A co-worked asked if I would photograph their niece, Katrina and because both Sandman and Steve's Reflection attended a workshop on using off-camera flash, I was forced to try shooting with my Speedlight outdoors. Thanks a lot guys!!! Actually, I've been wanting to test it out and Katrina was eager to help and get some pics to start a portfolio.
Katrina arrived at 6:00 PM, as scheduled, and we just talked about modeling, music, movies, kids and other things just so I could figure out her personality and have her relax. Thank goodness she isn't a reserved kid, she was demonstrating what she does when she listens to music, and that's when I fired off this shot.
After some indoor shots with window light and a gold reflector, we moved outdoors. This time I used the sunlight (ahhh, Golden Hour) as my Main and my gold reflector as fill. Once the sun began to set I pulled out my SB-900 Flash, light stand, 5lb. ankle weight* and umbrella to do some "strobist" stuff.
I wanted the off camera flash (set in iTTL) with the 1/4 CTO gel(Main/Key light)to boost the existing sunlight and then stepped down my on camera flash to act as a fill light. The sunlight was used as a background light to create separation from the background, too. See, a simple Three-light studio set-up used outdoors. Honestly, it's trial and error and remember, Photography is about painting with light.
Strobist Info:
iTTL SB-900 camera right 45 degrees and about 6 feet high with 1/4 CTO gel shot thru umbrella with Zoom set to 70mm.
On camera-flash set to -2.0 E/V Commander Mode for fill
Addtl light: Flash mixed with Ambient sunlight at 8:00 PM also camera right.
*Great idea Brian to keep the stand from toppling over with my Flash.
What did I learn?
1) Back off the on-camera flash another E/V, or even turn it off, I would've liked to see more shadow camera left.
2) It's digital and not film, so shoot until you get it right.
3) Check your camera settings one more time before you shoot. I was photographing my girlfriend's aquarium and set ISO to 1600. Ooopps, thank goodness the D700 is a full-frame sensor so little digital noise showed up in the pictures.
That's a Wrap!!!
Katrina arrived at 6:00 PM, as scheduled, and we just talked about modeling, music, movies, kids and other things just so I could figure out her personality and have her relax. Thank goodness she isn't a reserved kid, she was demonstrating what she does when she listens to music, and that's when I fired off this shot. After some indoor shots with window light and a gold reflector, we moved outdoors. This time I used the sunlight (ahhh, Golden Hour) as my Main and my gold reflector as fill. Once the sun began to set I pulled out my SB-900 Flash, light stand, 5lb. ankle weight* and umbrella to do some "strobist" stuff.
I wanted the off camera flash (set in iTTL) with the 1/4 CTO gel(Main/Key light)to boost the existing sunlight and then stepped down my on camera flash to act as a fill light. The sunlight was used as a background light to create separation from the background, too. See, a simple Three-light studio set-up used outdoors. Honestly, it's trial and error and remember, Photography is about painting with light.
Strobist Info:
iTTL SB-900 camera right 45 degrees and about 6 feet high with 1/4 CTO gel shot thru umbrella with Zoom set to 70mm.
On camera-flash set to -2.0 E/V Commander Mode for fill
Addtl light: Flash mixed with Ambient sunlight at 8:00 PM also camera right.
*Great idea Brian to keep the stand from toppling over with my Flash.
What did I learn?
1) Back off the on-camera flash another E/V, or even turn it off, I would've liked to see more shadow camera left.
2) It's digital and not film, so shoot until you get it right.
3) Check your camera settings one more time before you shoot. I was photographing my girlfriend's aquarium and set ISO to 1600. Ooopps, thank goodness the D700 is a full-frame sensor so little digital noise showed up in the pictures.
That's a Wrap!!!
Well done Allan. Nice lighting, great shots!
ReplyDeleteI agree with not having the on camera flash come into play. I always set it to -- so it doesn't affect the shot at all and acts strictly as a commander. Joe taught me that.