A Discussion about Off Camera Flash

Great info Jamie. Look forward to seeing you and Lloyd put your off camera flash into action.

Interesting, I haven't even looked into the sunpak lighting system. You say they do have TTL - I assume that you have use full manual though when using them off-cam, correct?

No TTL...they have TTL flashes that work with the Canon system, but not in their most powerful units.

wow Jamie, this thread is so awesome! I'll have to re-read it tomorrow morning. Thanks man!!

Thank you Jamie, and bcap for contributing too. I'm still pretty miffed by creative lighting, so I'm saving all this info and taking it out into the field to try the advice you've given. At least to do the best I can with the gear I have. Thanks!

Thanks for your thorough chat through how you set up these shots Jamie. One question I have is re: zooming your flash heads ... how do you approach this? (Obviously I'm talking about umbrella-less situations, tho if you'd like to talk about filling an umbrella evenly I'd love to listen too )

jamiewexler wrote in post #3740879
So let's hear from Lloyd and Mike and the others that put me to shame when it comes to off camera light. I do it one way...how do you all do it?

hahaha, put you to shame??? I'm not so sure about that!!!

You know, off camera lighting is actually so simple, it's like, wow, why not?

There aren't TOO many ways to do it, Jamie you pretty much nailed it on the head. The rest is just slight variations of your writeup that are just chalked up to different styles... just like composition. I'm afraid there isn't much I can add... but I'll try.

The main diff is I do all my lighting with 580 and 430EX flashes and do it undiffused. I like to keep the gear to a minimum so I wasn't too keen on carrying a flash that couldn't be used ON my cameras in full ETTL2 mode. Yes, they lack power, but if you're really hurting for power, I just rig up two or three of my 580s to fire as one light. I mean, I already have the flashes, so why not use them? I have to admit though, your sunpak has gotten my interest. I'm gonna look into it.

99% of my off camera flash is bare with no diffusers. Partly because I'm too lazy, and partly because of power, and partly because I feel I don't need it. It might be harsh but you are still in control and you can minimize the harsh look with smaller angles.

These are all bare undiffused 580EX.

A bit harsh? You can only tell on the dress, which doesn't detract from the image. But on their faces and the rest of them, is it really that bad? To me it isn't.

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Well, my most recent examples are the "Bridals from the Ritz Carlton" and "Engagement Session from the French Quarter" threads. I use an ST-E2 transmitter and one 580 EX on a monopod with a battery pack and that's it. If you use your ambient light correctly then I don't find the need for multiple units - that's not to say though, that if I shot in the middle of the afternoon with the sun blazing behing them that I wouldn't be wishing for a little more juice, but I avoid the middle of the day like the plague for shooting purposes, preferring the soft light of the early early morning and late evening. In these situations one flash is plenty - use the main available light as a hair light or sidelighting. I thank Mike Fulton for showing me the possibilities of ETTL. There are many lighting scenarios available, but I like to pack light and shoot with fast primes and wide open, so I haven't found a better option. High speed sinc is a must until the sun is almost down. The weakness is the IR trigger, which needs to be in a viewable position - but considering that it all fits in one medium sized back along with my camera I can't complain!

Motogeno, when shooting outdoors w/ the 580ex slaved, do you shoot it bare, or with a diffuser?

bcap wrote in post #3742065
Motogeno, when shooting outdoors w/ the 580ex slaved, do you shoot it bare, or with a diffuser?

I use a diffuser - can't even remember the brand, I got it from B and H for cheap. I have the Lightspheres but they are so cumbersome and don't work as well if not bouncing.

These are a few of mine. This was my first time and I was using off-flash, I had to ask my girlfriend to pose. I didn't use a diffuser.

1.

Lloyd, so when you are using the 580's you are just firing them in manual mode with your pocket wizards? Usually full power?

Lloyd - really hot stuff!

Hassan - great job, and you girlfriend is beautiful!

In answer to questions about the Sunpak 622 setup, I took a few pictures this morning:

Here's what the whoe setup looks like (on a monopod):

You guys talk about this so I almost understand.

I did get one of those cheapo's transmitter/recievers that Jamie shows, but I have an old version which doesnt work with my 580EX, so I am thinking of returning it and find something else.

I hear about Elinchrome, is that a good or bad thing, if you can't afford Pocket Wizards? I ask as they also allow you to use them with studio lights (when I'll get that). Good bad?

Jamie, I also want to ask you why you use the PC cord instead of using the hotshoe thingamabob that comes with that cheapo thingy?

Petra - you should be posting here. I've seen what you've done with off-camera flashes!

I use the PC port because the 622 doesn't have a hotshoe. In the photo of my brother in front of the DJ console, the Sunpak 433 I used is in the hotshoe of the slave. It really depends on the flash I'm using at the time, but I really appreciate the flexibility of using whatever flash I have on hand at the time...