Hot Shoe Diaries - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

09/04/2010 06:40:30 AM · #76

Originally posted by jminso:

If you enjoy off camera flash I would suggest radio triggers. I use the Radio Poppers JrX system which is great. I can adjust the power output of up to 3 sets of flashes right from the camera.

It looks like I can do that with the 580 on the camera, but it does seem like a waste of a flash. I can look them up, but it's easier to ask here -- are they expensive? and are there any draw backs to those?

RamblinR

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

09/04/2010 01:49:57 PM · #77

Originally posted by jminso:

If you enjoy off camera flash I would suggest radio triggers. I use the Radio Poppers JrX system which is great. I can adjust the power output of up to 3 sets of flashes right from the camera.

How does that system compare to adjusting flashes via the new onboard system on the 7D?
I use the yongnou RF602 system for off camera work in full manual but the 7d can now adjust slave flashes in three groups in manual also. Has anyone played with this yet?

Message edited by author 2010-09-04 17:53:33.

09/07/2010 06:49:49 AM · #78

bump for Maria's question...

09/07/2010 07:30:35 AM · #79

vawendy They are not as expensive as PW's but I think I paid like $250 for a set of 2. As far as frawbacks I can't really think of any, you can use them with flashes or stobes and they have excellent range. I will post some examples of my work with them after the FS rollover.

RamblinR I never did much with the 7D's flash control because I couldn't really use it with my flash in the softbox. And that is The benefit of the radiopoppers. I can have the flashes setup behind a wall and still fire them. Now if you do not use softboxes or if line of sight is not a problem then the radiopoppers may be overkill. For me I love them and have gotten my money's worth out of them.

09/08/2010 03:01:11 AM · #80

Since my entry is done in the FS I can post samples, I didn't earlier since it is the same model.
(everything was triggered with my radiopoppers)

This one was taken using a 430ex in a softbox and another one as a hair light.

Similar setup as above, I just processed the image different.

This was done with one 430ex with a dome diffuser

One bare 430ex to get the hard light

Two bare 430ex flashes with one stopped down

Two full power bare 430ex flashes on either side of the model. The one on camera left is a bit off and it caused the shadow under his eye, I should of paid closer attention.

I hope this helps someone. Everything was shot manual and I was actually using my sigma 10-22 lens. I didn't feel like carrying my 70-200 with so I just shot everything with that lens and Jordan was very comfortable around the camera so I was able to get very close for the head shots. Many times the flashes were behind the camera so the radiopoppers really made firing them easy.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/14/2010 12:38:44 PM · #81

Did I kill the thread?

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

09/14/2010 02:34:31 PM · #82

No. You didnt kill the thread.
Did a shoot recently (with the help of some friends) will post shots soon. 6 light set up. As soon as the band okays the shots I will post.

:)

09/24/2010 08:45:32 AM · #83

Thanks Joshua! I appreciate the examples! I hadn't been playing much with the flashes for the last couple of weeks -- but I'm going to play with them every day for the next week or so.

I took them out today and experimented. Hadn't done any reading anywhere, so I had no game plan -- just went and played.

I'm still struggling with what settings to use. I'll have more questions on that once I figured out what in the world my questions are!

I want to go back to one question first: Why is the flash ending up so incredibly warm? I thought they were supposed to be close to daylight temp, but it seems even warmer than incandescent lighting.

no flash:

Flash:

Also, I wanted to try what I believe they call a hair light. I stuck my flash behind fletcher to rim light him a bit. But look at what happened. Are these spots just the flash lighting up dust motes, or some weird funky thing going on with the camera sensor. Either way, how do I avoid that in the future when I have a black background?

Message edited by author 2010-09-24 12:45:46.

fotomann_forever

09/24/2010 09:01:25 AM · #84

That is definitely dust around the bear... or else he has dandruff.

09/24/2010 09:58:23 AM · #85

I think the dots are just dust in the air. As far as the flash I think you did a good job in separating the subject from the background however I think I would dial down the power on the flash 1/2 a stop or more as it is a bit strong in this case.

As far as temp, what wb setting are you using? The flash should be pretty close to daylight.

09/24/2010 10:26:14 AM · #86

Originally posted by jminso:

I'm using auto wb.

09/24/2010 10:26:40 AM · #87

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

That is definitely dust around the bear... or else he has dandruff.

that could be... I can't remember the last time he washed his hair!

fotomann_forever

09/24/2010 10:29:30 AM · #88

Originally posted by vawendy:

I'm using auto wb.

Try setting it to Daylight or flash... I'll be willing to bet you'll prefer the outcome.

09/24/2010 10:32:23 AM · #89

You can also shoot in RAW and then change the wb in post. Or do a custom wb, especially if it is something like this.

09/24/2010 10:37:41 AM · #90

Originally posted by jminso:

You can also shoot in RAW and then change the wb in post. Or do a custom wb, especially if it is something like this.

Yup -- I do shoot only in RAW, so I can fix it. I just thought it was odd...

09/24/2010 10:38:59 AM · #91

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by vawendy:
I'm using auto wb.

Try setting it to Daylight or flash... I'll be willing to bet you'll prefer the outcome.

Thanks! I'll give that a shot. Usually the camera does a good job at white balance, so it's one of the settings I don't bother playing with. I've tried their presets for fluorescent and incandescent before, but never with good results. It's easier to shoot in RAW and adjust. But it's certainly worth trying!

09/24/2010 10:39:23 AM · #92

So do you guys use silver reflective umbrellas, shoot throughs or something else?

09/24/2010 10:43:25 AM · #93

Originally posted by vawendy:

So do you guys use silver reflective umbrellas, shoot throughs or something else?

I use an apollo 28" softbox most of the time. I also have a shoot through umbrella, reflective umbrella, 2 reflectors (depends on the situation if I use them) but I usually use the white side. I also sometimes just use a bare flash with dome diffuser. All depends on the look and style you want :)

09/24/2010 10:46:45 AM · #94

Ok -- I'll go look up the softbox.

Next question -- I have two umbrellas from when my mom was doing photography. I have two light stands. I have no umbrella brackets with which to attach said umbrella & flash to stands. (I want to be able to move my flash with the umbrella.)

Any recommendations on which umbrella bracket to get? Or are they pretty much all the same beastie?

Soft box is too pricey now -- I'll have to just play around with the umbrellas -- but that should last me awhile. :)

Message edited by author 2010-09-24 14:51:17.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/24/2010 10:54:16 AM · #95

Originally posted by vawendy:

I use one, not sure of the brand, that came with the softbox kit here. I also bought a cheaper one at the camera store, it was all they had and I needed one asap. Anyways you don't want a cheap one where it doesn't hold your flash securely. Same with light stands, get the good stuff. You always have to replace the cheap stuff and worse yet you could damage your expensive equipment by using cheap accessories.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/24/2010 10:57:59 AM · #96

Originally posted by vawendy:

Any recommendations on which umbrella bracket to get? Or are they pretty much all the same beastie?

umbrella adapters - I have 4 of the first one they list on the page. The build quality isn't the finest in the world but they are certainly good enough to do the job.

alohadave

Pentax K-5

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

09/24/2010 11:14:08 AM · #97

Originally posted by vawendy:

That's rim light. Hair light is more overhead, pointing down on the head to give you reflections off the hair.

The rim light gives the edges the glow that you are seeing.

09/24/2010 12:08:03 PM · #98

Originally posted by alohadave:

Originally posted by vawendy:
Also, I wanted to try what I believe they call a hair light. I stuck my flash behind fletcher to rim light him a bit. But look at what happened. Are these spots just the flash lighting up dust motes, or some weird funky thing going on with the camera sensor. Either way, how do I avoid that in the future when I have a black background?

That's rim light. Hair light is more overhead, pointing down on the head to give you reflections off the hair.

The rim light gives the edges the glow that you are seeing.

ahh... thanks! I thought rim light and hair light were the same thing. I'll go try a hair light shot. (though it probably won't work with fletcher...)

Would you just use a bare flash with it so it's more directional, or do you diffuse it?

Message edited by author 2010-09-24 16:08:44.