SB800 Off Camera Testing

Bryce Wilson

In the past whenever I wanted to do what I considered "nice" portraiture, I would use my Novatron mono lights with softbox, umbrella, snoot etc. Seeing some of the results that Grin members have achieved with shoe mounted flash units both on and off camera, motivated me to see what results I could achieve. I am especially intrigued by the opportunities for using them outdoors both in daylight and at night.

I only have one SB800 at this time, and no attachments for it, so I got creative. I mounted the SB800 on a light stand and positioned it about 45 deg right of the "model". I placed a white reflector between the speedlight and the "model" to soften the light a bit. A gold reflector was positioned about 60 deg. to the "models" left. Subject was photographed about 5 feet in front of a off white wall.

Being as I don't have the right cord to use my pocket wizard with the speedlight I was forced to use the on camera flash as a controller.

I'm thinking I should have placed the light a bit closer to the subject. Any ideas on improvement is well appreciated.

This shot used both the off camera SB800 as well as the camera mounted flash stopped down to its lowest manual setting.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5636064963/&quot; title="SB 800 Off Camera by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5636064963_e48f06b036_b.jpg&quot; width="800" height="533" alt="SB 800 Off Camera"></a>

In this shot I blocked the on camera flash with my hand so it would still trigger the off camera flash yet not spill onto the subject. I wish I couldn't see the reflector in her eye. Something to keep in mind for the next go round.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5636644468/&quot; title="SB 800 Off Camera by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5636644468_d91a0b9fe0_b.jpg&quot; width="800" height="533" alt="SB 800 Off Camera"></a>

In this shot I used a white piece of paper to funnel the on camera flash to the ceiling. My ceiling is vaulted so I don't think I got a whole lot out of it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5636644588/&quot; title="SB 800 Off Camera by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5636644588_6f011b051d_b.jpg&quot; width="800" height="533" alt="SB 800 Off Camera"></a>

Thanks for taking the time to look and or give your two cents.

Hackbone

Actually for the first attempt these are getting pretty close. On that first one try dialing your flash down in power and using the on camera flash.

Where is your reflector....on the ground? That seems to be where the catch light says it is. Think of a reflector as another light. It needs to be up off the ground.

With such a small light source that is why the edge of the shadow is so pronounced plus the distance away. Generally the closer to subject and larger the source the softer the shadow and its edge.

Qarik

Bryce, you set your on camera flash to "off" instead of lowest manula setting. It is still contibruting significantly in your 1st shot which is flattening the light. Note that even with the on camera flash set to "off", it will still fire but the expoure it contributes is very minimal vs the lowest power setting.

Bryce Wilson

Thank you both for the reply.

Hackbone, the reflector was indeed below the subject, but not on the floor.:D I was thinking I needed it to bounce some light up to lessen the shadow left by and under the nose. Is indeed something I will play with more next time. After looking at the shots, I realized, and agree with your assertion, that the light, or at least the white reflector I'm shooting through, needs to be closer to the subject.

Qarik, thanks for that tidbit, I didn't think the on camera would work as a controller if it was turned off. Hence my solution of blocking it with my hand.

I gotta get a few more speed lights and a dummy or mannequin for test shooting! Gotta be easier than begging a 12 year old to sit somewhere for 10 minutes!