{"id":11486,"date":"2012-08-25T23:21:35","date_gmt":"2012-08-26T03:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=11486"},"modified":"2020-06-13T18:24:29","modified_gmt":"2020-06-13T22:24:29","slug":"direct-off-camera-flash-as-fill-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/direct-off-camera-flash-as-fill-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct off-camera flash as fill-light"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Direct off-camera flash as fill-light<\/h1>\n

I really like using a medium-sized softbox when photographing portraits. A softbox allows me to get soft, directional light<\/strong> pretty much anywhere. The most recent example I showed here, was Lucia and Alvin’s\u00a0wedding in Central Park, New York<\/a>. I do make it easier for myself \u00a0when using off-camera flash for photo sessions on location<\/a>\u00a0– I pick my battles. I don’t try to make everything work. With a photo session where I can control the light and background and setting for my subjects, I can make it easier for myself by not<\/strong> choosing tough lighting scenarios.<\/p>\n

With Amy and Clark’s photo session, I brought along my usual set of gear … but left the Lastolite softbox behind. I brought the Lastolite bracket along, and the radio transmitters. \u00a0Everything but the actual diffusion box to fit over the speedlight. With that, I had to slightly change how I usually work to still get great results that look like my usual style.<\/p>\n

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These two\u00a0test<\/strong>\u00a0images were shot at exactly the same camera settings, and same WB setting in RAW. Yet the one pops. The colors are more bold, and there aren’t such deep shadows on their faces. Yet … it isn’t noticeable that my off-camera flash wasn’t diffused.\u00a0These two photos serve as comparison between just the available light, and augmented with un-diffused off-camera flash. Nothing else changed, but the flash added.<\/p>\n