Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Experimenting with flash as main light

  1. #1
    Ofer Levy
    Guest

    Default Experimenting with flash as main light

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    1D Mark IV, Canon 800 f5.6, 1/250, f6.3, iso 1250, tripod, full wimberley including flash bracket, Canon speedlit 580 EX II, hide

    Taken today in a dark cloudy day. Nothing special about this image but the fact that most of the light on the bird comes from the flash. Set to manual 1/2 minus 1/3. I have a long way to go but I feel that mastering the use of flash as main light is going to be necessary in the cloudy springs we have experienced in Sydney in recent years.
    Had to fix the pupil that was too bright because of the flash and also moved the catchlight off the centre of the pupil to where it is which I feel looks more natural.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Lake Oswego, OR
    Posts
    641
    Threads
    59
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    With this shot you should feel encouraged to continue with flash. You have done a great job o this little grebe.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Posts
    3,469
    Threads
    495
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice job, Ofer. I can see the effect and it might be a little over flashed. Is the eye shine a flash product? It kinda looks like it, so maybe reducing that effect would improve this. I refer to this flashg technique as fill flash, as the ambient light is still very evident. I have been happy using TTL fill at -2 to 3 stops, depending on the situation. Either way, this looks good to me.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer Dave Leroy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Delta, BC
    Posts
    3,789
    Threads
    380
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I have not a lot of experience with flash but this looks good to me. The leaf right under the bird may have some highlights that may not be seen in natural light. If I am right then they would be one of the nuisances of flash.

  5. #5
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Dallas, Texas.
    Posts
    6,260
    Threads
    426
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Ofer, liked the IQ...and your signature low angle. good details in the bird....and nice rainy day feel to this. Am sure you will master the technique fast.

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Sachin Saraf's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    1,155
    Threads
    60
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Ofer this looks promising...great job

  7. #7
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Posts
    18,545
    Threads
    1,318
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    excellent pose and details my friend!
    New! Sony Capture One Pro Guide 2022
    https://arihazeghiphotography.com/Gu.../Sony_C1P.html


    ------------------------------------------------
    Visit my blog
    http://www.arihazeghiphotography.com/blog

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Portalegre, Portugal
    Posts
    546
    Threads
    59
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It's wonderful and the light with the flash is great.

  9. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Rotonda West , FL
    Posts
    3,642
    Threads
    198
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love that low angle and the comp is great. I think you did really well with the flash. At first looked a little bright to me in the perch grassy area but after looking again i changed my mind. You will only get better and this is a great start.I'm still learning flash as well as I feel it is a great extra for when it's needed.

  10. #10
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Another lovely image Ofer. What kind of a bird is this? Young or old? I really like the "island " he is standing on. Very good use of flash and I think -1 would have been perfect. The IQ is superb and I love the low angle and the BG,
    Gail

  11. #11
    Ofer Levy
    Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gail bisson View Post
    Another lovely image Ofer. What kind of a bird is this? Young or old? I really like the "island " he is standing on. Very good use of flash and I think -1 would have been perfect. The IQ is superb and I love the low angle and the BG,
    Gail
    Thanks for your comments guys!
    Gail, this is an adult Australasian Grebe standing on the nest. Flash was set to manual 1/2 of power minus 1/3. I tried with TTL a lot it didn't deliver the goods.

  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stoney Point, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    6,868
    Threads
    512
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great image Ofer! I like the low angle, IQ, setting and BG.

  13. #13
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Geldern, Germany
    Posts
    3,557
    Threads
    216
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Perfect comp and bg, nice work.

  14. #14
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Looks nice and natural to my eye Ofer. A touch of saturation reduction and darkening of blue and cyan reduces the "steely" look on the reflective vegetation on the mound for me.

  15. #15
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I use flash sparingly (translation: Costa Rica), but it's an important tool to have in your toolbox. Overall I think you've done quite well here.
    Upcoming Workshops: Bosque del Apache 2019, Ecuador 2020 (details coming soon)
    Website -
    Facebook - 500px

  16. #16
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You captured superb details and colors with this one, Ofer. Had you not mentioned that you used flash, I may not have known.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    Website, Facebook

  17. #17
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    El Paso, TX USA
    Posts
    3,456
    Threads
    162
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wonderful shot. Great low angle, excellent detail, love the small isalnd, and flash work looks great to me.
    Very well done.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics