Ring Flash Test

[Humberto Guarin]

First field test of the Colossus ring flash at the Venice Rookery before sunrise during SWF IPT.
D3, VR 200-400 with x1.7 for a focal length of 550 mm. f6.7 @ 250

Have to play more with the flash power settings to avoid the "white eye" and maybe optimize the background.

[Alfred Forns]

Instant daylight .... but just check the look on those birds !!!!!!

Excellent pose I like seeing the full up wing position and both head clearly visible with a good angle Exposure is fine and they are "well illuminated" Would suggest more room around the birds !!! Excellent Humberto !!!!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Beautiful wing positions in this image Humberto. I agree with Alfred that a little more canvas would strengthen this image. Thanks for sharing.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Humberto, Great to see you here. Please confirm that it was still quite dark when you made the iamge. I think that this is the cause of the very dark BKGR, plus, exposing for the whites would mean that the middle tones are at least one stop too dark (by neccesity). Your flash was acting like flash as main light. In dark situations reducing the flash will not solve the funky eye problem... You need to go in and work on each eye as described in Digital Basics.

later and love, artie

ps; Did Connie ever get her tripod back?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great to see you here, Humberto! This flash certainly makes the earth a brighter place. :) Nice capture of this moment. Keep them coming!

[Humberto Guarin]

Please confirm that it was still quite dark when you made the iamge. I think that this is the cause of the very dark BKGR, plus, exposing for the whites would mean that the middle tones are at least one stop too dark (by neccesity). ?

Yes Artie, you are right. The image was created about 20-30 minutes before sunrise and I set the ISO only to 1000 in my D3. To solve the eye problem I have been reading my copy of digital basics. Thanks.

In the SWF IPT, I really appreciated your teachings not only in photographic techniques but also in wind patterns, meteorology, backgrounds, bird behavior and how to make the birds cooperate. This IPT was the "laboratory" session companion to your "Art of Bird Photography II". Alfred and Fabs were also great and being Nikon users they did a lot of tutoring.

The group was really nice and interesting, and by the slides in the critique session, there were many excellent photographers. I had a great time and you can be sure I will be back in your IPT's, and back, and back and .....

Connie drove the same Saturday to my home in Hollywood and got her tripod.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Humberto, For the info and for your kind words. You are indeed using effective flash as main light.

later and love, artie