HELP PLEASE!!

[Muskydave22]

I am going to be shooting one of my friends for a cover for his new cd. He wants a white backdrop which shouldnt be the problem. I am wondering what type of lighting i should use in order to not to get any shadow. This will be my first portrait shots and i will probably be using my nifty fifty. I need some suggestions. Should I get a shoe mount flash that i can bounce? or continuous lighting. my budget is about $300


dave

[Lithian]

Well, if you bounce you wont get a real shadow behind him. It'd sort of be back and below him, whether this is good enough depends on if you just want a head shot or full body shot.

However you'd ideally want at least 2 lights, one to light the background and one to light the subject. That way you can blow out any shadows or even blow the background pure white and keep the exposure on the subject whatever you want.

This involves a bit more hoo-haa with ways to fire the lights and such so best make your way over to the strobist and start with the lighting 101 http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

[howzitboy]

id bounce flash (off white ceiling) with fill flash and over expose the background to get rid of any shadows that u might miss. better yet, put a small flash behind the group to light up your background!! perfect!

[40Dude6aedyk]

I think I'd use Photoshop lighting to get rid of shadows.

[gravy graffix]

http://www.zarias.com/?p=201

or start here for a whole series
http://www.zarias.com/?cat=13

[Muskydave22]

which would be the best flash to get for cheap for my 40D?
dave

[gravy graffix]

430 is a pertty good flash... id start with that if you like to use it on camera, then if you wanna venture to off, and 2nd, pick up a nikon or vivatar285.

[Muskydave22]

will any of the older model canon speedlites work for my camera with ETTL or manual mode?


dave

[Rachel B]

also dont have him stand to colse to the back ground