Flash Newbie: Flash Photography Concept

[emag]

Seriously.....

Your camera is not stuck in Av mode, you are (I mean that in a friendly way Trying to stay with Av while using flash is like using cruise control on the race track, it's too limiting even though it is useful in some situations) Manual mode is your friend.

1. Go to the strobist blog (it's free)

2. Start with Lighting 101 Archive, get a feel for the basics, then bounce around and read up on some of the more advanced techniques to whet your appetite

3. Smile as you discover the answers to many of your questions and begin to take your flash photography to the next level

 

[verysimplejason]

+1 to the strobist blog. You'll learn a lot from it, even go full manual on your flash setup. I use TTL most of the time when flash is on-camera but if I want to be extra creative, I use full manual off-camera. You can control the shadows and where would you want to put your light or how strong you want your flash this way. Just refer to the pics you'll find in the blog to know what I mean.

 

[cayenne]

+1 to the strobist blog. You'll learn a lot from it, even go full manual on your flash setup. I use TTL most of the time when flash is on-camera but if I want to be extra creative, I use full manual off-camera. You can control the shadows and where would you want to put your light or how strong you want your flash this way. Just refer to the pics you'll find in the blog to know what I mean.

One of the best pieces of advice I've heard so far, with regard to TTL/ETTL...is from Syl Arena. He says he only uses ETTL, when the camera lens are subject are generally moving and changing distances from each other. Which kind of makes sense.

If run and gun, it helps..but if you're taking time to set up shots, there's not much need for it...manual is the way to go.

C

 

[Zv]

+1 to the strobist blog. You'll learn a lot from it, even go full manual on your flash setup. I use TTL most of the time when flash is on-camera but if I want to be extra creative, I use full manual off-camera. You can control the shadows and where would you want to put your light or how strong you want your flash this way. Just refer to the pics you'll find in the blog to know what I mean.

One of the best pieces of advice I've heard so far, with regard to TTL/ETTL...is from Syl Arena. He says he only uses ETTL, when the camera lens are subject are generally moving and changing distances from each other. Which kind of makes sense.

If run and gun, it helps..but if you're taking time to set up shots, there's not much need for it...manual is the way to go.

C

I gave the same advice about using ettl for dynamic lighting situations and where subject to light source distance keeps changing on a similar post and I got shot down in flames!

Yes it's useful but there are limitations and knowing how and when to use it is important. So is knowing how and when to use manual flash.

Syl's first book - speedlighter's handbook - explains these differences clearly. I also recommend his second and recent installment, though it repeats a lot of the same concepts.

For me, understanding how light behaves and how the camera meters light really helped. Then you start to wonder about power levels. In ettl mode you have no real clue what the power output is going to be. The flash could be firing at full power and you'd have no way to tell. This is where manual starts to become useful. You have more control and you learn about flash quicker and before you know it you'll be able to kinda guess how much power is needed.

 

[eninja]

Thank you for the all the info, keep it coming, if it is regarding best practices for beginner.

Now I have these infos at the back of my head, it is time to apply and play with it.