home basic set up

ok i have 30D with 430II 28-135 lens and nifty fifty.
I just got a white background and have 5 in 1 reflector.
Gonna take some pics of kids at weekend just after some tips with what i got or website showing same set up any pics you have done .
Just thought also have a reading light stand that might throw some extra light in .

Cheers shane

Depending on what you mean about the reading light stand, that might cause more problems than it is worth. If you use the normal bulb in the reading lamp, it will not be the same color temperature as the 430 flash.

Other than that point - how do you plan to use the 430 - on-camera? If so, you should try to bounce the light off the ceiling or a nearby wall. This softens the light and avoids "red-eye" from using on camera. If you have a cable you can hold the flash away from the camera and this will get it as much as an arm's length off the camera axis. Ideally, you would put the flash on a stand so you don't have to hold it and hold the camera - even an extra tripod will work if you have the "foot-stand" that many Speedlites come with. You just screw the tripod screw into the bottom of the foot. But you would still be limited to the length of your cable unless you have a wireless trigger system of some sort.

If you bounce or have a way to get it off camera, try having someone hold the reflector to throw some light on the dark sides/areas of their face. You can also prop the reflector on a chair but it might be tough to get it to stay where you want it.

If you have a way to get the flash off camera - you would do well to have a modifier of some sort so that you don't have to flash directly on them. You don't mention any umbrella or softbox - but don't dispare - the center white part of your 5in1 is also a difuser. Rig it in front of the flash and it will help. You can still use the reflector part if you have the holder stretch it out between their hands.

Give it try - use what you have and see how it works for you. If it isn't what you want, try something different. This is the best way to figure out how to use what you already have and also to find out what else you need.

thanks for reply no havent got cable so flash will be on camera,No umberella either just got some basic stuff at moment and want to see if poss to get some decent pics with them.

Cheers shane

Then yeah, give bouncing a try and also try various ways to "add" some light with the reflector. Maybe it would be good if you try it direct and then various bounces (ceiling, right wall, left wall, back wall, wal and ceiling combos, etc.) That will give you an idea of what works to get something that you like. Also try the different reflector surfaces - white, silver, and gold)- they each give a bit different look.

But the main thing to remember is that it is up to you - no matter how many times you get told "get the flash off camera" or "you should... (this or that or something else...)" it doesn't matter if you do something that gets you the look you want and like.

hi i may look at some continuos lighting using spot lights what kind of wattage am i looking for is 120w enough?

cheers shane

ninjaboy wrote in post #11716587
hi i may look at some continuos lighting using spot lights what kind of wattage am i looking for is 120w enough?

cheers shane

I'm not one to really answer this with any expertise, but hey...why not share what I know and have read. The first thing to remember is that continuous lighting watts is not directly comparable to flash/strobe power in watt-seconds. I read some explanations of the difference but I can't explain it very well - you can google it and find them I am sure. It boils down to the fact that a continuous light gives out less light "usable" to the camera than you would think. It has to do with the continuous light versus a burst from a flash but it also involves the shutter speed - so if you are shooting kids, they don't hold still and you need to go with say, 1/100 second (at least!) so the amount of light getting to the sensor is cut dramatically.

My gut feeling is that 120 watts will not be enough - if you could set up on a tripod and do long exposure, it could be OK - but kids are not still-life subjects!

With what you have, you'll be better off just bouncing the flash either off the ceiling, neutral color wall, or off the reflector. If you're shooting at reasonable hand-held shutter speeds, most of the light in the exposure is going to come from the flash and very little from the ambient light in the room unless you boost the ISO. Trying to balance the light from your flash with a reading light is probably not worth the effort because you're just not going to get much light from the reading light. If there's a lot of ambient light in the room, say from a window, you could use that as your "main" light and use the flash for fill.