlund
• a simple lighting setup for photographing the wedding formals
• flash photography tip: find your background, then your settings  (model – Alex)
• observing & using the available light & adding a little bit of flash  (model – Alex)
• off-camera bounce flash – my guest spot on Frank Doorhof’s blog
• Film Noir Fight Scene, inspired by Frank Miller  by Nuby DeLeon
• shooting wedding photos in the mid-day sun

• off-camera flash: broad lighting & short lighting  (model – Anelisa)
• direct off-camera flash photography – fill-light  (Amy & Clark)
• photo-shoot with a model: the progression of an idea  (model – Nicole J)
• vintage photo session w/ off-camera flash  (model – Sarah R)
• photo session in New York  (model – Sarah R)
• evening photo session in New York  (w/ Sarah & Mark)
• controlling bright daylight w/ direct off-camera flash  (model – Molly K)
• off-camera flash & controlling the background  (Modern Gypsies)
• multiple speedlite portrait setup using Rogue Flashbenders  (guest post – Corsentino)
• solo off-camera flash  (model: Jessica Joy)
• using off-camera flash on a photo shoot  (family photo session: Regan & John)
• off-camera flash for that extra bit of drama  (model – Olena)

studio / home-studio lighting

• examples of home-studio lighting setup with softboxes (model: Kaylex)
• headshot – simple portrait setup in home studio
• portrait: Janine vN – home studio set-up
• a kid’s studio portrait – lighting setup & post-processing
• a simple lighting setup for studio photography

• high-key studio lighting / portraits  w/ Ulorin Vex
• high-key studio lighting (part 2)  w/ Ulorin Vex
• review: Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella  w/ Ulorin Vex
• studio photography: low-key lighting variations  w/ Ulorin Vex
• behind the scenes video – photo session with Ulorin Vex  w/ Ulorin Vex

• lingerie photo shoot in the studio  (model: Carly Erin)
• colored gels with flash photography  (model: Jessica Joy)
• flash photography tips  by Tilo Gockel
• lingerie photo session: video light & studio flash  (model: Olena)
• lingerie photo session in the studio  (model: Olena)

• Anelisa – NvN studio photo session
• video clip: photo session in the studio  NvN (model: Anelisa)
• studio lighting: smaller light = harder light = dramatic light  (model: Anelisa)
• studio photography – sun-flare images  (model: Anelisa)

photo shoots

• photo session: Modern Gypsies – Fabric
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – Times Square, NYC
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – Bird Girl
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – Martin
• photo session: modern gypsies – something about a violin
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – PinkMan
• photo session: Modern Gypsies - Photoshop contest winner & another version
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – stilt-walking Showgirl
• photo session: Modern Gypsies – Silver Birds

• pin-up photography – Hudson Valley Click
• pin-up style photo session – Jessica
• pin-up style photo session – Jessica – a hot day

• Ulorin Vex – model
• Ulorin Vex in red (session 2)
• Ulorin Vex, window light (session 3)
• Ulorin Vex – Monaco foyer (session 4)

• intimate photo session – Carly Erin
• sequence: setting up the lighting at a photo shoot
• overpowering the sun with flash – models: Sarah & Mark
• Kate – a New York photo session
• Chanel – a portrait – using multiple speedlights to photograph a show dog
• Keegan – a photo session – using the PocketWizard MiniTT1 & FlexTT5
• travelling light in Vegas – using the versatile Q-flash T-5DR
• Fashion photo shoot, using multiple lights by Chuck Arlund
• photo-shoot with a beauty dish – progression of an idea – model: Priscilla
• photo shoot: haunted fashion (using video lights)
• photo session – vintage pinup style (on location)

beauty dish

• using a beauty dish – my daughter, Janine vN
• beauty dish (with bounce flash comparisons) w/ Seregon as model
• more of the beauty dish w/ Seregon
• beauty dish w/ Kathy as model

reverse engineering an image – flash & ambient light

• flash & ambient light – reverse engineering an image (01)
• flash & ambient light – reverse engineering an image (02)
• reverse engineering an image (3) – a contest!
• reverse engineering an image (3) – contest result & feedback

wedding photography specific topics

• lighting the wedding formals (part 1)
• lighting the wedding formals (part 2)
• lighting the wedding formals (part 3)
• photographing the wedding processional
• flash photography during the wedding ceremony in church
• bounce flash examples – wedding receptions
• mixing up the lighting techniques for wedding photography
• flash and low ambient light – when panic sets in (wedding related)
• wedding photography: TTL flash with off-camera manual flash
• lighting ideas for romantic wedding portraits

• flash photography: dealing with reflective surfaces
• wedding photography – shooting in bright sunlight
• shooting in low light – flash and incandescent light
• wedding photography – dealing with the videographer’s light
• wedding photography – light & lighting; posing & direction
• wedding photography: how do you light large groups? … evenly! (Quantum)
• wedding photography: positioning your flash for the formals
• wedding photography – lighting large groups with a large light (Profoto)

Canon flash photography

• common wisdom – Canon’s flash system vs Nikon’s flash system
• Canon E-TTL flash settings – Average vs Evaluative flash metering
• review: Canon ST-E3-RT and Canon 600EX-RT speedlites, with Molly K - (2012-06)

Nikon flash photography

• common wisdom – Canon’s flash system vs Nikon’s flash system
• my take on Nikon’s flash settings – TTL vs TTL BL
• more subtle fill-flash with the Nikon flash system
• Auto FP flash settings for Nikon D300s & D700
• Nikon D70 wireless TTL flash
• Keegan – a photo session – using the PocketWizard MiniTT1 & FlexTT5
• photo session – Shawna – with the PocketWizard AC3 ZoneController
• maximum flash sync speed, and the Nikon SB-900 / SB-910 speedlight  (model – Molly K)

other articles … a wild diverse mix

• direction of light & choice of background (part 1)
• direction of light & choice of background (part 2)
• available light vs fill-flash
• why still use such high ISO settings with flash?
• shutter speed choice with flash
• fill-flash .. or not
• best fill flash settings
• the advantage of a higher max sync speed
• flash ‘on top of’ ambient light
• practical tutorial: controls for manual flash exposure

• Inspiration and Homage by Chuck Arlund
• using a reflector for lighting – and example of harsh bokeh
• direct fill-flash from your on-camera speedlight
• Just enough flash - blending flash with available light. Or not.
• fill-flash example – Las Vegas
• a simple example of off-camera lighting using wireless TTL flash
• how much flash exposure compensation?
• controlling contrast with flash
• advantages to a camera having a higher max flash sync speed
• fluorescent lighting (I give up!) w/ Priscilla

• high-ISO capability is no substitute for good lighting
• problem solving with a plastic surgery photography lighting scenario
• syncing at higher than max flash sync speed
• flash brackets revisited
• ‘dragging the shutter’ revisited
• Hollywood Glamor style portrait – Natalie & Chris
• photo sessions – Shawna – using a variety of photographic light sources
• on learning the essentials of photography – guest spot by Frank Doorhof
• on-location headshots that work  (model – Meagan Lee)
• the challenge - flash or available light? .. and the answers

• on a photo shoot with fashion photographer, Angie Lazaro
• portrait session – Steinway pianist – using the PocketWizard TT5 units for Nikon
• my video clip with PocketWizard
• gelling your flash for effect (model – Bethany)
• mixing the white balance of different light sources (model – Bethany)
• off-camera flash – creating separation with back-lighting (model – Bethany)
• mixing different light sources in the photography studio (model – Amy)
• gelling your flash for effect  (model – Anelisa)
• wedding photography – tips for detail shots of the wedding rings

• why I love TTL flash (model – Aleona)
• photographing in bright sunlight – find the shade!  (Amy, maternity)
• lighting for on-location photo sessions – pick your battles  (Licet & Daniel)
• shutter speed, aperture & ISO – choosing our settings  (model – Anelisa)
• attaching the Radio-Popper PX to the Lastolite Ezybox softbox / Impact Quikbox
• mounting multiple flashes / speedlites
• boudoir photo session w/ Westcott Spiderlites  (model: Morgan)
• ringflash as a single light-source in the studio  (model: Morgan)
• composition, posing, light & lighting  (model: Anastasia Z)
• the answer to the brain-teaser: flash + ambient mix

• review: Litepanels Sola 4 LED Fresnel Light  (model – Ulorin Vex)
• video clip: photo session with Litepanels Sola 4 lights  (model – Ulorin Vex)
• Hollywood Glamor lighting with video lights  (model – Elle)
• shooting in bright sunlight with flash (review: Impact LiteTrek Monolight Kit)
• bridal photo shoot (Hudson Valley Click) - using PocketWizard TT5 units (for Canon)

• After Dark Photography Education – St Louis, MO – 2013
• After Dark Photography Education – Charlotte, NC – 2012
• After Dark Photography Education – Dallas, TX – 2012
• favorite images – After Dark Edu – Charlotte, NC – 2011
• After Dark photography education – Charlotte, NC – 2011
• After Dark photography education – Cincinnati, OH – 20111
• After Dark photography education

the introduction pages on flash photography

• flash photography techniques
• 01 – natural looking flash (* to be updated in 2013)
• 02 – flash + ambient light
• 03 – dragging the shutter
• 04 – bounce flash photography
• 05 – wireless TTL flash (* to be expanded in 2013)
• 06 – flash outdoors (* to be updated in 2013)
• 07 – metering techniques
• 08 – flash exposure compensation
• 09 – more examples (* to be updated in 2013)
• 10 – just ambient light (* to be updated in 2013)
• 11 – which flashgun or speedlight should you get?
• 12 – flash brackets
• 13 – Top 20 flash photography tips
• 14 – off camera flash
• 15 – video light for photography
• 16 - flash photography elements
• 17 – recommended books on photography
• 18 – translations

photography books written by Neil vN

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