Tagged Questions
4
votes
2answers
84 views
Does the diameter of openings on photographic lighting grids affect brightness?
I was kind of thinking about different grid options considering the depth vs diameter of individual openings and get to a interesting point (at least for me :-) ). Let's consider a very simple home ...
3
votes
2answers
172 views
How to avoid shadows under the eyes when using bounce flash?
How can I avoid shadows under the eyes when I am bouncing flash? The first picture below, using bounced flash, came out horrible. The second picture, using direct flash, has no shadows under the eyes.
...
5
votes
2answers
246 views
What is term for the opposite of “Dragging the Shutter”?
My first helpful experiments with flash started after taking a seminar with Scott Kelby on the subject. I don't recall him mentioning dragging the shutter (but he may have). But, I do recall him ...
1
vote
6answers
257 views
What is the most effective way to get soft light from hotshoe flash indoors?
I'm thinking of getting a flash for better indoor pictures. I was looking at the 430EX Speedlite as a good unit in budget, but still having lots of capability.
How do I use this most effectively ...
12
votes
4answers
909 views
Why do we use flash in photography?
Why do we use flashes in photography, instead of simple light bulbs etc. to illuminate the scene? Why are specially made flashes used?
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How to use old flash units with Digital SLR?
I got some old flash units (e.g. Metz 30bct-3) that I won on eBay along with some older slr cameras. The flash units are in good condition. I thought of using them with my Canon 600D but heard about ...
2
votes
3answers
392 views
Would This “Flash Diffuser” Be Any Good for My SB700?
I bought an SB700 and I noticed that it came with several accessories (a green plastic, a "transparent" plastic and a brown one). I searched and the transparent one is called a "diffuser".
I ...
15
votes
6answers
996 views
Why is the Fluorescent filter for a flash green?
I just bought a Nikon SB-910 speedlight.
The filter that comes with it to use under fluorescent lighting it green, why is this? because certainly to my eye there is not a hint of green under normal ...
3
votes
3answers
394 views
What type of flash/diffuser was used in this picture?
What type of flash/diffuser was used
in this picture ? I am amazed of the by level of diffused light. I am sure there is a lot of post processing but i believe the lighting is the most important ...
5
votes
2answers
367 views
Outdoor flash lights on a budget?
What are the best options for having outdoor flash lighting? I have seen a few kits for sale on ebay that cost around $1000 which include 2 lights, a battery pack, umbrellas and soft box covers.
I ...
4
votes
1answer
251 views
Where does the assertion that food photography must not use flash come from?
I often hear/read in webcasts and blogs that when doing food photography, it's better to use only the indirect sun light from a window, and without flash.
Why?
I tested multiple times two setups:
...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Is Flash a Must-Have For Macro Photography?
I want to start into macro photography this year so I've chose the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens to start with (I still haven't bought it since I'll do it next week, which I'll be in the ...
7
votes
3answers
7k views
When and how to use a push-on flash diffuser?
I've bought a cheap flash on eBay and got this fancy flash diffuser as a free gift:
So, what are the effects of a light diffuser like this one? What difference does it make to the resulting photo? ...
4
votes
1answer
774 views
How do I compare the output of an LED panel with that of a flash?
How do I compare the output of an LED panel with that of a conventional hotshoe flash?
I haven't been paying attention to the LED panels, but they've been on the market long enough so that I'm ...
6
votes
4answers
437 views
In low light, does it make sense to use a normal house light bulb instead of a flash?
Actually, yesterday I shot a photograph indoors with a tubelight (on the wall) and a flash on. The results were "too" boring. The flash had robbed away all the natural looks of the scene.
Does ...
4
votes
3answers
406 views
Why are there multiple contradictory ways to control flash ratio?
I am reading the following introduction to flash photography:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-flash-2.htm
In this article, I came across two seemingly contradictory statements:
...
5
votes
4answers
530 views
Does adding additional strobes cumulatively add to the flash power?
I've been reading articles that talk about using multiple strobes next to each other, all pointing in the same direction: as a means to add more light over what one flash can do.
Does the addition of ...
8
votes
4answers
394 views
To take my portrait photography to the next level, should I get a second flashgun or a monolight?
I am a hobbyist and using a Canon 600D with 50mm f/1.8 and 18-135mm lenses.
I bought 430EX-II flashgun, and it works great as off-camera flash with the 600D's built in transmitter. I also have a ...
1
vote
2answers
182 views
Is there a good flash for which you can get an AC adapter?
I'm working on a lighting solution for my studio. All of the lights will be 100% stationary and I'm wondering if there's a way to get flashes that I can just plug into the wall instead of bothering ...
1
vote
3answers
162 views
What flash unit should I choose for taking photos on a night boat cruise?
I'm going to a boat cruise tonight in London. With the following kit to choose from:
Nikon D7000
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikon SB-400
Yongnuo YN-465
I need to make a choice ...
2
votes
2answers
773 views
How do the ePhoto and Cowboy Studio beauty dishes compare for a newbie learning the ropes?
I'm wanting to buy a beauty dish and I'm on a tight budget, I can't find reviews comparing the ePhoto vs Cowboy Studio Beauty Dishes and was hoping one of you might help me choose.
I'm looking at ...
5
votes
3answers
297 views
Why doesn't narrowing the aperture have the same effect as lowering the flash power?
I have a small doubt here. I'm no strobist and just got my first flash (Canon 430ex II Speedlight). While I was playing around, I found that narrowing down the aperture DOES NOT have the same effect ...
11
votes
9answers
3k views
How do I take a portrait at night with detail in the background instead of just blackness?
I was trying to make a photo of my girlfriend around 9 pm with a D7000, Sigma 24-70 2.8, and SB-900. She was in the center of the frame, taking up about 20% of the frame. About 40% was taken up by ...
2
votes
2answers
204 views
How bright should a flash be?
Is it common/wise to invest in multiple flashers for different situations or can you use one given it has enough intensity? Another way to read this is: can a flash be too bright?
6
votes
4answers
5k views
How do I light a photo booth with a single flash and an umbrella?
I run a photobooth for a friend at a party for a side job and last night we came across a predicament. We only were able to use one flash on a tripod, instead of the usual two, along with the camera ...
5
votes
2answers
197 views
Is it possible to have a hybrid lighting setup with flashes and studio lights?
From what I've read so far, one the decision you have to make when interested in lighting work is either going with flashes or studio lights.
Can we use both at the same time ?
5
votes
2answers
269 views
Flash gun or some other light source?
I'm looking for some piece of advice from more advanced fellow photographers with regards to the artificial 'daylight' sources.
I'd like to be able to some pictures of kids at home. Unfortunately the ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
What should I consider when choosing continuous lighting vs. strobes for studio photography?
If one were to want to get started with studio photography (I'm thinking things like portraits, headshots, perhaps pets, etc) what would be the considerations in choosing whether to go with continuous ...
8
votes
3answers
640 views
Which is faster for flashes, radio triggers or optical triggers?
Assuming you have a line of sight to all your flashes and both methods will trigger the flashes with 100% reliability, is it faster to use radio triggers or optical triggers to set them off? Or put in ...
7
votes
3answers
835 views
Metering - How to account for the light from the flash
I pretty much use Manual mode (in my Nikon D40) and learning quite a lot from it. Though I understand "Metering" for correct exposure, I've trouble understanding it while using Flash (both in-built as ...
7
votes
4answers
269 views
How do I start using a hotshoe flash?
I've just been given a Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash unit. I've not really had much experience using flash. How can I get started? Are there any good learning resources?
15
votes
3answers
724 views
Why is it important to move the flash away from the camera?
I've read that it's not the quality of your camera, but the quality of the lighting that make pictures really good. That is probably not always true, though - there are many crappy cameras out there. ...
18
votes
3answers
5k views
What does TTL mean?
I'm new to photography and I see the term TTL all over the place. What does it mean? And how do I use it to make my pictures better?
12
votes
2answers
5k views
How can I get a black background in daylight using flash sync speed with no extra gear?
I have seen sports photography where the background is completely wiped out (black) during daylight. I'm trying to achieve a similar (pure black background) effect with no extra gear, just a DSLR ...
16
votes
3answers
642 views
What are the disadvantages of using a diffuser on a flash?
I am thinking of using a diffuser on my canon speedlight flash to soften harsh shadows when shooting indoors. I was wondering what the disadvantages of this might be.
7
votes
1answer
528 views
Photoshoot lighting on a shoestring budget?
I've just about used every cent I can afford on my DSLR and an extra lens and a tripod and a friend of mine suggested I come along and do a casual photo shoot of two bands that are staying at her ...
13
votes
3answers
621 views
How do cheap macro ring flashes perform?
When I last checked years ago, the price of a typical Ring flash unit was approximately $500. Nowadays there are still ring flashes for approx. $500 like Pentax AF160FC, Pentax AF-140C, Canon MR-14EX, ...
4
votes
1answer
218 views
Does UV light pass through the fabric of a softbox?
Studio flash makers sell both bare flash tubes and flash tubes with a UV coating to block the UV emissions. Quite a few studio monolights come up on eBay without the UV coating, and I'm wondering if ...
10
votes
3answers
563 views
Does the zoom head position of a flash matter when shooting through an umbrella?
It seems like a hotshoe flash's zoom head position might factor in to the lighting pattern when shooting through an umbrella. In the wide beam position, I expect more even light that one is ...
4
votes
4answers
785 views
How to gel a large softbox to match ambient
I'm searching suggestions to quickly and easily add a gel to color correct light from a giant softbox to match ambient. In my application I'm using a CTO for tungsten ambient.
The equipment I'm ...
11
votes
3answers
702 views
Why do hotshoe flashes use fresnel lens, but studio strobes do not?
I notice that hotshoe flashes (e.g. Nikon SB-800) typically have a Fresnel lens system to focus the light, but studio strobes (e.g. Photogenic Powerlight 1250) do not. What's up with that?
8
votes
5answers
1k views
What is a good softbox for small hotshoe flash?
What are the good softboxes for a small flash like a Canon Speedlite 430EX, for example?
15
votes
2answers
312 views
Will I see a difference in my photos if I aim my flash to the umbrella axis?
I've seen people over the internet aiming their flashes to the umbrella's axis but haven't seen yet a before and after photo. In my case, the flash aims a bit above the axis. What would be the benefit ...
13
votes
5answers
568 views
What are the pros and cons of using an optical trigger for external lighting?
I have been reading up on the different kinds of lighting kits out there. I read about using optical triggers for external lighting kits. This would allow me to use my on-camera flash (or a mounted ...
