Tag Archives: tips

Photography, Tutorials

Using Canon’s E-TTL part2

Now that I have my 2 Speedlites talking to the transmitter STE-2, a field test is in order.

Max lit up when I brought out his toy. The flash output as you can see is too harsh. With a subject like Max, there's not much time to fine tune.

In case those of you who use Nikon are feeling left out, Nikon also has a similar transmitter, the SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander. It does the same exact thing but even better. You can control 3 groups of Speedlights compared to 2 for Canon’s STE-2..

Instead of a still life, flowers, a plant or bric-a-brac around the house I decided to try using my kittens as my subject.

Was I up to the challenge?
Continue reading Using Canon’s E-TTL part2 →

Photography

Using Canon’s ETTL Flash system

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The STE-2 flanked by the 430EX Speedlite (left & 580 EX Speedlite (right)

I recently bought a well-used Canon STE-2 infra red transmitter, just to see how well ETTL (Evaluative Through the Lens) works.

Nikon calls their system iTTL (intelligent Through The Lens) but it’s very similar.

Photographers are mostly a savvy group. If a product works well, that product is seldom easy to find “used.”

Even with my years of experience I found Canon’s Wireless Flash System not very intuitive.

If it weren’t for those years at the newspaper, when I my used Lumedyne flash units on manual figuring exposure with Guide numbers and a Minolta Flashmeter, I’d be lost.

Canon’s infrared based transmitter STE-2 for their flash system is due for a makeover, or at the very least, an update. Enough of the griping…
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Photography, Tutorials

Simple green screen shots

Bernice photographed Cissy holding her camera, then went online and found this image of Lady Gaga. After dropping out the background, Bernice dragged the image of “paparazzi-in-training” Cissy on its own layer onto the image of Lady Gaga.

The best way to understand “layers” in photoshop is to photograph someone against a plain background, make a selection around that person, then drag them with the move tool onto a new document or a picture.

The backdrop should be lit as even as possible.

The color of the backdrop can be any color but blue and green are often used simply because most folks don’t have blue or green hair, making them stand out and easier to select.
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Photography

Off-camera flash-a 1st attempt part 2

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Since posting part 1, I got some more background from Mike Hayes about his attempt to photograph the fire dancer.

It was a live performance so the location, a tennis court, was nothing Mike had any say in. I’m guessing it was chosen for  safety and easier crowd control.

Mike and his assistant were the only ones allowed inside the tennis court, so he didn’t have carte blanche to do anything he wanted.

Mike tells me he is trying to get another crack  at  photographing the fire dancer.

Let’s assume Mike has charmed the fire dancer into agreeing to do a  little one-on-one show just for him.

Apologies Mike, if my phrasing there gets you into trouble with your wife. 😉

Continue reading Off-camera flash-a 1st attempt part 2 →