NOVA Photographic Society – Flash Workshop Outline 01
Contents
1. widening cone will reflect at corresponding angle Dispersion Some light will scatter in all directions Color temperature Intensity Hard small source more detail hard shadows Soft diffused large source less detail grey zones Types of ambient Light available light e Tungsten AKA incandescent light bulb warm e Fluorescent fight fixtures traditionally green many now e Sunlight warm neutral cool orange white blue e Mixed light Light Modifiers e Umbrella Softbox soften Reflector redirect and soften Scrim translucent panel soften Snoot grid focus hard light Bounce card redirect and soften e Gels color correction special effects Environmental light modifiers e Walls white or off white watch out for colored surfaces e Ceilings white e Floors Table Cloth other Inverse square law Don t worry it just means that light from your flash will fall off very quickly leaving objects further away less or not at all effected by your flash unit Most flash photography is a double exposure some of the image exposed by flash and some by ambient light Not always the case Example Dark Pallet Exposure Can be controlled by 4 adjustable functions on any DSLR used with Flash e Aperture Overall Exposure Flash and available light e Shutter Speed Available light only e ISO Overall Exposure Flash and available light e Flash Output Settings Flash Only Flash exposure co2. NOVA Photographic Society Flash Workshop Outline 01 10 2012 This will be a hands on workshop for beginner and intermediate users alike We will focus on a single flash unit as a creative tool to enhance your skills as a photographer We will cover the basics of using a single on camera portable flash speed light and briefly introduce multiple flash units Examples and demonstration will be provided as well as piratical exercises that will be instructor lead in small groups We will cover how to use bounce flash light modifiers flash modes control exposure color correction and more Bring your camera flash and manuals for each Optionally some foam core sheets or mat sheet scraps white and or black to use as reflectors flags and a subject such as a small or medium size object you would like to photograph Materials and References to bring DSLR and user manual if available Separate Flash Unit and user manual if available One or more small objects to photograph optional White Foam Core 1 full or a few partial sheets to share if possible optional 6 x 9 manila envelope and or similar size piece of white cardboard Small Flashlight or left over Halloween light stick optional Light duty tripod optional Terms when talking about light Sources of light e Direct sun bare flash tube bare light bulb e Reflected diffused lamp shade Character of light e Direction will travel in a straight line in an ever expanding
3. able On Flash Unit varies by model TTL Through The Lens expose for subject only e Camera flash meter determines flash duration e Fill flash comp 1 5 to 2 0 stops under overall exposure to lighten shadows on subject e Use Spot or Center Weighted Metering TTL BL Through The Lens Balanced expose for entire scene e Camera flash meter determines flash duration e Fill flash pseudo entire subject in shadow backlit e Use Matrix Metering AA Aperture Auto existed before and surpassed by TTL uses sensor on the flash unit to determine flash duration M Manual Mode 1 128 to Full Power existed before and surpassed by auto Use for wireless multiple flash units with flash meter to determine aperture GN used to calculate ISO and F stop Example Guide Number Distance f stop GN118 rated 100 ISO 12 f9 8 ISO Factors Note As you raise ISO your flash gains power 100 1 200 1 5 400 2 800 3 1600 4 25 3200 6 25 Note guide numbers are different for various focal lengths on flashes with zoom heads Greater zoom increases GN value Optically triggered Flash Example Nikon SU 4 type Nikon built in optical trigger on some units Must use manual flash mode NOT TTL Flash unit triggered by any other flash does not depend on master flash unit Still used in high speed stop action photography such as breaking a rack of balls on a pool table This is also useful for in a wireless setup where a flash unit
4. alls and ceilings compare to direct flash Photograph group members and objects Note shadows under eyes nose chin etc use a small piece of foam core or other material to make a gobo to flag the flash unit so no direct light falls on the subject Use your bounce cards to direct some light forward Hand hold or use the pop up bounce card and reflect some light forward while bouncing the flash off the ceiling or wall you will be creating 2 light sources from one flash show more or less of the card to see the effect If you have one use a small manila envelope to create warm light on your subject Use bounce card with camera in vertical portrait orientation Rotate the flash head so it is pointing behind you and up at about a 45 degree angle Try bouncing above and behind you corner of wall and ceiling to light a subject in front of you Place a small object on foam core and aim the flash straight up or so the flash bounces back just in front of the object on the foam core Use smaller pieces to reflect light to fill in shadows or bring out highlights Zoom the flash head to something other than your lens focal length Example lens 24mm Flash head 125mm or more to test the effect then reverse Note how the light fills the room or highlights the subject Change angle of the flash head Try to bounce in front of behind to left and right of your subject and note the results Use the flash head to make the light com
5. cannot see the master unit but sees another remote unit Inexpensive universal optical triggers are available for most flash heads regardless of brand Inexpensive slave units such as Morris are optically triggered by on camera flash and output a fixed value These are mostly 115v units with a standard screw in light bulb base great for lighting backgrounds Note will be triggered by pre flash Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with Single Master Remote if applicable We want Single or just on for now Zoom Wide Telephoto manual override or auto Set illumination pattern STD STD CW Even Flip down diffuser and slide out card some models Tilt and Rotate Features some models Exercises Break up into groups of 4 6 more experienced photographers please disperse among groups Camera Settings Manual F5 6 or wider 1 125 ISO fixed or auto 100 1600 your call Front Curtain Sync Flash sync speed 125 or greater Flash shutter speed 1 60 won t really matter for now Flash Settings TTL mode Flash compensation 0 We will test this out together for a few minutes metering on the ceiling light fixtures etc Brief discussion about the cameras metering systems and difference between flash and exposure metering OK lets get to work remember to review your photos as you go Note how TTL flash metering and ISO settings control exposure for you Try Direct Flash vs Bounce Flash using w
6. e from somewhere else Note camera position in relation to the angle of the flash head if you point the flash head straight up but tilt the camera what happens Photograph both near and far objects in the room Try different bounce angles Also note how the flash quickly looses power fades and the effect on distant objects Change both exposure compensation and flash compensation up and down and note results Particularly note ISO and overall exposure vs amount of flash effect you see in you photo Set your ISO to a fixed value the emphasize the effect Change from TTL to TTL BL and try spot metering to center weighted to matrix metering and note the difference Then switch back Change your shutter speed and aperture and note the differences Which causes you flash to loose or gain power Can you go over 125 second in manual If not why Note Check Flash Sync Speed Setting Try Slow Sync flash Lower you speed until your meter shows a dark background is properly exposed Try a smaller aperture such as 8 or 11 to get a 2 3 second exposure Make sure you are in TLL and you meter on your subject steady your camera on a tripod or table etc Try Rear Curtain Sync Advice To begin open your lens slow your shutter and raise your ISO First leave your camera in front curtain sync and have someone walk quickly in front of you carrying a small flashlight or light stick Take a photo Note if the light trail is in front or b
7. ehind If you do not see the effect switch to Slow Sync and lower your shutter speed more Then try the same exercise with Rear Curtain and or Slow Sync Rear Curtain and note the difference Try to vary your aperture ISO and shutter speed to get the effect you like Switch to Aperture Priority noting flash sync speed and shutter speed settings 17 Try shutter priority to a DIY slow sync flash in the normal mode OK you re done Celebrate and congratulate yourself
8. mpensation can be set on camera or flash unit generally best to pick one to work with Flash Bracketing Similar to exposure bracketing set on camera not flash unit Flash Exposure Lock FV lock or Flash Value Lock set on camera not flash unit Locks in a flash setting flash duration or flash power and stops the normal pre flash on TTL mode s for every shot Uses e Lock in value for off center subject recompose and shoot e People Portraits prevent blinking e Critters prevent flinching Discus Camera Settings for Exposure or FV Lock e Programmable buttons on some cameras o FV Lock o Cancel Flash Value Lock Discus programming a button to turn flash off for test shot or you decide you do not want flash to fire for a specific shot s On camera flash unit For this class we will be using only TTL and TTL BL Really this is all you need Modes Settings Initial Settings On Camera Front Curtain Sync normal fill flash Slow Sync burn in dark background Rear Curtain Sync action such as light trails Slow Sync Rear Curtain flash and blur Red Eye Reduction pre flashes or focus assist illuminator High Speed FP flash pulse Explain how the curtain works Flash compensation setting 1 2 stops min Flash Sync Speed amp High Speed Sync highest shutter speed all modes Flash Shutter Speed lowest shutter speed Aperture Priority Program Auto mode Possible Modes Avail
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