Confession Time: I don't know how to use a flash.

I bought my first camera used in 1987. It was an old AE-1 from a pawnshop, which came with a couple of lenses. Four years worth of savings went into it. I was 14-years-old, and I couldn't afford a flash.

From that day on, I've always worked without a flash on my "serious" photographic work (I have used inbuilt flashes for snapshots). I've utilized studio lighting and lit macro boxes. I've carefully worked with available light and used reflectors. I've timed my sessions for bright times and days. I've gone to silly lengths to avoid using a flash.

Four years ago I decided it was time to stop being so silly, and I purchased a 430EX II. I took it out of the box, looked at it, put batteries in it, and attached it to my camera. I then turned it off, took the batteries out, and put it in my bag: where it has stayed ever since. I purchased a Gary Fong Lightsphere a month ago. After purchasing my Lightsphere, I put it together, put it on my flash, shook my head, and then put them both away.

It is really time to lay this ridiculousness to rest. My fear of flashes is almost as intense as my fear of fax machines (which can turn me into a tearful and sniveling little girl).

Can anyone point me in the direction of a basic "flash primer" or offer some basic advice (beyond suggesting a therapist, which I'm thinking could be called for)?

I have this- http://www.amazon.com …ds=flash+photog​raphy+book Understanding Flash Photography by Bryan Peterson. It is a good resource that I enjoyed.

start here. http://neilvn.com/tang​ents/

and strobist.com

gonzogolf wrote in post #16513624
start here. http://neilvn.com/tang​ents/

and strobist.com

These two will get you moving quite well.

I found learning to use a modern flash unit to be one of the most challenging parts of the whole photography learning curve.

It's not hard as such, but it just massively increases the variables - without lighting, you basically need to know how to expose, and then shoot your subject from where it looks pretty.

When you add light, you're now in control of light source size, positioning, direction, modifiers, intensity, colour temp of your light source, whether you are bouncing or goig direct, on-camera, off camera etc etc plus you've still got the other light source (ambient) to control in conjunction and independently from that, plus you have the other flash-related stuff to understand such as HSS, rear-curtain sync, groups, wireless, yadada.

It adds a lot of complexity and it can take a while to work through until you get out the other side. The KelbyTraining videos helped me a lot (specifically the Joe McNally and David Ziser ones), and Strobist of course (essential reading)...

Youtube has all the info you need to start using flash

1) don't point your flash at your subject.

2) take pictures.

just the other day i took some really nice product pics with my 580EXII on camera and another flash with optical save off camera. I will post pics of one set up in this thread in just a bit:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1346096

For the other shots, aimed the on camera flash at a 2' x 3' piece of foam core that was clamped to a coat rack, Being the main light, the on camera flash provided nice depth to my curved subjects. The other flash was my fill and pointed straight up at the ceiling a couple of stops lower than the main. If you've used studio lights you can certainly imagine what I'm talking about.

experiment and have fun.

Thanks!

I just purchased the book . . . it is available from Kobo digitally, so that's awesome. I only ever purchase hardcopy coffee table books now. I've read a bit of the introduction, and the author discusses having had a lot of the same feelings that I have: "Yes, I was terrified of the small, portable strobe." After a cursory glace, it looks like the book is a perfect recommendation for me.

I'll check out the two websites too.

Thank you, everyone!

This one - "The Speedlighters Handbook" is superb also.

I too, was also terrfied of flash - but the Peterson book and this one by Syl Arena changed all that!

http://www.amazon.com …sr=8-1&keywords=syl+arena

neacail wrote in post #16513577
Four years ago I decided it was time to stop being so silly, and I purchased a 430EX II. I took it out of the box, looked at it, put batteries in it, and attached it to my camera. I then turned it off, took the batteries out, and put it in my bag: where it has stayed ever since. I purchased a Gary Fong Lightsphere a month ago. After purchasing my Lightsphere, I put it together, put it on my flash, shook my head, and then put them both away.

That's the exact same thing I did. A month ago I decided that I wanted to learn something new so I ordered a lightstand, umbrella and holder. I just started playing with the stuff to see how it works and found out that it adds another avenue to taking pictures. So far, I'm only experimenting with product shots but have been reading as much as I can on POTN along with some youtube videos. There's a good thread here about using single flash: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1206640. Good luck!

A light stand, umbrella and something to hold your speedlite on to all that mess will get you in the ball park where you need to be. As soon as you get off camera, you will start to see the amazing photos you will now be able to take.

There is as many techniques as there are hungry birds at the dump. Try not to let everything overwhelm you. Pick a couple of "looks" you like with flash and try to reproduce them. From there you can just start being creative and adding more and more if you want.

I bought the Fong thing years ago. I think I used it two or three times......going to umbrellas and studio strobes did more for my "look" than anything else. Speedlites and umbrellas is a great place to start. Hit those one strobe threads hard and prepare to purchase a reflector or two.

Bob E.

This is a Canon forum for goodness sake. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Here's a Canon source:

http://software.canon-europe.com …ocuments/FlashW​ork_EN.pdf

I keep this as a reference and use it often. Yes, the other references are probably good. I know the neilvn work is good; he's a solid photographer in NJ. Still, this is a Canon source that will help. Additionally, the Gary Fong Lighsphere is excellent if you know what you want to do.

Hope this helps!

mathogre wrote in post #16517775
This is a Canon forum for goodness sake. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Here's a Canon source:

http://software.canon-europe.com …ocuments/FlashW​ork_EN.pdf

I keep this as a reference and use it often. Yes, the other references are probably good. I know the neilvn work is good; he's a solid photographer in NJ. Still, this is a Canon source that will help. Additionally, the Gary Fong Lighsphere is excellent if you know what you want to do.

Hope this helps!

Yes that's a Canon source, but I wouldn't put it on the same level as Neil or David Hobby as far as learning flash.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #16517801
Yes that's a Canon source, but I wouldn't put it on the same level as Neil or David Hobby as far as learning flash.

Neil is a pro doing higher end work. David Hobby, Strobist, is fine for the person who is going to the next step. If you're starting, you need a source that can say, "Take this flash and do this. Here's what you can get."

I've gotten great info from Neil's site, specifically as regards wedding photography. My first lighting setup was because of Strobist 101. The OP needs something basic that is no nonsense.

mathogre wrote in post #16517823
Neil is a pro doing higher end work. David Hobby, Strobist, is fine for the person who is going to the next step. If you're starting, you need a source that can say, "Take this flash and do this. Here's what you can get."

I've gotten great info from Neil's site, specifically as regards wedding photography. My first lighting setup was because of Strobist 101. The OP needs something basic that is no nonsense.

I learned on camera flash from Neil. I went from being totally green to being confident in my abilities in the amount of time it took to read that book. Really, flash isn't that hard, at least it didn't seem hard after reading that book.