New to flash... need advice

Dan_H

Dan_H

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Dan
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Hi guys & girls,

I have taken delivery of a new Yongnuo YN560-II Speedlite today.

Problem is that i've never done any flash photography. Stopped off in the library on my way home from work, but they had nothing of any help to me.

So im just wondering if anyone knows of any online guides that would help me learn the basics. Im going to have a look in a larger library at the weekend, but am eager to get started with it.

So far from what i can make out for a budget flash it is excellent. Feels very solid and well built, and has all the functions i could ask for except TTL but thats not an issue.

Thanks
Dan :D
 
Hi Dan,
Welcome to TP! There is tons of stuff on TP about using flash so a quick search will keep you reading for quite a while!

Dunc
 
Thanks for the welcome Dunc, i had done a quick search for 'flash' but after i'd posted my thread I then scrolled down the page a bit and noticed a whole section on lighting haha. :bonk:

I have a feeling its going to be one of those things that i will just read the basics then learn what i like to do with it, but then thats photography.
 
If you're using Canon, the book you want is the Speedliter's Handbook by Syl Arena. It explains everything with lots of practical stuff, easy to read and is right up to date. About £25 on Amazon.
 
im sorry but thats not the first thing i would do at all, taking if off camera is just an added complication for a total flash beginner.

watch youtube vids and get to grips with understand how using a flash is like having two exposures. ambient light + flash light

play around in M flash mode (and M on your camera) to see the difference increasign and decreasing the flash gives to your photos as well as apertures and shutter speeds
 
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These things are dead easy to trigger with the on board flash even if you deflect the on board almost completely with foil or something. Amazing just how little light will trigger them.

Brilliant flash:thumbs:
 
dynamitetony said:
im sorry but thats not the first thing i would do at all, taking if off camera is just an added complication for a total flash beginner.

watch youtube vids and get to grips with understand how using a flash is like having two exposures. ambient light + flash light

play around in M flash mode (and M on your camera) to see the difference increasign and decreasing the flash gives to your photos as well as apertures and shutter speeds
Click to expand...

Everyone has their own way, first thing I did was take it off and hasn't stop me getting to grips with it :)
 
HoppyUK said:
If you're using Canon, the book you want is the Speedliter's Handbook by Syl Arena. It explains everything with lots of practical stuff, easy to read and is right up to date. About £25 on Amazon.
Click to expand...

I believe, and he can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the op is a Nikon shooter, in which case Joe McNally's books would be more appropriate. There are also some handy Nikon-based guides here although they will be based around using Nikon speedlights and probably TTL/CLS.

The Lightenupandshoot Vbook would probably be a good investment and there's also lots of good stuff, written in an easy to digest, fun, style on their website.
 
Thanks for the links and suggestions. I will take a look at them all and just get out there and play with it.
 
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