April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 01

The Power of ETTL What makes flash photography so easy is the power of ETTL. (iTTL on Nikons) This function of your flash and camera working together can in most…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 02

Flash Range-The Math Each flash unit has a certain range of flash ability based on the total power it can produce. This means based on the manufacturers designation for that…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 03

Flash Range – cont. If you have little experience using your flash unit and are photographing your child’s school play and have set the camera to f/22 because the camera…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 04

Flash Range in TTL Each flash unit has a certain range of flash ability based on the total power it has. Remember, the higher the Guide Number the more flash…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 05

ISO We just looked at ISO and its effects on flash range, but here is a bit more info. The ISO setting on your camera can extend the range of…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 06

There could also be situations when an increase of flash output may be suitable for an ‘over-flashed’ look. FEC is adjustable usually in 1/3 stop increments, but some flashes are…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 08

FEC Exercise Here is an exercise for helping understand FEC better. Have a person or subject stand in the garage with the garage door open and lights off. You want…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 09

Exercise: To test your flash and camera system, place the focus point on the subject and take a fully flash image. Take a second exposure by placing the AF point…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 10

Another method is the red eye reduction features of your system.  The camera, as you are pressing the shutter release, fires a small flash-type light to get the pupils in…

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April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 11

Flash on Manual Mode Up to now, we have covered all the options available for using flash in an automated capacity. There are however, many advantages to using flash in…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 12

While you are shooting in Manual, you have to do these calculations in your head or by testing to make sure your exposures are correct. Wedding photographers usually have their…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 13

Keep in mind that 1/1 is full power; ½ is ½ power; ¼ is ¼ power, and so on. What is nice about the flash’s manual output ability is that…

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April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 15

When to use Manual Flash? The reason to set your flash on manual output is to maintain a consistent output each and every time the flash fires. You are at…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 16

Here is an example of flash key. The flash is the brightest light on the subject. They would silhouette without the flash.

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April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 18

How to use flash key If you are in Manual shooting mode and flash is set to ETTL, you meter the scene. Next, adjust your shutter speed to a setting…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 19

Flash Fill Flash fill is a very useful tool for photographers. Both film and digital cannot record the range of contrast in a photo scene like our eyes can. In…

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March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 22

Auto Fill Reduction Many flashes automatically apply Auto Fill Reduction when photographing in bright light. This basically means that the flash is doing the work for you by not over…

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March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 23

Summary Flash Key is when you want flash to be the main light. Flash fill is when you want flash to be the secondary light. To make Flash Key effective,…

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March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 24

This magazine cover was photographed using a diffused flash right next to the camera on the right. The flash was a key light while the ambient was the fill light.

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March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 25

Many flashes have built in white cards next to the wide angle attachment. Most photographers assume this is a bounce panel but they are really more for creating catchlights in…

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 26

Swivel heads Most of today’s flashes allow the head to be swiveled and this allows you to point the flash in a variety of directions. If the photo is a…

Read More
March 05, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 27

Self Assignment 1) Photograph someone who is backlit by the sun and you have filled them with flash so they won’t be silhouetted. 2) Create a nice still life setup such as…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 01

The Power of ETTL What makes flash photography so easy is the power of ETTL. (iTTL on Nikons) This function of your flash and camera working together can in most…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 02

Flash Range-The Math Each flash unit has a certain range of flash ability based on the total power it can produce. This means based on the manufacturers designation for that…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 03

Flash Range – cont. If you have little experience using your flash unit and are photographing your child’s school play and have set the camera to f/22 because the camera…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 04

Flash Range in TTL Each flash unit has a certain range of flash ability based on the total power it has. Remember, the higher the Guide Number the more flash…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 05

ISO We just looked at ISO and its effects on flash range, but here is a bit more info. The ISO setting on your camera can extend the range of…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 06

There could also be situations when an increase of flash output may be suitable for an ‘over-flashed’ look. FEC is adjustable usually in 1/3 stop increments, but some flashes are…

Read More
April 07, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 08

FEC Exercise Here is an exercise for helping understand FEC better. Have a person or subject stand in the garage with the garage door open and lights off. You want…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 09

Exercise: To test your flash and camera system, place the focus point on the subject and take a fully flash image. Take a second exposure by placing the AF point…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 10

Another method is the red eye reduction features of your system.  The camera, as you are pressing the shutter release, fires a small flash-type light to get the pupils in…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 11

Flash on Manual Mode Up to now, we have covered all the options available for using flash in an automated capacity. There are however, many advantages to using flash in…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 12

While you are shooting in Manual, you have to do these calculations in your head or by testing to make sure your exposures are correct. Wedding photographers usually have their…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 13

Keep in mind that 1/1 is full power; ½ is ½ power; ¼ is ¼ power, and so on. What is nice about the flash’s manual output ability is that…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 15

When to use Manual Flash? The reason to set your flash on manual output is to maintain a consistent output each and every time the flash fires. You are at…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 16

Here is an example of flash key. The flash is the brightest light on the subject. They would silhouette without the flash.

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 18

How to use flash key If you are in Manual shooting mode and flash is set to ETTL, you meter the scene. Next, adjust your shutter speed to a setting…

Read More
April 10, 2012

Lesson 2: Page 19

Flash Fill Flash fill is a very useful tool for photographers. Both film and digital cannot record the range of contrast in a photo scene like our eyes can. In…

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 22

Auto Fill Reduction Many flashes automatically apply Auto Fill Reduction when photographing in bright light. This basically means that the flash is doing the work for you by not over…

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 23

Summary Flash Key is when you want flash to be the main light. Flash fill is when you want flash to be the secondary light. To make Flash Key effective,…

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 24

This magazine cover was photographed using a diffused flash right next to the camera on the right. The flash was a key light while the ambient was the fill light.

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 25

Many flashes have built in white cards next to the wide angle attachment. Most photographers assume this is a bounce panel but they are really more for creating catchlights in…

Read More
March 01, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 26

Swivel heads Most of today’s flashes allow the head to be swiveled and this allows you to point the flash in a variety of directions. If the photo is a…

Read More
March 05, 2013

Lesson 2: Page 27

Self Assignment 1) Photograph someone who is backlit by the sun and you have filled them with flash so they won’t be silhouetted. 2) Create a nice still life setup such as…

Read More