Messing about with Flash effects

Matblack · 14-04-2009, 22:59

I've bought an of camera flash and took it to our local skate park to try some shots

[NB: All under under 18s have signed a photo release form]

This is a longer exposure with a flash which gives a nice impression of speed

Its pretty hard to get a good focus in the dark so in most cases I was pre-focusing on an area of the ramp and crossing my fingers

MB

divine · 15-04-2009, 00:19

What you might find easier (and more satisfying results wise) is to shoot during the day and have the flash position on a stand/tripod a reasonable distance away from you (ie. closer to the cyclists and off to the side a bit... experimenting is key anyway).

Saying that, i'm not sure if you'd need extra equipment for that, as I dunno if Canon can do the whole built in wireless flash thing Nikon have.

Either way, a good start. A flash can be a hard thing to start using effectively but once you get the hang of it you can do some pretty special things with them.

Matblack · 15-04-2009, 00:47

Radio triggers are available for about £15 which can fire the flash off camera, its something I will pick up at a later date

MB

Chuckles · 15-04-2009, 01:03

The first image is down for me. Is that the one that gives an impression of speed because the others are too quick IMO?

Try with a slower shutter speed and also try second curtain sync which is the best flash technique - Although I am a light mess junkie

divine · 15-04-2009, 01:21

Yeah, good point, with long exposures use rear curtain (or whatever canon call it) as it will give you a nice trail up to where the flash fires giving the crisp image at the end of the movement, rather than giving an almost backwards feel doing it front curtain.

Matblack · 15-04-2009, 08:57

Yep, I've switched to using rear curtain now when its not in High Speed Sync which is what I leave it in as default. It's interesting at for a relatively simple device (a bright single point light source) how many different things can be changed

MB

Matblack · 16-04-2009, 13:12

Ordered a set of Cactus V4 triggers and an extra receiver for the Jessops flash I bought to go with the 300d

Should be able to set up some good shots with the flashes off camera, which will prevent all that light splashing on the jumps and give me some more flexibility

MB

divine · 16-04-2009, 13:19

Off camera flash is a whole new world compared to the relatively limited on camera set up, you're going to have fun

14-04-2009, 22:59	#1
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Messing about with Flash effects I've bought an of camera flash and took it to our local skate park to try some shots [NB: All under under 18s have signed a photo release form] This is a longer exposure with a flash which gives a nice impression of speed Its pretty hard to get a good focus in the dark so in most cases I was pre-focusing on an area of the ramp and crossing my fingers MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

15-04-2009, 00:19	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	What you might find easier (and more satisfying results wise) is to shoot during the day and have the flash position on a stand/tripod a reasonable distance away from you (ie. closer to the cyclists and off to the side a bit... experimenting is key anyway). Saying that, i'm not sure if you'd need extra equipment for that, as I dunno if Canon can do the whole built in wireless flash thing Nikon have. Either way, a good start. A flash can be a hard thing to start using effectively but once you get the hang of it you can do some pretty special things with them. __________________ Last edited by divine; 15-04-2009 at 00:24.

15-04-2009, 00:47	#3
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Radio triggers are available for about £15 which can fire the flash off camera, its something I will pick up at a later date MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

15-04-2009, 01:03	#4
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	The first image is down for me. Is that the one that gives an impression of speed because the others are too quick IMO? Try with a slower shutter speed and also try second curtain sync which is the best flash technique - Although I am a light mess junkie __________________

15-04-2009, 01:21	#5
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Yeah, good point, with long exposures use rear curtain (or whatever canon call it) as it will give you a nice trail up to where the flash fires giving the crisp image at the end of the movement, rather than giving an almost backwards feel doing it front curtain. __________________

15-04-2009, 08:57	#6
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Yep, I've switched to using rear curtain now when its not in High Speed Sync which is what I leave it in as default. It's interesting at for a relatively simple device (a bright single point light source) how many different things can be changed MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

16-04-2009, 13:12	#7
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Ordered a set of Cactus V4 triggers and an extra receiver for the Jessops flash I bought to go with the 300d Should be able to set up some good shots with the flashes off camera, which will prevent all that light splashing on the jumps and give me some more flexibility MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

16-04-2009, 13:19	#8
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Off camera flash is a whole new world compared to the relatively limited on camera set up, you're going to have fun __________________