Post Your Favorite "Off Camera Hot Shoe Flash" Shots

phamster wrote in post #8522162
Stickman..

i am assumming you are talking about me?

what about it is distracting? black color is distracting?

i am guessing you don't like over all squareness of it?

fact is i run my actions for photos for FACEBOOK.. and what the results are i post in here. FACEBOOK is my priority, it has landed me more jobs than i can say my website has..

anyways.. i probably won't change it. i like it.. it gives it a different look.. and i know it is my image. sorry don't mean to be stand offish.. but isn't the image and lighting more important than the gift wrapping? ( phamster speaking >>respectfully)

phamster

I don't take your reply as stand offish in the least. To my eye, the negative space created is unflattering, but if its drawing you results, stick with it, the paying client is the one that matters!


Interesting comment about facebook, I think its great that it works and has a draw for you. My clientele is different, and I won't work with a new company without a current client coming to me first with a recommendation. Different aspects of photography, and I appreciate hearing from you and what works.

I probably should have shot you the first comment in an PM, sorry for not done that.

ETA- I can't believe I made a top of the page post without a picture, and not even on the thread subject..... here is an image to get back to the topic at hand!

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My JrX Radio Poppers comes tomorrow along with the alien bzzzzz b800's. I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

^ yes please do. I use the popper PX
I was wondering if I could use the PX in conjunction with the JRX on a Bee.

it better! from what I read, I can control the power of the beez too along with the modeling light with rotary knobs.

^^^i'll be picking up a few of those jrx's soon!

havent posted in awhile. here's a new one.

430ex into softbox cam right at full power

Redfire_Cobra wrote in post #8526817
Vineet, I think you are confusing ETTL's automation with the automatic settings on the camera. The simplest way to use ETTL (in my opinion) is with the camera in manual. Lets say you want to take a photo of someone with the sky behind them, simply point your camera at the sky, set your shutter and aperture to get the exposure you want and then point the camera back at your subject without changing anything, focus and take the shot! Theoretically ETTL will kick in and set the flash to expose your subject correctly. This can also be done in TV or AV modes by using exposure compensation or exposure lock, I personally am not familiar with either because I personally find manual easier when using flash.

I hope this helps.....

gonzogolf wrote in post #8527039
Like cobra said. In AV or TV mode, the flash is essentially in fill mode just adding enough light to fill in the exposure calculated by the camera in. In those modes the camera is still trying to exposure properly without the flash and then using the flash to provide a kicker light from the proper direction. When you switch to manual, the flash then takes the shutter speed and aperture you give it and creates enough light to expose properly (subject to some minor adjustment).

Thanks Cobra and Gonzo! It makes perfect sense now. So basically if I put the camera in manual after taking the ambient exposure I desire (say of the background), the flash will automatically add enough light for the foreground/subject through ettl. So, tell me something guys - isn't it wiser in that case, to use the maximum aperture your lens can afford - say 2.8, so that the flash does not drain all its power and suck in too much battery. I know it also depends on the max sync speed, but with ettl you can always use HSS. But again, using HSS will suck in more battery I guess? What's the perfect setting in your opinion as far as meter reading is concerned when shooting say at a Beach?

Vineet666 wrote in post #8529690
Thanks Cobra and Gonzo! It makes perfect sense now. So basically if I put the camera in manual after taking the ambient exposure I desire (say of the background), the flash will automatically add enough light for the foreground/subject through ettl. So, tell me something guys - isn't it wiser in that case, to use the maximum aperture your lens can afford - say 2.8, so that the flash does not drain all its power and suck in too much battery. I know it also depends on the max sync speed, but with ettl you can always use HSS. But again, using HSS will suck in more battery I guess? What's the perfect setting in your opinion as far as meter reading is concerned when shooting say at a Beach?

Really i am not sure about that, but anything you can do to make the power of flash is about 1/8 or lower, even 1/4 can save the battery, i use the flash on Manual, also camera on manual, i put the power of the flash between 1/2 up to 1/8 of its full power, sometimes if increase the ISO and use something like f4 or f5.6 and shutter speed minimum 1/80 and there is enough light then i can lower my flash to about 1/16, in all cases as long you can avoid the full power or 1/2 of full power of the flash then you can save the battery, but that shouldn't be upon your desire camera settings as i am not always interested in using ISO3200 and/or f2.8 and/or shutter speed of 1/30 or slower.

Radio poppers are dead on and screw ettl. ettl was just making all my studio shooting screwy. GET THEM NOW. FINALLY reliable triggering. Found out my strobe only lasts about 10 minutes then stops working. Returning the strobe tomorrow!

enginyr wrote in post #8530009
Radio poppers are dead on and screw ettl. ettl was just making all my studio shooting screwy. GET THEM NOW. FINALLY reliable triggering. Found out my strobe only lasts about 10 minutes then stops working. Returning the strobe tomorrow!

Nice photo. Care to elaborate on the ettl issue.
And what radio system did you get. Thanks.

^^^ yea..i want to know your issues.. too.. probably just inconsistent exposures?

one from tonights shoot..

lighting was 580EXII and a shoot thru umbrella.. and AB1600 at 1/8 power about 20 feet way...

bminear wrote in post #8529247
^^^i'll be picking up a few of those jrx's soon!

havent posted in awhile. here's a new one.

430ex into softbox cam right at full power

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i am liking the post processing on this photo.. it fits his appearance..

phamster

well finally got someone willing to play along.

ann-mom wrote in post #8530084
well finally got someone willing to play along.

I wish i would not of cut off her feet. So how did I do?

stunning subject.. and location and outfit..

the first one is too strong of flash to my eye.. but i think the image can be saved by turning it into black and white.

and the second one is so well balanced i can not tell you used flash..

phamster

inconsistent to say the least. Mainly jut not being able to JUST SHOOT. Always worrying about being in the line of site of the infrared speed lights and never knowing if it will over/under expose with flash. Don't get me wrong, ettl is great for event shooting but throw that out the window in a controlled environment.

I got the Jrx system with studio output for alien bees from radio popper

phamster wrote in post #8530063
i am liking the post processing on this photo.. it fits his appearance..

phamster

thanks pham. i would much rather shoot medium format film, but it just gets too expensive, so i have been looking into ways of cross-processing in PS to achieve the looks that i want.