Dog didn't want his photo taken.

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GerryD

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Gerald Davies
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I've taken this photo of my pouch, but there's a harsh shadow behind him. Bear in mind this is the first time I've used the speedlite 430 ex. Am I right in thinking a defuser help will with this situation? I know a full studio lighting system would help. Its on the shopping list :)

Also i think he's a little close to the background. :shrug:

3206334763_307843c3c4_o.jpg
 
A diffuser would certainaly soften the shadow, but it'd still be there.

it just seems harsh because your relying on the flash for all your light and its only coming from one direction, is there scope for using a reflector or window light to balance out the light?

Or as you say getting a studio set up?

By the way I'm no expert by any manner of means and i'm sure someone will be along shortly to put you right.:)
 
Twentyten said:
A diffuser would certainaly soften the shadow, but it'd still be there.

it just seems harsh because your relying on the flash for all your light and its only coming from one direction, is there scope for using a reflector or window light to balance out the light?

Or as you say getting a studio set up?

By the way I'm no expert by any manner of means and i'm sure someone will be along shortly to put you right.:)
Click to expand...


Thanks TwentyTen. A diffuser would help, great :thumbs:.

I might be able to user some window light, this was taken after sunset. I'll have to wait until next weekend to try it out. damn work. There is a large mirror to the dogs left, but didn't help in this situation :(

I'm planning on setting up a studio, but that's a few months away yet. It'll be a basic one to start with.
 
If you only have a single flash it would help to get it off camera and to the right and slightly higher than the position you took it from. Keep your camera in the same position and use the dogs body to hide the shadow. A cheap slave flash off ebay would also help to light the background
 
Slipwave said:
If you only have a single flash it would help to get it off camera and to the right and slightly higher than the position you took it from. Keep your camera in the same position and use the dogs body to hide the shadow. A cheap slave flash off ebay would also help to light the background
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Thanks for the tip Slipware.
Is this the type of flash trigger you where talking about, linky
 
Hi Gerald

No That is not the slaves Slipwave means. I have a couple knocking about. Do you want a shot of them to try? I can take them along Wed night.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Hi Gerald

No That is not the slaves Slipwave means. I have a couple knocking about. Do you want a shot of them to try? I can take them along Wed night.
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Thanks Gary, I'll take you up on that offer :thumbs:

Being impatient, what slaves are we talking about?
 
I meant just slave flashes i.e a flash with a built in trigger that responds to any other flash firing. Generally not very powerfull but should help some.
The link above with any manual flash would be a better alternative however
 
Right.

I need to go into more depth Gerald.

As Slipwave says there are flashes that will work remotely as "slaves". Canon use an ST-E2 which works with infrared and works well indoors (I will give you that as well).

Outdoors and where line of sight cannot be maintained radio slaves are better hence the eBay type I suggested above. There are also Pocketwizards (which I also have and you ain't getting them ;)) which are my weapon of choice but very expensive. Ellinchrom do a "Skyport" which is also good but probably similar priced to PW's.

Back to the picture. You did the right thing in getting the light of the camera (to the left and above in your shot) but now you need to "bounce" light in from the other side to soften the shadows. Flash is good but must be set at a value below the main light or you can simply hold up a large white reflective thing (card, newspaper, fridge, etc) to the right and let the reflected light do it's thing.

Easy eh! :thumbs:
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
They are these ones and they have issues but can work pretty good in the right environment. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks Gary. This looks like it might do the job. Am I correct in assuming that you lose the ettl metering using this setup?

Slipwave said:
I meant just slave flashes i.e a flash with a built in trigger that responds to any other flash firing. Generally not very powerfull but should help some.
The link above with any manual flash would be a better alternative however
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Slipware, I was venturing down your first route, as it would give me anothe rlight source fairly cheaply.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Right.

I need to go into more depth Gerald.

As Slipwave says there are flashes that will work remotely as "slaves". Canon use an ST-E2 which works with infrared and works well indoors (I will give you that as well).

Outdoors and where line of sight cannot be maintained radio slaves are better hence the eBay type I suggested above. There are also Pocketwizards (which I also have and you ain't getting them ;)) which are my weapon of choice but very expensive. Ellinchrom do a "Skyport" which is also good but probably similar priced to PW's.

Back to the picture. You did the right thing in getting the light of the camera (to the left and above in your shot) but now you need to "bounce" light in from the other side to soften the shadows. Flash is good but must be set at a value below the main light or you can simply hold up a large white reflective thing (card, newspaper, fridge, etc) to the right and let the reflected light do it's thing.

Easy eh! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer on the ST-e2. Having a multiple setup should make things interesting.

I've looked at the Pocketwizards and they do look the bees knees, but well out of my price range at the moment and I think its a little mean not sharing them :razz::razz: :lol::lol::lol:

If I understand you correctly a reflector of some kind to the right of the dog is all that is needed. Would some white sheets do the job?

Sorry for the stupid questions, but this is the first time I've ventured int anything concerning flash.
 
White sheets would be fine, silver can be a bit harsh and I'm not convinced it gives any more light. Pocket wizards (I call them poshtog wizards) are the bees knees but boy do you pay for the privelidge of owning them :)
 
taxi said:
Thanks for the offer on the ST-e2. Having a multiple setup should make things interesting.

I've looked at the Pocketwizards and they do look the bees knees, but well out of my price range at the moment and I think its a little mean not sharing them :razz::razz: :lol::lol::lol:

If I understand you correctly a reflector of some kind to the right of the dog is all that is needed. Would some white sheets do the job?

Sorry for the stupid questions, but this is the first time I've ventured int anything concerning flash.
Click to expand...

Flash is just a light source. Get a table lamp out and use it as a modelling light on your subject. Move reflectors around and you will see how the light is reflected. It will the same with a flash.

Slipwave said:
White sheets would be fine, silver can be a bit harsh and I'm not convinced it gives any more light. Pocket wizards (I call them poshtog wizards) are the bees knees but boy do you pay for the privelidge of owning them :)
Click to expand...
Aye. I need another one and am looking at the PW flagship model the Multimax, they are seriously expensive but as PWs are so common now they won't be fired by someone else's transmitter.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Flash is just a light source. Get a table lamp out and use it as a modelling light on your subject. Move reflectors around and you will see how the light is reflected. It will the same with a flash.


Aye. I need another one and am looking at the PW flagship model the Multimax, they are seriously expensive but as PWs are so common now they won't be fired by someone else's transmitter.
Click to expand...

Get elinchrom skyports. Cue cherryrig :p
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Aye. I need another one and am looking at the PW flagship model the Multimax, they are seriously expensive but as PWs are so common now they won't be fired by someone else's transmitter.
Click to expand...

Get a set of the Ebay/Cactus triggers and have a play around with them

1 receiver and 2 triggers= £30
3 Pocket Wizards=£3-600 or more if you want the Multimaxes :nuts:
 
foodpoison said:
Fire the flash at the ceiling on 1/2 power :)
Click to expand...

Being thick I haven't worked that out yet. How do you set the flash gun to 1/2 power? I've figured out how to over and underexpose the 430 ex but not adjust it via the power settings.

Gerald
 
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