Advice needed for new-comer to off camera flash

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trican

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Daniel
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Hi all,

I have a Nikon D90 and a SB600, which until yesterday I only used on-camera. So I got a Lightstand, 42" Westcott umbrella and a second flash, and a cheap Jessops flash(360 afd), though I dont have a second lightstand or umbrella. I tried to read up as much as possible prior to starting to take photos.

Using this equipment (flashes in manual mode, triggered optically), I took some photos of my nephew and niece and edited these in Lightroom. The room has a cream wall, which I thought I'd try to blow out with the Jessop's flash. I suppose this would be called a key light(?) and I set this one to two stops higher than the main flash. The other challenge is the room is rather narrow, about 11-12 foot. I tried to get the kids close to the shoot through umbrella and maximise the distance between them and the wall which I intended to light with the jessops flash. Here are the results - I'd love to get some pointers on how to improve - particularly as I found that by using just one flash I seemed to be getting better results.



1. Lighting the background - but caught a piece of a radiator in the lower right - grrr!


2. Lighting the background with the second flash



3. Not lighting the background with the second flash - missing catch lights in my nephew's eye; I dont know why?



4. Not lighting the background with the second flash


5. Not lighting the background with the second flash. Was trying a butterfly arrangement, but with a large white card as a reflector below


6. Not lighting the background with the second flash
 
Last edited:
For me, stick with not lighting the background, white is passe.
 
thanks for the feedback Al Brum - its all pretty new to me but I could understand what you mean
 
You have blown the BG a tad to much power wise as there is some spill/wrap on the subject (noticeable more in 2 on your nieces hair), if blowing the BG drop the power slightly on the flash, as will need less power in small space.

Also your Key Light is the main light on your subject.
 
thanks Cosmix for the advice, I really appreciated it. I'll definitely bear that in mind the next time.
 
Other than what cosmix has said, these are really good as a first time! I'm getting some stuff together to be able to do this, and hope that mine will be as good as this!
 
Watching with interest as I am also new to flash....with a D90 a SB600 and a Nottingham residence:lol:
 
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