First strobist shot!

[itzjere]

Finally built my strobist kit this weekend and decided to try my hand at the whole off camera lighting tonight before a week of school begins again. Any CC is greatly appreciated!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2307095438_feecb855ef_b.jpg

Strobist:
580EX shot thru white umbrella, 1/2 power to camera right at 45 degrees down
430EX shot bare, 1/16 power to camera left behind model (me!) at 50mm

[Curtis N]

Looks good to me!

[ed.]

Looks good!

I'd like to start doing that one day :)
Did you need to use a light meter? Or just played around in manual mode until you found the right shutter speed?

[Michael]

Looks good!

I'd like to start doing that one day :)
Did you need to use a light meter? Or just played around in manual mode until you found the right shutter speed?
Shutter speed has basically nothing to do with flash exposure, as the flash is only on for like 1/10000 second. Flash exposure is controlled by aperture. You would use shutter speed to balance flash with ambient.

[itzjere]

Looks good!

I'd like to start doing that one day :)
Did you need to use a light meter? Or just played around in manual mode until you found the right shutter speed?

I didn't use a light meter. I basically did trial and error, but I had an idea in my head already of where to start with.

As for shutter speed, sinkrate is right. You always want to set your shutter speed at the max sync rate, unless you want more ambient light to balance your image. Aperture will control the flash exposure.

[ed.]

Thanks for the correction there guys :)

[sfinchler]

I have a 550EX and I was thinking about getting an ST-E2 but after reading a lot of posts here I'm now thinking about getting a 430EX instead and using the 550 to fire the 430. Sounds like you did the same. My problem is that the 550 doesn't take a PC cord so I'd have to fire that wirelessly. I have the off-camera cord that I use when I mount the 550 on my bracket but it's too short to use if it's on a stand a few feet away. Ideally I want to have both flashes on umbrella stands and nothing on the camera. I think the 430EX is the way to go but I'm stuck.

[PhotosByEric]

I have a 550EX and I was thinking about getting an ST-E2 but after reading a lot of posts here I'm now thinking about getting a 430EX instead and using the 550 to fire the 430. Sounds like you did the same. My problem is that the 550 doesn't take a PC cord so I'd have to fire that wirelessly. I have the off-camera cord that I use when I mount the 550 on my bracket but it's too short to use if it's on a stand a few feet away. Ideally I want to have both flashes on umbrella stands and nothing on the camera. I think the 430EX is the way to go but I'm stuck.

Check out this page:

http://flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/index.shtml

You can get a shoe that holds your 550, the shoe has a pc connector. Then run a pc cord from your camera, assuming it has a pc connection, to the new shoe.

Eric

[DDCSD]

Check out this page:

http://flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/index.shtml

You can get a shoe that holds your 550, the shoe has a pc connector. Then run a pc cord from your camera, assuming it has a pc connection, to the new shoe.

Eric

Dang, they're out of them.

[PhotosByEric]

I'm sure Lon will get some more soon. He is a member here you could PM him and see when they are getting more. Username: Flashzebra

Eric