Lighting a couple up outdoors with just one flash

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Cally

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Cally
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Hiya Guys,

I've got a brand new flash and still getting to grips with it but taking out a couple tonight and going to attempt sparkler writing...I've got the sparkler part down, couple need to be light up with flash to keep them sharp...

I was *wondering* if anyone could give me a very basic idea of what I need to do to make this look *OK* (Flash wise on the couple) I've been playing around with my flash but it just ...well looks like someone has set a flash off on someones face. The diffuser seems to help but if anyone has any tips I'd appreciate it, I'm thinking it's a case of just holding the flash higher and further away but on a stronger setting so the light's a bit softer..I realise people normally use umberllas (?) but I don't have one as yet so looking for something I can do just to get a nice exposer of the couple without harsh shadows or looking as white as ghosts...

I don't have anything linking the flash to my camera but my partner will be with me to set the flash off so will be hand held to move back / forward etc

~ Just to add these are my friends I am taking out for sheer fun of it so it's not essential I get this down tonight but I would like to give it my best shot and I am running out of time!
 
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'Softness' of light is dependent on the apparent size of the light source. A flashgun is a point source of light. To make it larger, fire it through a bed sheet, bounce it off a reflector (bed sheet), there's lots you could do but ideally the large light source wants to be close to the subject, which might get in the way of your shot unless it's on axis.

Hope that helps.
 
They should be at the far right of the shot so shouldn't be to much of a problem getting the light reasonably close, I guess all I can do is trial and error once it's out.

Appreciate your input just when things were all starting to come together photography wise I feel like I'm entering a whole other field with flash but if anything I'm persistent.
 
Without diffusing the light it's always going to look harsh. Look at it like this: on a sunny day the shadows are very strong and hard because the sun is a tiny point of light in the sky. On a cloudy day shadows are soft and graduated because the sun is being diffused by the clouds.

That is why we use umbrellas and softboxes. Getting the light off camera is a start, but for a couples shoot it's still going to be harsh and unflattering light. You'll be far better just leaving the flash alone until you have an umbrella (less than a tenner on eBay) or softbox. Either put them in open shade, shoot when it's cloudy or in harsh sunlight put them between you and the sun and expose for their skin.
 
Thanks guys. It wasn't perfect but it went well considering :-) Just need to practice writing with sparklers...
 
Throw some images up and you'll get more advice but as has been said, diffusion is the key here.
 
DSC_6778.jpg
 
I never used the diffuser in the end, to be honest it just didn't cross my mind I took test shots and the couple looked ok exposer so I carried on at the time. For saying this is my first attempt I know they are not perfect but I'm happy that I managed to combine the sparklers with sharp images that are (well face wise) well exposed but CC always welcome :)
 
I think they've worked well to be honest. The dark clothing means the bodies are a little list in the top image but there's just enough separation in the 2nd image to make them stand out.
 
A great first attempt!

Lessons that you should take from this (IMHO):

Clothing is important, the dark coats have created floating heads.

It's a shortcut, but when lighting a couple (without lots of time) I always aim to short light the lady, she's the one you need to flatter.
 
Thank you :)

I thought perhaps the clothing colour might of made a big difference (although of course didn't realise this before hand she asked me whether beige or black looked smarter so this could of been avoided!)

I'm going to keep practising shapes/drawing words in the back garden before I try again and learning about my flash gun...I have no idea how to use it other then how to change the power and press the button atm!
 
Well done :)
 
Wouldn't this just mean they weren't visible from the front though? Or is the silhouette shape what you would be going for in that instant? :) Just wondering what effect that would bring
 
Surely the point of the flash is to light up the people. That's not going to happen of the flash is behind them. If the ambient light is sufficient to illuminate the people the light from the sparklers isn't going to show up very well.

Sure, could give some interesting ghostly outlines of silhouette but it's certainly not going to do what the OP asked which is to light up the couple.
 
Looking forward to seeing some interesting variations though. [emoji4]
 
Well I will give it a try next time to see regardless! I guess it's just something else to do. Can't wait to try again but I think my friends boyfriend is getting a bit fed up of my photo shoots...every-time I mention having photos done my female friend is oooo yayy!!!!! :oops: :$:oops: :$

May need to find another couple to practice on but they are a nice looking couple I have to admit. :rolleyes:
 
Mondo74 said:
Surely the point of the flash is to light up the people. That's not going to happen of the flash is behind them. If the ambient light is sufficient to illuminate the people the light from the sparklers isn't going to show up very well.

Sure, could give some interesting ghostly outlines of silhouette but it's certainly not going to do what the OP asked which is to light up the couple.
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Yes, you're right, and without some flash to the front the figures are going to be very under-exposed or more likely a complete silhouette. But putting the flash behind is a great technique, adding a rim-light to make the dark clothes stand out from the background and generally lift the whole image from competent to something a bit special IMHO :)
 
Unfortunate I need two flash guns for that... I've sworn off buying any more equipment for the time being as I've spent over 2k since this whole photography obsession started... :banghead:
 
Phil - I've just breakout my flash gear again. Could you briefly explain short light?
 
Paule23 said:
Phil - I've just breakout my flash gear again. Could you briefly explain short light?
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What Pete linked. :)
But briefly, it's the flattering side to light someone (if you make a generalisation that most people would prefer to look slimmer)
 
Cally said:
Unfortunate I need two flash guns for that... I've sworn off buying any more equipment for the time being as I've spent over 2k since this whole photography obsession started... :banghead:
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Check out Yongnuo guns and triggers - good gear and amazing value compared to Nikon/Canon. YN 560 gun is about 40 quid, TX controller £25-ish. 560 is a manual gun, but auto-TTL is not necessary or even desirable for most off-camera flash work. Or spend a bit more and get full auto-TTL plus manual.

Congratulations on your work. It's not often that newcomers get stuck into flash and there are some professionals on here that are still terrified of it! Lighting is what sorts the men from the boyz IMHO, if you'll pardon the phrase, and opens up a whole new raft of creative opportunity.

A couple of books for you. Joe McNally is generally reckoned to be the master and his The Hot Shoes Diaries is an entertaining and inspirational read http://www.amazon.co.uk/372/dp/0321...d=1444127302&sr=1-1&keywords=hot+shoe+diaries He uses Nikon, though both Nikon and Canon systems are basically the same, so I'd also recommend Syl Arena's Speedliter's Handbook It's Canon-centric, but an excellent guide to just about everything you can do with a flash gun or three http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedliters...44127366&sr=1-1&keywords=speedliters+handbook I'm also a fan of Neil Van Niekerk, another brilliant exponent of flash http://neilvn.com/ Look at some of his images and you'll wonder if he used flash or not - that's a real skill ;)
 
Phil V said:
What Pete linked. :)
But briefly, it's the flattering side to light someone (if you make a generalisation that most people would prefer to look slimmer)
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Thanks Phil. I realised I was being lazy and went to look it up in my Spedliters book as well. There's a lot to learn......
 
HoppyUK said:
Check out Yongnuo guns and triggers - good gear and amazing value compared to Nikon/Canon. YN 560 gun is about 40 quid, TX controller £25-ish. 560 is a manual gun, but auto-TTL is not necessary or even desirable for most off-camera flash work. Or spend a bit more and get full auto-TTL plus manual.

Congratulations on your work. It's not often that newcomers get stuck into flash and there are some professionals on here that are still terrified of it! Lighting is what sorts the men from the boyz IMHO, if you'll pardon the phrase, and opens up a whole new raft of creative opportunity.

A couple of books for you. Joe McNally is generally reckoned to be the master and his The Hot Shoes Diaries is an entertaining and inspirational read http://www.amazon.co.uk/372/dp/0321...d=1444127302&sr=1-1&keywords=hot+shoe+diaries He uses Nikon, though both Nikon and Canon systems are basically the same, so I'd also recommend Syl Arena's Speedliter's Handbook It's Canon-centric, but an excellent guide to just about everything you can do with a flash gun or three http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedliters...44127366&sr=1-1&keywords=speedliters+handbook I'm also a fan of Neil Van Niekerk, another brilliant exponent of flash http://neilvn.com/ Look at some of his images and you'll wonder if he used flash or not - that's a real skill ;)
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Thank you for that I really appreciate it. I will pick them both up can never have to many books!
 
While I'm asking questions, is there an easy way to do this if you also want to be in shot? I'd love to do this with my wife, but I'll have to be the one with the sparker. If I pose with her for the flash at the start, then run off to do my sparkler thing, will that work?

I know another option is to take two shots, one of us and one of the sparkler trail and merge them, but I'm not the worlds greatest at post processing.
 
Paule23 said:
While I'm asking questions, is there an easy way to do this if you also want to be in shot? I'd love to do this with my wife, but I'll have to be the one with the sparker. If I pose with her for the flash at the start, then run off to do my sparkler thing, will that work?

I know another option is to take two shots, one of us and one of the sparkler trail and merge them, but I'm not the worlds greatest at post processing.
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No it won't, the sparkler trail will go 'through' you, because you'll not be there to stop it.
 
aha, a very good point Phil. I'll have to find a friend (have to make a friend first of course....)
 
Paule23 said:
While I'm asking questions, is there an easy way to do this if you also want to be in shot? I'd love to do this with my wife, but I'll have to be the one with the sparker. If I pose with her for the flash at the start, then run off to do my sparkler thing, will that work?

I know another option is to take two shots, one of us and one of the sparkler trail and merge them, but I'm not the worlds greatest at post processing.
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I think you could do it, though you may get some unusual effects with the sparkler trail, depending on whether it's in front or behind. With a composition like Cally's second shot though, I don't think it would matter and could make an interesting talking point in what is essentially a fun picture. In Cally's first shot with the sparkler behind, you'd end up with the girl blocking the sparkler, but with it overlaying your own image.

The trick with your idea is to make sure the background behind where you want to stand is absolutely dark, then you'll be fine. But if there is any background visible, such as the sky/houses in one of Cally's, that may show through as a ghost overlay.
 
Well I'm off to Northumberland in a few days to stay in the countryside, should be a good opportunity to give it a go as there will be very little ambient light after the sun goes down.

The joys of digital, the only cost is time (after the several hundred pounds up front cost of course!)
 
Phil V said:
No it won't, the sparkler trail will go 'through' you, because you'll not be there to stop it.
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I never would of thought about that before you mentioned it...it would take some time keeping but you could 'hide' the sparkler behind yourself. I mean, take the flash shot run out of camera to light the sparkler then when you run past your wife manoeuvre the sparkler so it's behind you before brining it out again once you are about to pass where the wife is standing...honestly my husband did the flash and lite the sparkler for me whilst I pressed the button then set off running. Would of been possible without an assistant but it certainly wouldn't be easy to get the timing right and then you've got to actually focus on getting the shapes right! It really isn't easy as you'd think it would be!

Saying that I had no way to set the flash off without a button presser, I assume since you are already thinking of doing this on your own you would have some way of setting the flash off with it.
 
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