Off-Camera Flash: Creative Techniques for Digital Photographers

127 Pages·2010·88.06 MB·English

by  Rod Deutschmann

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Theimagesinthisbookweremadepossiblethroughthehelpofmanyfamilymembersandfriends.Weespecially
wanttothankHollyKiddandAlexisDeutschmannwhobravedtheunrelentingturmoilsofbeingmodels-on-call.
Theirgeneroussupportandenthusiasmwasfundamentalinthecreationofthisbook.
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whohavebroughtusalongthispath.Thejourneyhasjustbegunandwelovesharingitwithyou.
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Copyright©2010byRodandRobinDeutschmann.
Allrightsreserved.
Allimagesbytheauthorsunlessotherwisenoted.
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ISBN-13:978-1-58428-992-0
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INDEX
1. ADDING LIGHT 2. KNOWING WHAT GEAR TO PURCHASE ..14
WITH OFF-CAMERA FLASH ................6 Two Paths ..............................14
Expressionism Reborn .....................6 What Do You Need? ......................14
A Buoy of Style ...........................7 The Flash ...............................15
SIDEBAR:LeavingAdobePhotoshopBehind ..........8 SIDEBAR:ShouldIBuytheName-BrandFlash? .........15
In Recognition ..........................12 FlashFeaturesYouCan’tBeWithout ........16
We Can Help ............................12 Triggering the Off-Camera Flash ............17
SIDEBAR:ExpressingYourself ...................12 AWiredConnection .....................17
SIDEBAR:Authors’Note .......................13 SIDEBAR:ReliabilityIsaKeyFactor ................17
SIDEBAR:ASmartBuy .........................19
How It’s Done ..........................30
...........................31
SIDEBAR:Freedom
Adding Light Off-Camera:
A Beginner’s Odyssey .................38
Using Multiple Flashes ....................38
4. NUTS AND BOLTS .....................39
Getting Started ..........................39
Flash-Sync Speed .........................42
.............43
SIDEBAR:Flash-SyncSpeedLimitations
....................44
SIDEBAR:AnOriginalVision
Flash-Sync Solutions ......................45
Option1:High-SpeedSync ...............45
Option2:ElectronicShutter ...............48
.......................48
SIDEBAR:GoodInTheory
Option3:NeutralDensityFilters ...........52
Option4:Cross-Polarization ...............53
The Polarizer:
Don’t Leave Home Without It .........55
Misconceptions .........................56
TheNeedforVisualization ................58
APolarizerTip .........................58
Adjusting the Flash’s Power ................61
AWirelessConnection ...................20 Other Options ...........................62
Advanced Lighting Systems ................22 ...............62
SIDEBAR:ALittleTruthNeverHurt
SIDEBAR:BuyWhatYouNeed,WhenYouNeedIt ......22
Support Issues ...........................23 5. CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY .............64
Modification Options .....................25 An Overview ............................64
Final Thoughts ..........................26 The Basics of Close-Up Work ...............65
The Problems with Macro .................66
3. MESSAGE-BUILDING ...................27 Close-Up Tools ..........................67
Lighting a Vision ........................27 Practice Makes Perfect ....................68
Making It Happen .......................28 Light Modification .......................68
Message-Building 101 .....................29 ..............68
SIDEBAR:Experience,Passion,Vision
SIDEBAR:ANewApproach .....................29 “Punching” A Close-Up Message ............70
To Begin ...............................30 ...........70
SIDEBAR:MakingYourOwnFlash“Stick”
SIDEBAR:TheProblemswithOn-CameraFlash .......30 Exploration and Creativity .................73
4OFF-CAMERAFLASH

1. ADDING LIGHT WITH OFF-CAMERA FLASH
Adding light with off-camera flash is the heart and blood of creative
expressionism. A photographer can finally set his vision free—no matter
how outrageous, subdued or impulsive it might be.
EXPRESSIONISM REBORN
Creativityisflourishingindigitalphotography.Newideasarebeingtouted,
advancedtechniqueshaveemerged,andayouthful,ultramodernapproach
to message-building is being recognized. Photography as we know it is Unshackledbytheconfinesofa
studio,off-cameraflashphotogra-
changingandnowhereisthisrevolutionmorepronouncedthanintheworld
pherscanfindopportunityand
offlashphotography—particularlyoff-cameraflashphotography. amazingimagesanywhere.Theworld
istheirstudio,witheverymountain,
Thanks to the digital camera’s LCDmonitor and the instant access to
everybuilding,andeverystreetsign
ourownmistakes,techniquesoncereservedformastersarebeingconquered
offeringfreshalternatives.
Everyartistneedstools,andthe
optionsforoff-cameraflashphotog-
raphersareboundless.Whether
youuseextendinghandles(asseen
inthisimage),multipleflashes,
modifiers,lightstands,oreven
old-fashionedlightmeters,you
mustlearntousethemwell.Take
thetimetopracticeandgetcomfort-
ablewithyourequipment.
inrecordtime.Toolsonceconsideredvital,suchashand-heldlightmeters
and,forsome,eventhein-cameralightmeter,arenowarchaic.Fullmanual
controlischic,homemadeormodifiedgearthenorm,andtheuseofmul-
tipleflashesatrend.
This,aswellasradicalnewapproachestodesignandcomposition,have
turnedthephotographyworldupsidedown—ashasitsnewcropofmasters.
Real expressionism is They are literally redefining what photography means and how images are
beingcreated.Asaresult,astrangeandwonderfulmixoftraditionalvalues
coming to the world of
and new approaches has emerged. Photography is no longer about simply
capturingareflectionofwhat’sinfrontofyou,ratherit’saboutsharingwith
visual communication.
theworldhowsomethingmakesyoufeel.
Theartistsmakingthisvisionhavemeldedtheirownversionofflashpho-
tographywithsomeofthemostoutrageousin-camerachoices,tools,andac-
cessories ever seen. Real expressionism is coming to the world of visual
communicationand,thankstothepioneeringspiritofthesegiftedphotog-
raphers,it’shittingtheglobelikeathunderstorm.
A BUOY OF STYLE
Attheforefrontofthissquall,pushingharderthananyone,standthepho-
tographers who use off-camera flash. Proud, undaunted, and defiant, they
ADDINGLIGHTWITHOFF-CAMERAFLASH7
tout the value of visualization above all else. Brazenly adjusting reality to Newandexcitingtoolsarebeing
meettheirneeds,theypushtheenvelopeofcreativecontrolbyaddingmood used.Freshideasarestarting
toemergeandanexpressionist
and manipulating color whenever it strikes them. With a simple swipe of
approach,ratherthan“justtaking
light they can forever change and alter a viewer’s perception—hiding im- pictures,”isgainingground.Thanks
tothechallengesandrewardsof
portant details in the shadows or expanding on one solid thought with a
usingoff-cameraflash,theworldof
simple,yethighlyeffectivebeamoflight. photographyandofimagecreation
itselfischanging—anditcouldn’t
Eachofthesenewmastersshowsus,onadailybasis,howimportantitis
havecomeatabettertime.
toseetheworldinawayotherthanitappears.Galleryexhibits,artshows,
andphotographycontestsareallbeingdominatedbytheflashphotographer.
Newwebsitesandblogsdedicatedtotheoff-cameraflashuser,andtotrue
expressionism, continue to pop up. Creativity and individual style are be-
ginningtoemergeasthenewhallmarkofprofessionalphotographyandit’s
Leaving Adobe
allhappeningatarecordpace. Photoshop Behind
Onlinesafe-houses,suchasStrobist.comandothers,havebeenstoutsup- Sincethemajorityof“correc-
porters,highlightingeachandeverynewadvancewhenit’smade.Itsmem- tions”arealreadybeingmade
bers,safelyshieldedfromthebiasedremarksoftheuneducated,sharetheir bytheflashorflashes,the
visionofthefutureasquicklyasitcomesintofocus.Theyhavetrulyblazed needforpost-processing
auniquepathandignitedapassionforvisualcommunicationtheworldhas correctionsoradjustments
rarelyseen.Thesevisionaries,theseexplorersoflight,allrecognizethevalue diminishes.Imaginethat:
ofseeingtheworldotherthanasitappearsandaredoingwhateverittakes creativein-cameraphotogra-
tokeepthisfledglingformofexpressionismaliveandsafe. phywithouttheneedfor
Theimagesproducedaredifferent,thetechniquesusedareunique,and extensiveafter-the-fact
theirprocessofmessage-buildingtotallyscoffsatwhatmanybelievethenat- editing!WheredoIsignup?
8OFF-CAMERAFLASH