Options
Basic External Flash Tips
We just got a 430EX in the mail yesterday for our Canon T1i.
LOVED playing around with it last night... bouncing the flash, etc. SO fun.
Anyhow, we are shooting our first "real" stuff next weekend. A wedding. AH! We are going to the church tomorrow for the rehearsal. Any tips on how to get down and dirty with using the flash? Should we just keep it on auto since we are "flash newbies"??
It's only a 38 page manual, and we did read thru some of it but I was just wondering if anyone had any tips/suggestions or good articles for us to read to learn quickly.
Someone recommended we set it on second (or rear) curtain sync... yay or nay?? Why?
Thanks so much, I'm so glad I found this great forum
LOVED playing around with it last night... bouncing the flash, etc. SO fun.
Anyhow, we are shooting our first "real" stuff next weekend. A wedding. AH! We are going to the church tomorrow for the rehearsal. Any tips on how to get down and dirty with using the flash? Should we just keep it on auto since we are "flash newbies"??
It's only a 38 page manual, and we did read thru some of it but I was just wondering if anyone had any tips/suggestions or good articles for us to read to learn quickly.
Someone recommended we set it on second (or rear) curtain sync... yay or nay?? Why?
Thanks so much, I'm so glad I found this great forum
0
Comments
14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
85 and 50 1.4
45 PC and sb910 x2
http://www.danielkimphotography.com
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
(Also... all my shots at work are are product shots with either natural light or studio flash. This is why have no experience with mounted flashes.)
As Qarik has said, please, please reconsider shooting a wedding if you are to be the principal photographer.
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event and the images of the day, along with the wedding dress and sometimes the cake-topper, are the only tangible things afterwards. If anything should happen, do you have a second camera? Do you have additional lenses? Additional flashes?
It doesn't matter if the bride and groom have said they won't hold you responsible or not. If you accept the responsibility, you really must be responsible.
Get some experience as a second shooter first. There is tons you need to know beforehand.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
We will have a second body, 4 lenses and 2 flashes.
At this point, there is no backing out... the rehearsal is tomorrow and the wedding is the 26th, so....... I couldn't do that to her just because "I don't feel comfortable". Since we will have two shooters, our chances of ruining things decrease significantly.
I have also done a lot of reading over the past month, but of course reading does not equal experience. I actually just skimmed through the sticky on newbie wedding photography and found it fairly inspiring.
(Also, I am from an Illinois cornfield too.... how about this SNOW? Grr)
Please take some time to build a DIY flash modifier:
http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3
This will be your best improvement to bare flash with almost no cash outlay. It gives you 2 basic advantages:
These 2 basic improvements, along with shooting in Av mode, will give you a considerable advantage.
Landscape and portrait orientation are adjusted like this:
Manual exposure will give you better and finer control over your lighting but I think Av mode is your best bet for the limited time you have before the event. Adjust your exposure according to test results.
Use the rehearsal to practice and to discover any problems with the venue. Look especially at the foreground and background to see if certain shooting positions are better than others. Ask the Officiant for shooting position advice. Be sure to ask the Officiant whether flash is allowed during the ceremony. If not, be sure to practice with the ambient light as well. See if they can set the church/venue with the same lighting as for the actual ceremony.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I am not finding any photos..but alink to posts at dpreview
I am also looking to making one.
The DPReview link is where he got his inspiration. Rats, it looks like he took his instructions and images down. I'll try to contact him to see if he moved the stuff elsewhere. If he doesn't have a current link, I'll see if I can create some construction tips of my own. (It will take me a while so no one should count on my contribution anytime soon.)
In the meantime the construction is pretty simple. Look at my photos below to see the resulting shape.
I use 2 sheets of "Foamies" and I staple them together. One sheet is white (the diffuser and light shaper) and the other sheet is black (the backing). Cuts are made 2 inches and 4 inches from the top and 2 inches in. The top corners are lightly trimmed, but they could be rounded if you want (only aesthetic).
Velcro is attached to allow the contraption to wrap around the flash head to be secured at the bottom of the scoop and additional Velcro attached to hold the top section into the scoop shape per the pictures. Feel free to improvise as it's only the final shape that's important, not how you achieve it.
Note that if you wish you can also open up the top and allow much more light to spill onto the ceiling if you wish. The scoop shape is highly desirable for times when ceiling bounce is either impractical or when you have no time to change between venues.
Construction time is 10-15 minutes and construction costs around $3USD.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I think this is approximately the same thing...... http://super.nova.org/DPR//DIY01/
I sent a email thru the foto time contact and heard back from Brian Zimmerman asking for the Link and I sent the one posted above.
We went to the rehearsal and the ceremony location has great ambient light, not too dark at all. We can actually use go f/3.5 and 1/50 shutter speed and come out ok. Not too shabby.
We are not allowed to use flash during the ceremony but thank goodness we can use it for the bride's entrance and the processional.
That is what I am most nervous about, getting the flash right and getting the perfect shot of her walking down the aisle. Talk about stressful.
The officiant was extremely helpful! Luckily, the pews at the front are not open and there is a sort of retainer wall, so I will be able to crouch below without being seen at all.
Also I found out that there will NO formal reception so having to take pictures of the first dance, garter toss, etc, are totally out of the picture!!! It will be all candid shots and "detail" shots of her decorations, etc. (They have just rented out the basement of a local bar)
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
ANYway... here are some shots of the night using the flash. I am actually more pleased than I thought I would be!
These were taken using a 580EX Canon Flash