Off-Camera Flash

LewisHall

LewisHall

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I've been looking at getting an off camera flash for a while now and wasn't sure if it was worth it or not? i would mainly use it for Street Photography and didn't know what peoples opinions are about them, especially for street. Also do they really drain the battery? and how do you get it so the pictures aren't over exposed in daylight? Thanks in advance :)
 
If the flash is set to a very low power, as it should be using it in strong outdoor light conditions [basically you want some fill light?] it won't be hard on battery. Low ISO and stop down the aperture to prevent over exposure. You'll want to be in Manual mode to get at least that 1/250th shutter speed, [unless of course you have a flash that enables syncing beyond that] so you will most likely have to stop down the aperture. The mix/settings will depend on the light on any given day. Trial and error otherwise.
 
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I assume you get in pretty close for your street stuff. If not the flash won't be doing much.

If you're shooting strangers will you / they be happy with the flash aimed at them from close range?
 
For street photography the word that springs to mind is 'interesting' it's not a common setup but I you could get some unique results if you have the vision and skill to pull it off.
 
Street Photographers like Bruce Gilden do use flash, it's true. Although there's no doubting the quality of his work and the soundness of his technique, even the most charitable descriptions of his attitude are often unprintable. I imagine he's had a whole lot of grief and it's not hard to imagine why. I do a bit of SP as personal work and whilst I do quite often work very close, I don't think I'd have the chutzpah to shoot with a flash.

If I did want to, then it would be with a simple manual flash with my distances already set, sync via a nice strong curly cord. Camera in the right hand, flash in the left and work fast. Like Cagey says, settings to taste on the day: 35mm lens, f/8 and be there.
 
Gary Kinghorn said:
I assume you get in pretty close for your street stuff. If not the flash won't be doing much.

If you're shooting strangers will you / they be happy with the flash aimed at them from close range?
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Dont get me wrong i dont get right in there face like that Bruce Gilden but just like the way his images were and didn't know whether it was worth getting one or not, and no i doubt very much that they would like a camera plus a flash in the face lol

Lyope said:
Street Photographers like Bruce Gilden do use flash, it's true. Although there's no doubting the quality of his work and the soundness of his technique, even the most charitable descriptions of his attitude are often unprintable. I imagine he's had a whole lot of grief and it's not hard to imagine why. I do a bit of SP as personal work and whilst I do quite often work very close, I don't think I'd have the chutzpah to shoot with a flash.

If I did want to, then it would be with a simple manual flash with my distances already set, sync via a nice strong curly cord. Camera in the right hand, flash in the left and work fast. Like Cagey says, settings to taste on the day: 35mm lens, f/8 and be there.
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How would on camera flash work? like i say its only because i have been getting more in to SP and been watching loads of videos on Youtube etc of Stree Photographers like Bruce Gilden etc and liked the way his pictures come out.
 
I wouldn't use a cord, I'd go wireless if at all - just even using the pop up flash as a trigger. I can see it being tricky enough shooting street with both hands full without adding a cord into the mix. This is why I suggested manual mode. You should only need basic tweaks as you go, test firing in between to check/chimp :)

It's easy enough use on-cam flash to trigger an off cam flash, at least with Nikon - no clue about Canon.

Use commander mode, and set the on cam flash to "--" so it fires, but will not affect exposure.
 
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Cagey75 said:
I wouldn't use a cord, I'd go wireless if at all - just even using the pop up flash as a trigger. I can see it being tricky enough shooting street with both hands full without adding a cord into the mix. This is why I suggested manual mode. You should only need basic tweaks as you go, test firing in between to check/chimp :)

It's easy enough use on-cam flash to trigger an off cam flash, at least with Nikon - no clue about Canon.

Use commander mode, and set the on cam flash to "--" so it fires, but will not affect exposure.
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I was watching an youtube video by Zach Arais about street photography and about 9.40 into the video he is using this method

 
Nice little video that :-)____Thanks Gaz
 
Yup, nice video that. Makes me want to head out and shoot some street! Pity there's nothing near as interesting by way of culture/colour/variety near me :/
 
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