Using Speedlight - off camera or not - questions

DiddyDave

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Hi all

This may seem a bit cheeky - but hey - I am :D

Please list any query about using Speedlights (flashguns) you'd like some help with (even if you now know the answer) as I aim to build a list of such for a forthcoming presentation of how to get the best from flash photography

So whether it's about using your on-camera flash, thinking of buying an external flashgun to sit on your camera, using them off camera (Off Camera Flash - OCF - as per strobists), their use during daylight, fill flash, remote triggers, modifiers, exposure or white balance queries, whatever...

Please list a few here to give me some idea of what others may need help with - with luck, we may even end up with a few 'stickies' on TP for future use too

Cheers all :thumbs:

DD
 
Hi,

I have invested in a 2 strobe light kit (300w) for portrait work and want to know if there are advantages of incorporating my speedlite 580.

Where would it be best placed & could I use it as a backlight, if so how?

Cheers,
Alan :)
 
Questions people need to know the answers to:

1) How many lights do you really need?
2) How to build and balance the lighting. e.g. what to add first - ambient, fill, key, hair light?
3) How to entice bootiful models to pose for you!
 
Questions people need to know the answers to:

1) How many lights do you really need?
2) How to build and balance the lighting. e.g. what to add first - ambient, fill, key, hair light?
3) How to entice bootiful models to pose for you!


1. Loads, please send me all your money :D
2. :thinking: :shrug:
3. Tell them you'll make them famous/rich/pregnant :eek::lol:
 
Lot of bloody good you pair are! ;):nuts::nuts:
 
Lot of bloody good you pair are! ;):nuts::nuts:

I will answer properly when asked - but I'm asking for questions here, not necessarily offering answers as yet

Flashy is a money making git and should be treated/ignored as such :p Except when you want something from him, as I may be soon :love:

DD
 
I will answer properly when asked - but I'm asking for questions here, not necessarily offering answers as yet

Flashy is a money making git and should be treated/ignored as such :p Except when you want something from him, as I may be soon :love:

DD


Only partially correct....I don't make any money :lol:
 
Only partially correct....I don't make any money :lol:

Then...

a) - you need to revisit your business model, and
b) - I need to get my order in FAST !!!

:D

Now please - let the thread ride a bit ;)

DD
 
Dave are you just wanting a heads up on all possible questions that may be asked on the day so you are prepared??
 
ok question i have an sb600 and use the onboard commander on my d300 to fire it off camera the bumf says that the onboard flash dos,nt affect the exposure,
but i want it too. so that i have 2 flashs, is this possible or do i need to buy a second flashgun cheers mike. no rush for the answer (when your ready) i,ll subscribe to this thread so you can link the reply back to this thread :thumbs:
 
ok question i have an sb600 and use the onboard commander on my d300 to fire it off camera the bumf says that the onboard flash dos,nt affect the exposure,
but i want it too. so that i have 2 flashs, is this possible or do i need to buy a second flashgun cheers mike. no rush for the answer (when your ready) i,ll subscribe to this thread so you can link the reply back to this thread :thumbs:


It doesn't effect the exposure if you set it to "--" however you can have it at any setting you want.
 
if i have the camera at any setting i thought the off camera flash would,nt fire:shrug:
 
Dave are you just wanting a heads up on all possible questions that may be asked on the day so you are prepared??

Yup :)

Though I think a few answers here in time my be a good idea too :thumbs:

DD
 
ok question i have an sb600 and use the onboard commander on my d300 to fire it off camera the bumf says that the onboard flash dos,nt affect the exposure,
but i want it too. so that i have 2 flashs, is this possible or do i need to buy a second flashgun cheers mike. no rush for the answer (when your ready) i,ll subscribe to this thread so you can link the reply back to this thread :thumbs:

Ok - a few answers as we go then...

I find in normal 'mode' the on-camera Commander does indeed affect the exposure, and usually too much

Dial it down to -2 or -3, it'll still trigger the OCF ok but only adds enough burst of its own to add another catchlight in an eye - if no eye is visible, then there is virtually no visible effect

Or leave it closer to +/- 0 to make it add to the exposure - a few test shots should help

HTH

DD
 
I find in normal 'mode' the on-camera Commander does indeed affect the exposure, and usually too much

Dial it down to -2 or -3, it'll still trigger the OCF

How do you underexpose a flash if it's in commander mode and set to --? ;)

If it's in the -- setting, it will already be firing at its minimum power, hopefully enough to not provide any useful exposure to the scene. It does still flash during the exposure though. You can see this as reflections in glass/metal/etc.
 
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