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View Full Version : I need ideas for "how-to" flash resources


olladaa
4th of October 2004 (Mon), 16:59
I have been an avid reader for over a year. This is my first post so I guess I'm a newbie!!

Short and long of it, as a 19yr old (I am now 38) I begged my dad to send me to the Brooks Institute. He wouldn't have it, and wanted me to be a lawyer. Guess what? Now that I am a Judge, I'm trying to become a photographer the hard way... (is there an easy way???)

Anyway, I've gone through the classes one class per semester, done the seminars with Rocky Mtn School of Photog, have the dark room in my basement, and take really great pictures of people. (kids especially). The business is good (family shoots, little-league sports etc. on the side), but I have some serious lack of education on how to use the flash I'm working with (550). The manual isn't much help.

I usually just use it for fill and set it on automatic pilot and shoot. Sometimes though, I can't get very natural looking shots. This usually occurs if I'm inside with a high ceiling (can't bounce) or if we're outside just after dusk.

Does anyone have any ideas on a good book? My professor for lighting sucked. We knew more than he did. I guess I just need to learn it from a book now.

I am shooting an indoor kids fashion show on Saturday, and I have a slave unit I am going to try to fanagle. I'm just kinda scared that I won't get it quite right.

I shoot with a D60 & 70-200L 2.8/ism primarily (hand-held) and as a back-up I have an Elan 7(film). I really want to get the 1ds, but my income doesn't really support it, and my full time job doesn't really bring it what you'd think.


Any help is appreciated. Book titles or links PLEASE!!!

-Annie

ps, any of you work in Denver, and want an intern assistant for awhile??

Jesper
5th of October 2004 (Tue), 01:33
Here is an interesting article that tells you everything about how Canon's E-TTL flash system works: Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras (http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/). It's not so much about how to use flash, but explains the technical details of Canon's flash system elaborately - interesting anyway if you want to understand how it works.

olladaa
5th of October 2004 (Tue), 08:32
Oh my gosh!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

This was very helpful :-)

If anyone has any tips on what they do to get the most natural looking shots indoors (w/out bounce) please let me know.

I have my 550ex mounted to a rotating bracket about 10" above the camera.

Thanks you guys. You are awesome.

-Annie