Tag Archives: featured

Advice

Finding usable light

Jose and Lolis are expecting their first child any day. I asked if they had an ultrasound image and they did, so we used their iPad as a great prop.
Jose and Lolis are expecting their first child any day. I asked if they had an ultrasound image and they did, so we used their iPad as a prop. ISO 200 1/15 sec @ f2.8 100 mm lens.

Recognizing where usable light exists in any scene is a necessary skill if you want to excel at photographing people.

Instead of dragging out a lot of lighting equipment, the more experienced photographers learn early on to assess where the ‘good usable light‘ is and try to work with it.

By good usable light I mean light which you can use either to fill, highlight or accent your subject as opposed to the visible light which enables you to see or locate your lost contact lens.

The trouble is, that particular skill only comes after you begin playing with lighting your subjects using flash or strobes.

Behind-the-scenes.I used a combination of available light and speedlites fitted with 1/4 CTO gels.
Behind-the-scenes of the picture above. I used a combination of available light and speedlites fitted with 1/4 CTO gels.The Octodome had 2 Canon 600-EX-RT Speedlites set to the same group, C, for more power and faster recycling. The 3rd one that was placed on the bed (fitted with Impact Strobos Globe Diffuser) was set to group B so it’s output could be controlled separately. Jose sat on the bucket while Lolis was on the edge of the bed on the left.

Continue reading Finding usable light →

Advice, Gear

Combining 2 Speedlites for Power & Fast Recycling2

Over-powering daylight on a sunny day is next to impossible with just one Speedlite. Using 2 set to the same group allows 2x the power. This is especially needed when you plan to use a light modifier which will cut effective power by as many as 2 f-stops of light at times.
Over-powering daylight on a sunny day is next to impossible with just one Speedlite. Using 2 set to the same group allows 2x the power. This is especially needed when you plan to use a light modifier which will cut effective power by as many as 2 f-stops of light at times. In the picture above I had a 2nd Speedlite fitted with a grid on the right between the 2 tree trunks to accent and separate Lianna (see the tell tale highlight edge on her bent arm on the right) Main light Octodome on the left just out of the viewfinder.

In the first part of this post, you might recall I placed 2 Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites inside my Photoflex Octodome.

That served as my main light for the most part.

Where needed I introduced a 3rd 600EX-RT with a grid to use as an accent when I photographed Lianna at a local park.

Since this was the first time I worked with Lianna, I tried to keep the equipment to a minimum.

I wanted to be sure I was talking with her as much as I could instead of fussing with gear. Continue reading Combining 2 Speedlites for Power & Fast Recycling2 →

Gear

Combining 2 Speedlites for power & fast recycling1

On the top left you can see the Lumpro Double Flash bracket inside my small Octodome softbox.
On the top left you can see the Lumpro Double Flash bracket inside my small Octodome softbox. I had 2 Canon 600-EX-RT speedlites inside the Octodome and a 3rd one fitted with a grid/snoot on the right behind my model Lianna.
I stepped back on this shooting with my 100mm f2.8 lens. 1/90 sec ISO 100 @f2.8. Canon 5DMark2
I stepped back on this shooting with my 100mm f2.8 lens. 1/90 sec ISO 100 @f2.8. Canon 5DMark2. All Speedlites fitted with 1/4 CTO gel to give a more pleasing late evening feel instead of an overcast cloudy day.

Combining 2 Speedlites is sometimes the only way to produce the kind of power needed to have any effect when shooting during the day.

Most Speedlites produce something in the neighborhood of 80 to 100Ws of power, so combining 2 of them can result in faster recycling and more power.

Before you can use 2 Speedlites, yes,  you’ll have to buy more stuff.

Sorry. Sometimes you really do need the tools and there are no workarounds. Continue reading Combining 2 Speedlites for power & fast recycling1 →