Archive for Off-Camera Flash
Resist The ST-E2 Temptation
Tweet Many Speedliters are fond of using the ST-E2 Wireless Transmitter in lieu of a master Speedlite. I am not among them. In fact, I discourage people from getting the ST-E2. The thinking in favor of the ST-E2 is that it is about half the price of a 580-series Speedlite. I concur: about half the [...]
Read moreCanon Files US Patent Application for Wi-Fi Control of Speedlites
TweetYes. It seems sweetly ironic that three days after I publish the How-To on bolting optical slaves to Speedlites (here), which is old-school technology that should be built-in already, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) publishes a patent application by Canon USA for the wireless control of cameras and Speedlites via wi-fi. Talk about [...]
Read moreThe Truth About Canon Speedlites & Optical Slaves
Tweet So, how do you get a bunch of Canon Speedlites to fire… at the same time that you fire a bunch of other types of flash? Say you have a Quantum Qflash, a Metz 58 AF-1, a LumoPro LP160, and a Calumet Travelite. Then say that you need to take a group portrait of [...]
Read moreMoving The Light
Tweet In my view, a good portrait should express persona. I’ve come to accept that light and, as importantly, shadow are the keys to expressing persona. (OK…light, shadow, and the subtleties of expression and gesture. OK, well…light, shadow, subtleties of expression and gesture, and environment.) I did four shoots yesterday for the Speedliter’s Handbook. The shot above [...]
Read moreDimming The Sun With High-Speed Sync: Part One
TweetHigh-speed Sync is, without a doubt, the feature that sets dedicated small flash apart from all other types of flash. By “dedicated small flash” I mean that if you are a Canonista, then you are shooting with Canon Speedlites, and if you are a Nikonian, then you are shooting with Nikon Speedlights. By “all other [...]
Read moreDeciding How To Start With Off-Camera Speedliting
Tweet A confusing point for many Speedliters is how to start with off-camera flash. Frequently, I am asked, “I have one 430EX. What’s the best way for me to get it off-camera?” The person asking thinks of this as a simple question. After running through several options, the complexity of the question becomes more apparent. [...]
Read moreIt’s Where You Put The ONE Speedlite You Have That Matters
TweetIt’s not how many Speedlites you have, it’s where you put the one you have that matters. One Speedlite in the right place is far better than several in poor locations. The Dutch painter Rembrandt (1606-1669) was celebrated for the dramatic merger of beautiful skin tones into deep shadow. His influence continues today as many [...]
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