A recent thread on the Flick group on flash photography techniques dealt with exposure metering .. and the questions revolved around understanding your camera's built in meter. One of the group members, Arnold Gallardo (Zeroneg1), replied with a lucid explanation on exposure metering, relating it to the Zone System in a clear understandable way, using images from my blogs. I'd like to present this article by Arnold Gallardo as the latest guest spot on this blog. I might not have such a specific linear approach to metering any more during the actual shoot, since with practice it becomes Read more inside...
here’s why I love off-camera lighting ..
why I love off-camera flash
There are a few reasons why I love off-camera lighting, and I want to show some images from a recent photo session with one of my couples, Jill & Mike, as an example. The main reason for me, is that you can have perfect lighting on your subject's face with much more freedom than if you just relied on the available light. I am usually quite particular about the backgrounds to my photos, where it is in my control. The backgrounds need to be complementary, or add something to the image. I have a preference for an out-of-focus background. The defocused Read more inside...recap: Photography workshop – Atlanta (2009)
recap: Photography workshop – Atlanta (2009)
The near-penultimate workshop for this year was held in Atlanta, covering the range of topics relating to flash photography and lighting. As always, it was good to meet and work with a group of people - and then throughout the day, watch and experience everyone's progress in getting more familiar with the subject. Thank you to everyone who attended! The image above of our model, was taken in the hotel lobby. The wall behind her had an interesting pattern, and I wanted to use that. Even though the lobby had a fair amount of broad Read more inside...using direct off-camera flash
using direct, bare (un-modified) off-camera flash
I had the opportunity to meet up with a fellow South African photographer, Jaco Fourie, who was visiting New York for a few days. I knew Jaco's work from some of the forums that he posts on, and his work with flash was invariably quite impressive .. so I looked on this as a great opportunity to see another photographer work and learn from him. I arranged for two models, and we met up in Manhattan for these photo sessions. Jaco specifically wanted scenic views of Manhattan, and incorporate the model as part of the urban Read more inside...How much flash exposure compensation?
How much flash exposure compensation?
With the recent posts on lighting the formal wedding photos with bounce flash, the question came up, "How much flash exposure compensation (FEC) was used?" (FEC) was used. (The image above is from the sequence.) I thought it would make a good separate short article on the topic. My settings for that photograph: 1/100th @ f3.2 @ 800 ISO and flash was bounced TTL flash. How much FEC did I dial in? I could answer that my FEC was +0.7 EV, but that numerical value might not contain enough real information ... Read more inside...Bridal portraits with on-camera bounce flash
Bridal portraits with on-camera bounce flash
With the formal portraits of the bride & groom, and their families, I usually set up off-camera lighting. But I also try to bring in some variety to the portraits - and I shoot on-location portraits of the bride beforehand, just after prep. It's a good idea to get as much done as you can, earlier on in the day - just in case the time-line gets compressed and things don't quite follow the original plan. You'll be much happier then for having some solid portraits in your pocket. In this example, I wanted a few portraits of Michelle Read more inside...lighting the wedding formals (part 1)
lighting and photographing the wedding formals
With this, the first in a loose series on lighting and photographing the family formals at weddings, I would like to show that with a simple approach it is possible to get clean results that work every time. In lighting the formals, I don't try to get all Rembrandt, but prefer a fairly flat way of lighting everyone. I keep the lighting static for all the images, whether I am photographing one person or twenty. With time usually being a real constraint during the wedding day, there simply isn't the opportunity to play around too much Read more inside...recap: photography workshop – Philadelphia (2009)
recap: photography workshop - Philadelphia (2009)
One of the final workshops for 2009, was the one held in Philadelphia in the prestigious Ritz hotel! Working inside the hotel and the surrounding areas, provided us with some stunning backdrops while photographing our models. Still staying with the updated format with the flash photograph workshop, if I am guided by the response by those who attended, then the workshop once again appears to have been a hit. I had a great time as well, and I am sure there will be a few interesting photographs surfacing again. Thank you again to Read more inside...fill-flash .. or not
whether to use fill-flash, or not
With the recent video clip where I showed some of how I work with a couple, during an outdoor photo session, several people commented on not seeing my flash go off every time I take the shot. And the question was, when do I decide to use fill-flash and when not. With the image at the top, you could see my flash firing during this sequence in the video clip. The light falling on them wasn't even, although the light falling on Jen's face was even. So I felt I needed to use a touch of fill-flash. Here I had flash exposure compensation set to -5EV Read more inside...using on-camera bounce flash outside
an example of using on-camera bounce flash outside
This photograph of our model, Precious, taken during a flash photography workshop, is an example from the practical session where we used areas outside to bounce our flash off. By adding that bit of light from our on-camera speedlights, we can sweeten the existing light. Working in the early evening in lower light levels, it becomes easier to get effective light from our speedlight even when bounced off the side of a building. camera settings: 1/60 @ f3.2 @ 800 ISO - on-camera TTL flash, bounced. Nikon D3; Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G Read more inside...- « Previous Page
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