Strobist and learnign flash

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

As per my post earlier....I've been reading up on the strobist blog and it's been helping me understand how some of my favourite portraits and "other"photos are taken.

Today was the first evening in AGES that I've had by myself and I thought I'd start trying to do some tests to see if I was understanding things properly. I don't have my goodies to try multiple flash and off camera flash so it was more a case of seeing if I could use flash to my advantage to overpower daylight or balance daylight. Here are the results

First here is the situation in my gunnel where I took my own portrait.

First off I just wanted to see if I could get a decentish image of myself using the wall as a background. I wanted to try to limit power of flash so it dropped off back from me. Seemed to work

Second thing was to see if I could close aperture down and get power of flash right to bring out detail in Sky while keeping me lit well. I wasn't too worried about composition as the kitchen door and the little path itself are not that photogenic...it was just for balancing and overpowering daylight. For a first attempt I'm quite chuffed. Looking forward to all my new toys coming even more now!!!!

Gordon

[Tobers]

Now those are some scary pics!

Seriously, I never really realised what sort of things you could do with a flash. I thought they just went "ping" and lit things up. The one with the sky detail and the darkening brick walls is nicely done.

And the neighbours think what?

[Liquid101]

Really like the effect in the second one Gordon. Works nicely, it'll be interesting to see how you use this.

One thing though - you seem to look different in photograph I see of you. Do you have 5 slightly different lookign brothers?

EDIT: I mean the third one ;-)

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

It's bizzare isn't it liquid.....I never posted the very first taken from really low down in which I appear to look like Alfred Hitchcock with three chins.....Just shows how you can change perception of folk by light and composition.

Tobers....Will be in touch soon.....

Gordon

[allymac123]

What goodies ya getting?

I've just got a cheapo second hand strobe to go with my 430ex and yesterday arrived my ebay radio slave set so I now have two wireless flashes to mess about with. (all manual of course).

It'll be good to see some of your stuff as I do find this forum ditinctly lacks in any flash images at all.

I've only ever tried lightpainting with flashes before (long exposure, walking round firing flash), you may remember my car shoot threads of them but anyway the wireless/portrait flash stuff seems quite different and I think I've got a long way to go and a lot of reading and learning to do!!

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Got two pocket wizards coming(already got one) and a Vivitar flash along with an umberella, stand, clamps and some coloured gels filters.

Gordon

[onefivenine]

Gordon - it seems like you are becoming a light guru!

Nice experiment and thanks for sharing it!

[stevegreen]

The idea of using a seperate flash gun to change the lighting on subjects is something that appeals to me and I have seen some fantastic examples using just one flashgun used at an offset angle.

Look forward to seeing some more shots Gordon

[bodoman]

Hence forth you shall be known as Flash Gordon

Interesting subject, i have always hated using flash, mainly because its always been the built in or on the hotshoe and just used it when the light was poor indoors.

But its interesting to see it used in this way, i shall take note

[ksten]

Originally Posted by allymac123

... ebay radio slave set ...

Ally, do you have the links to the ebay triggers please? I've just started looking at flash photography (After seeing the links to the strobist blog / flickr group here) and I think I've managed to confuse myself already! I'm probably going to get an ST-E2 with a 580/430 to maintain ETTL to begin with but would be interested in the increased possibilities (although manual ones) with radio triggers.

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Got two pocket wizards coming(already got one) and a Vivitar flash along with an umberella, stand, clamps and some coloured gels filters.

Gordon, can I ask where you sourced your equipment from please? I think the PWs would be too expensive for me but I would be interested anyway. Also, there is so much choice in stands / clamps / gels etc. that I would be interested in any more detail about what you went for.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Cheers.

[allymac123]

This is the item I bought Keith. Make sure if you go for this that you get the V2 stuff as the first version had problems with the Canon speedlites.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

The first pocketwizard came from amazon.com (supplied by ACE DIGITAL in USA). They also supplied the Vivitar flash as it was out of stock with folk below.

The rest of the stuff, except the Vivitar flash, came from MIDWEST PHOTO EXCHANGE, Ohio who are linked from the Strobist blog. I called them up and explained what I had and what I wanted and they sorted me out. When it arrives, hopefully today or tomorrow. I'll list what I got.

Gordon

p.s. I tried searching for stuff like Ally linked to but couldn't find it...so that's cost me a fair amount.

[ksten]

Excellent. Thanks guys.

Ally, how do you find the reliability of the Gadget Infinity kit? It's so cheap that I guess it's worth a try anyway.

Gordon, hope your new toys arrive soon then. Have fun.

Cheers.

[allymac123]

Seems to work pretty reasonably. I does sometimes not fire a flash but its not that common.

When using manual wirless flash it tends to be quite a slow and set up process. I think if I really needed the reliabilty I would have plumped for the PW's but as I'm not exactly doing a wedding it doesn't matter that much if the flash doesn't fire. For the £25 my two flash setup cost me I'm happy.

[ksten]

Thanks Ally. I can easily put up with the occasional missfire.

Thanks again fellas.