Incredibly easy flash tutorial?

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susie

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Does anyone know of a VERY simple flash tutorial, I am talking words of 2 or less syllables, and suitable for a complete numpty? I have had a search around but they all talk about dialing up and down, and there is nothing that tells you the real basics like once you have put batteries in, switched on, put it in the camera slot etc, what to do from there on. I don't use the built in flash and I have never needed to use one but in a couple of weeks I may need to so I want to play with it first to try and get an idea of how to use it.
 
Mount flash on camera
Turn flash on
point camera at subject
warn subject of impending bright light
press shutter button

:thumbs:
 
Grendel said:
Mount flash on camera
Turn flash on
point camera at subject
warn subject of impending bright light
press shutter button

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Phew, so it can be as simple as that, I kept reading threads and links and was just getting confused, thanks :thumbs:
 
Grendel said:
Mount flash on camera
Turn flash on
point camera at subject
warn subject of impending bright light
press shutter button

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Or, if you're using a set of Ebay triggers with the flash off-camera...

Mount flash on light stand
Turn flash on
Turn receiver on
point camera at subject
warn subject of impending bright light
press shutter button
Look puzzled when nothing happens
Look directly into flash
press TEST button
get blinded by flash
knock camera over

Repeat


:lol:
 
Incredibly easy flash tutorial?

That's an oxymoron if ever I heard one!
 
admirable said:
Incredibly easy flash tutorial?

That's an oxymoron if ever I heard one!
Click to expand...
:lol: I thought it might have been, but it was worth a try and throwing open to the great knowledgebase that we have on here :)
 
The Joe Demb web site has some simple tutorials on using flash. I use the Demb Flash Diffuser Pro and really like it but am not connected to this company.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/

Planet neil has some wonderful information regarding the use of flash.

http://www.planetneil.com/

if you use Canon products, this should help

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

And this is how to make your own bounce unit

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1025&message=10645209

The Strobist often has interesting information

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/
 
If you using the flash that is built into the camera then just set the camera to flash and pop up the flash and shoot, but beware of shutter speed, the instruction book should give an ideal speed to use. Somewhere around 1/60sec would be the optimum I would guess although it depends on what/where and how much exisiting light there already is.

Should you purchase an addon flashgun with a swivel head then you start going into bounce light flash etc, where the flash is bounced off say a ceiling to prevent a shadow behind the subject. A built in flash is quite limited in range which you will no doubt find out, also the brightness isn't as good as a seperate flashgun.

Realspeed
 
rpcrowe said:
The Joe Demb web site has some simple tutorials on using flash. I use the Demb Flash Diffuser Pro and really like it but am not connected to this company.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/

Planet neil has some wonderful information regarding the use of flash.

http://www.planetneil.com/

if you use Canon products, this should help

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

And this is how to make your own bounce unit

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1025&message=10645209

The Strobist often has interesting information

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
I was looking for more basic than those :$ photonotes is closest to what I was looking for but there is just too much of it hence me looking for something even simpler!!



realspeed said:
If you using the flash that is built into the camera then just set the camera to flash and pop up the flash and shoot, but beware of shutter speed, the instruction book should give an ideal speed to use. Somewhere around 1/60sec would be the optimum I would guess although it depends on what/where and how much exisiting light there already is.

Should you purchase an addon flashgun with a swivel head then you start going into bounce light flash etc, where the flash is bounced off say a ceiling to prevent a shadow behind the subject. A built in flash is quite limited in range which you will no doubt find out, also the brightness isn't as good as a seperate flashgun.

Realspeed
Click to expand...
I do have an addon flash and from looking at the spec it does swivel, I think I will see if I can dig out my PG monkey and see what the results are with it, I doubt I will be bouncing it or anything like that though, thats probably a bit advanced for me :lol:

Thanks all :)
 
Thanks, looks like Amazon will be getting some of my pennies :)

The Sheik does not even know which part of the flash faces forwards so he is not going to be explaining anything :lol: :lol:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Or, if you're using a set of Ebay triggers with the flash off-camera...

Mount flash on light stand
Turn flash on
Turn receiver on
point camera at subject
warn subject of impending bright light
press shutter button
Look puzzled when nothing happens
Look directly into flash
press TEST button
get blinded by flash
knock camera over

Repeat


:lol:
Click to expand...

Dude! your not filling me with confidence whilst I wait for my triggers to arrive!
 
Heres what I do for indoor shooting with a 580ex indoors, please note im no expert Im better at showing people the writing it down.

Set camera to manual, leave the flash in ettl

f5.6
iso 800
shutter 1/100

point flash at ceiling shoot away. the flash will do all the work

or point flash at wall, shoot.

if the images are a touch dark click the middle button on the flash the press the arrows or turn the dial depending on the flash and change it so it says +1

shoot again it will be brighter.

if you are loosing nice ambient lighting in the room the lower the shutter speed or increase the iso. the flash will do the rest


so this setting (guessed values so dont hold me to them) should be allowing a reasonble amount of ambient light in and the flash will be filling.
f5.6
shutter 1/30
iso 1600

these settings (again the values will depend on the room) the flash will become the main light source overpowering the ambient light
f5.6
shutter 1/125
iso 400


feel free to rip this apart im very tired so may have got bits wrong
 
Susie,

I'm gradually getting to grips with flash and studio flash.

I have read several articles/books.

My advice is,

Find a subject around the house that you are going to photograph. (in the house because this will take a while and you might as well be warm and near the coffee machine).

Stick the camera in manual, set shutter speed to say 1/60, Aperture to f8 ansd ISO to 200

Assuming you know the basic controls of the flashgun switch it on, note the power setting of the flash and take a picture.

Now look at the histogram of the picture. You can now adjust any of the above variables until you get a decent picture, bearing in mind the effect each change will have on depth of field, motion blur, and noise.

It may take quite a few tries before you get a decent exposure but I honestly think its about the best way to learn. When you've done this a few times, whatr you read will begin to make more sense.

I know this sounds very hit and miss, but with digital you can take as many shots as you like and I reckon you will learn as much about adjusting the flash by doing that as by trying to read about it.

When I started trying to learn about flash by reading it up virtually none of it made any sense to me at all.
 
Didn't see chimps post, should read more carefully but he's said something very similar to me.
 
Thanks, with the cold weather coming in overthe next few days I will be having a go at it, reckon I will need a break from tiling the bathroom :gag:
 
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