The use of extra lights, often flash units, in order to make up for a lack of light or to gain more creative control over the image.
11
votes
3answers
996 views
How do I photograph coins with a glossy surface?
I am trying to photograph my coin sets. The coins are encased in a postcard-sized glossy paper that acts as mirror.
I need to position my camera exactly on top of the card coin set. Unfortunately, ...
9
votes
3answers
7k views
What is flat light and how to counter that?
I have often heard people saying that the light in the picture X is appearing "flat". I want to understand what exactly does that mean, and what are the possible ways to counter that?
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I choose a reliable, cheap, portable light stand and umbrella?
This holiday season, I've made a project for myself in getting started with strobist photography.
So far, all I have in terms of strobist equipment is a Nikon D80 and a Nikon SB-800. I've previously ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I achieve smooth light falloff in portraits?
I'm having trouble getting a nice, smooth light falloff when shooting portraits. If you look at the left side of David Hobby's beautiful portrait, thats the effect I am trying to achieve. I have ...
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 ...
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. ...
12
votes
4answers
908 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?
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 ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
What is the best approch to photographing a mirror or other highly reflective surface?
I have been asked by a client to take some product photographs of some vintage mirrors that they would like to sell and I am struggling with getting good clear shots of the mirrors. As such, what is ...
8
votes
3answers
329 views
Still-life reconstruction considered plagiarism?
I am really bad at still lifes. That is, I never even attempted making one. So I decided to try and make a photo of freshly baked bread. I stumbled across a few amazing shots on the Internet which I ...
8
votes
1answer
276 views
How do I compare a continuous light panel's brightness vs. flash through a softbox?
I've been following recent developments in light-emitting capacitor technology with interest. This new technology produces a complete-spectrum light (like sunlight or incandescents), instead of the ...
8
votes
2answers
446 views
How can I affect color of a water droplet shot?
Experimenting with water droplets today. Pretty fun! I'd like to ask how can I improve upon it. First of all a picture of the setup:
Water is contained within a plastic bag that is taped to a ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
What is clamshell lighting, and when should it be used?
I've heard of Clamshell Lighting. What is it, and when should it be used?
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?
7
votes
2answers
368 views
What shutter speeds should I use for cars in motion and slow-sync flash?
I'm an amateur with a Canon EOS 400D/Rebel xti.
I know that any given shot requires it's own recipe for shutter speed, ISO and aperture, and I'm aware of the triad of those three.
I typically shoot ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What is a loop lighting pattern?
I've seen several references to a loop lighting pattern, often in the context of portraiture lighting.
What is meant by the term?
6
votes
4answers
800 views
How do you set the power for a flash in manual mode?
How do you calculate the flash power fraction, assuming you want to keep constant the other variables of ISO, aperture, and distance from subject to flash?
The Guide Number formula for a flash ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
324 views
How to do lighting for product photography of scrapbooking stuff?
I have tried to do some simple product photographing. It is mainly some scrapbooking stuff my wife has produced, like candles and gift cards. Up until now I have been using my Nikon SB-700 for ...
13
votes
2answers
3k views
What is “feathering” a light?
When I read instructions about lighting setups, I often see reference to to "feathering" this or that light.
I have some ideas what that means: for example, I imagine taking a flashlight and ...
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
237 views
What continuous light technology gives light most suitable for photo lighting?
I have started to look around for a flashlight (a handheld torch, not speedlight) to selectively light scenes during long exposures, but the wide selection of technologies used in bulbs puzzles me. ...
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?
7
votes
1answer
333 views
What lighting and pre- or post-processing is required for a high key image?
The definition of high key photographs is thoroughly answered by @mattdm. What I understood is that a light toned subject is the most important requirement to take a high key image. However, it seems ...
7
votes
1answer
629 views
Portrait photography of children (Christmas)
I floated an offer to my family to photograph my neices and nephews for Christmas. Now, we're doing this with plenty of time for them to get professional work done if mine don't really come out great, ...
7
votes
2answers
148 views
Is it OK to use different kinds of strobes together?
I currently have 2 Vivitar 285 strobes.
These are working very nicely for me.
I would like to buy 2 more strobes, and I would be quite happy with the Vivitars, but I would also like to consider ...
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 ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
How to photograph live stage shows?
Whenever I try to take pictures of actors in a stage show, the colors always end up looking wrong. I assume it's something to do with the abnormal lighting—we don't have peach, blue, green, and amber ...
4
votes
1answer
229 views
What are options for macro lighting?
What options are there for additional lighting with macro subjects?
The subjects are often so close to the lens that leaving the flash in the hot shoe or just ambient light often gets blocked. ...
4
votes
4answers
4k views
What non-studio lights are best for photography?
I don't have a studio, nor I want studio lights.
I am interested in knowing which "kinds" of light "bulbs" should I purchase for my "table lamp" for indoor photography?
Are there some particular ...
4
votes
4answers
860 views
What's the best way to take cityscape photos on a night boat cruise?
I'm going on a boat cruise tonight in London. What's the best way to take photos of the riverbanks from the boat at night?
My kit includes:
Nikon D7000
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6
...
4
votes
4answers
872 views
How can I reduce “ghost images” of water droplets?
I am interested in taking the photo of spray of droplets. I also want to measure their size. I have captured a streak-type image of each and every water droplet coming from the nozzle.
If you observe ...
1
vote
2answers
217 views
Product Photography without a Light Tent?
I am going to be doing some product photography but I am running into an issue. This issue is achieving the proper lighting. My ideal setup would be a light tent with a few lights and my issues would ...
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 ...
