I usually have the exposure mode on my cameras set to “Manual”.
Likewise when I use my strobes, Speedlites or flash units.
That doesn’t mean I fight the technology especially when the results are consistent and predictable.
It’s always a good idea to learn how to work the Speedlites on power ratio or manual settings just in case E-TTL or iTTL goes berserk and no matter what you try, it’s unpredictable. Continue reading Creating an on-location 1940 Stylized portrait
Now that the word ‘selfie’ is officially in the English dictionary, I guess we have to get serious about this genre.
For the purposes of this article, let’s just restrict our discussion of selfies to exclude those done in bathrooms.
I was going to use the phrase ‘privacy of bathrooms’ but isn’t it strange, some folks think nothing about going into bathrooms, locking the doors then taking riské pictures to post on social media? Continue reading Wireless remotes for selfies
I generally test my gear thoroughly before heading out and using it on jobs.
In the case of a light modifier like a soft box, I would be wasting invaluable time assembling and disassembling it at every assignment.
So with my Photoflex Octodome extra small, I keep it assembled.
For my portrait session with UC Riverside Mathematics professor Dr. Pamela Clute, as with most of my portraits, I have some an idea of the kind of lighting I want even before I arrive.
Still, it’s a challenge.
On location, unless the spot I’ll be working is one I’m familiar with, I have to plan for the worst case scenario and then be pleasantly surprise if there’s good ambient light to work with.
For that reason, arriving early to set up and having some idea of the light setup I want to use is important.
There’s nothing worse than having to rush.
Details get overlooked and mistakes start creeping in.
When you’re a photographer especially one who does portraiture, there’s no such thing as having too many light modifiers.
They are, after all, the brushes with which you use to paint your subjects.
If you work primarily on location, these light modifiers tend to take a beating from being set up, taken apart and then moved around.
I could have paid a lot less for a softbox for my Speedlite but experience has thought me if it’s a piece of equipment I use often, I’m better off buying one that is well made. Continue reading Review OctoDome Extra Small Kit by Photoflex
