Any recommendations on a flash photography book?

[urycyon]

I'd like to get a good book on using slave flash photography for portraiture and outdoor flash lighting. I have Secrets of Lighting on Location by Bob Krist, but I'd like to get something more specific to modern digital multiflash photography.
Thanks

[Vegas Poboy]

I'm trying the lighting cookbook but it covers mostly indoor lighting with studio lights but my Kodak general photography has some good instruction on using fill flash and other outdoor lighting.
I have yet seen anything on digital photography and flash.

[urycyon]

Thanks!
I was just doing some web searches, is Jeff Smith's stuff any good? Some of his books look like they might be. I just don't want beginner stuff where basic perspective techniques are the majority of the content (such as don't shoot into the sun, frame exposures, rule of thirds, and shoot in the mornings and evenings!).

[DaveG]

urycyon wrote:
Thanks!
I was just doing some web searches, is Jeff Smith's stuff any good? Some of his books look like they might be. I just don't want beginner stuff where basic perspective techniques are the majority of the content (such as don't shoot into the sun, frame exposures, rule of thirds, and shoot in the mornings and evenings!).


I can't suggest any particular book on flash photography since most are written on studio lighting themes. Still the principles are the same, and most are transferable to location work.

But I do have to comment on: "... don't shoot into the sun, ..." which is the first thing that you teach amateur photographers. It's also the first thing that you teach professional photographer TOO do!

I've made my living shooting wedding groups and portraits where I use the sun to top/back light the subjects - with fill flash of course. This is just the only way that you can keep the subjects from squinting into the sun. It also means that you need one fine lens hood (and I use a bellows lens shade) to prevent flare.

[horqua]

DaveG's comments are right on. I would advise you to learn how to shoot off the Guide Number of the flash. Learning this one principle will serve you better than any book. Know your flash and it's true (not rated) GN. Use a gold or white pen to write it on your flash unit where you can easily see it. Step away from "automatic" and learn to use manual. I own a number of units including a Norman 200B and a Sunpak 120J. I particularly love the Sunpak with 5 manual settings from full to 1/16th power and I use every one of those settings at a wedding. (It also has 4 auto settings that I never use.)Typically, I'll use 400 speed film, set the flash at 1/2 power with a gold bounce reflector, f5.6 @ 1/30 or 1/60 and work the majority of my candids and posed candids at 10 feet without changing settings. Remember that a full wedding can typically commence at 10am and finish up at 10pm. You have to be prepared to capture the scene in any kind of light from full sun to full shade to indoors by candlelight. A book will tell you what to do for a typical situation but you can't carry the book on the job. You have to read and remember, then apply that knowledge. Experience is knowledge rightly applied! Learn how to use the GN. You won't regret it if you're really serious.