Off-camera flash : techniques for digital wedding and portrait photographers

Cover; Copyright; Table of Contents; Foreword by Chuck Ärlund; Introduction; 1. Why Use Off-Camera Flash?; 2. Equipment for Off-Camera Flash Photography; 3. Concepts for Flash Photography; 4. Manual Flash vs. TTL Flash; 5. Metering for Flash and Ambient Light; 6. Balancing the Flash with the Ambient Light; 7. Positioning the Flash; 8. Overpowering the Sun with Flash; 9. Off-Camera Flash On Location; 10. Sample Sessions; Conclusion; Index.;Rather than focusing on the gear needed to use off-camera flash, this specialized resource hones in on the techniques needed, addressing photographers' most common questions and providing practical examples of off-camera flash used on real assignments. Seeking to address the various challenges of off-camera lighting, professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike will find a range of confidence-building instruction, beginning with basic how's and why's of lighting for creative effect, the types of equipment available and instruction about their proper use, clear definitions of various technical concepts such as managing shutter speed and controlling flash exposure, using ambient light as well as natural sunlight during a shoot, and incorporating off-camera flash into a portrait session. Concluding this lesson plan is a look at five different real-life photo sessions, each employing a different flash technique. Here, photographers get a deeper understanding of each concept put into practice, marrying the elements of lighting with the natural elements presented by the shoot. Foreword by Chuck Ärlund Introduction 1. Why Use Off-Camera Flash? Improving Our Subject’s Appearance Controlling the Background Bounce Flash as Off-Camera Flash 2. Equipment for Off-Camera Flash Photography Flashgun Supporting the Flashgun Light Stands Monopods/Light Sticks Connecting the Flashgun to the Light Stand/Monopod Triggering the Flashgun Radio Slaves The Camera’s Built-in Wireless System Diffusing the Flash Umbrellas Softboxes Side-by-Side Comparison Powering the Flashgun Larger Lighting Systems Quantum Profoto Metering the Flashgun 3. Concepts for Flash Photography The Camera’s Shutter Maximum Flash Sync Speed High-Speed Flash Sync Comparing High-Speed Flash Sync with Normal Flash Sync Normal Flash Sync The Linear Response of High-Speed Flash Sync Propagation Delay When to Use High-Speed Flash Sync 4. Manual Flash vs. TTL Flash Manual Flash TTL Flash TTL Flash in Practice Flash Exposure Compensation Dragging the Shutter 5. Metering for Flash and Ambient Light Metering for Ambient Light Metering for Manual Flash Metering for TTL Flash Using a Handheld Light Meter/Flash Meter Your Camera’s Built-In Meter Metering White Tones for Ambient Light Metering White Tones for Manual Flash 6. Balancing the Flash with the Ambient Light Two Broad Scenarios If We Just Need Fill Flash

Rather than focusing on the gear needed to use off-camera flash, this specialized resource hones in on the techniques needed—addressing photographers’ most common questions and providing practical examples of off-camera flash used on real assignments. Seeking to address the various challenges of off-camera lighting, professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike will find a range of confidence-building instruction, beginning with basic how’s and why’s of lighting for creative effect, the types of equipment available and instruction about their proper use, clear definitions of various technical concepts such as managing shutter speed and controlling flash exposure, using ambient light as well as natural sunlight during a shoot, and incorporating off-camera flash into a portrait session. Concluding this lesson plan is a look at five different real-life photo sessions, each employing a different flash technique. Here, photographers get a deeper understanding of each concept put into practice, marrying the elements of lighting with the natural elements presented by the shoot.

Photographic lighting can sometimes seem to be all about the toys. While it is important to cover types of lighting equipment, it is also important to understand how to make the right decisions about putting the equipment to use in the kinds of situations photographers encounter every day. Employing a simplified approach, ample before, during and after shots and a five-session presentation exploring different lighting challenges, Off-Camera Flash will help readers achieve fantastic, professional results. With this guidebook, photographers learn how to create stunning, professional images while avoiding the common pitfalls of using an on-camera flash. Techniques for using simple accessories such as bounce cards and diffusers, as well as how to improve a lighting scenario by enhancing it rather than overwhelming it, show photographers how to master this challenging aspect of portraiture