| Faster Than A Speeding Bullet--Electronic Flash | | | | receive with inexpensive, pocket-size flash |
| Units | | | | equipment, let me share a story from my past |
| R. Dodge Woodson | | | | with you. When I started doing wedding |
| World Photographers Organization | | | | photography, I couldn't afford the best equipment, |
| The right lighting system combined with a camera | | | | but I needed my work to look good. My second |
| that offers a fast shutter speed can literally stop | | | | wedding assignment was a tough one. |
| a bullet in mid-air. Well, it looks stopped when you | | | | I was going to have to light a large dance room |
| see the picture. No, I'm not suggesting that you | | | | with electronic flash to meet the demands of my |
| shoot the lights and watch them explode on | | | | customer. This would have been a good time to |
| impact. I'm referring to capturing the rotating | | | | own a location set of strobes, but I didn't. To |
| bullet as an image. Studio strobes can be | | | | compensate for my problem, I took several |
| extremely powerful and can stop all sorts of | | | | modest flashes, some inflatable umbrellas, and |
| motion without risk of blurred images. | | | | some light stands to the reception area. My |
| If you plan to convert a spare bedroom, | | | | assistant and I positioned the lights prior to the |
| basement, or attic into a studio, you should give | | | | crowded arrival of guests. Each electronic flash |
| serious consideration to buying some studio | | | | was equipped with a peanut slave. When I fired |
| strobes. This type of lighting is not cheap, but you | | | | my powerful, bracket-mounted camera flash, all |
| can get name-brand lights that do a wonderful job | | | | of the slaves would trigger the other flashes. This |
| for reasonable prices. | | | | simple, inexpensive set-up allowed me full light |
| My studio lights are made by Novatron®, and | | | | coverage of a large room and crowd with minimal |
| I'm very happy with them. This company is | | | | cost. |
| known for its excellence in lighting equipment for | | | | I have never owned a location set of strobes. |
| both serious amateurs and professionals. It is | | | | During all of my years in the field, I've always |
| common to find kits offered by Novatron and | | | | used simple, battery-powered flashes with good |
| other quality manufacturers that will give you all | | | | results. You can spend a lot of money on flashy |
| the basics of good studio lighting. For less than | | | | pro gear if you want to, but it's rarely needed. |
| $600, you can frequently find kits that include at | | | | Other Flash Factors |
| least two flash heads, sometimes three, light | | | | There are a number of accessories available for |
| stands, umbrellas, a carrying case, and other | | | | photographers who use flash equipment. Whether |
| accessories. Anyone with an interest in studio | | | | you're using a $60 pocket flash or a $1,000 pro |
| photography can benefit from these semi-pro | | | | setup, you can always enhance your flash |
| lighting kits. If you decide to use this type of | | | | photography with accessories. Buying stuff is half |
| lighting, invest in a good light meter that takes | | | | of what makes photography so much fun! The |
| flash readings. Otherwise, you will suffer | | | | accessories available are not mandatory |
| trial-and-error exposure ratings that will be very | | | | equipment, but many of them can improve your |
| frustrating. Another option is to use the automatic | | | | photography and produce nice special effects. You |
| mode on your camera and depend on the | | | | will need a camera with either a hot shoe or a pc |
| camera’s light meter. | | | | sync connection port. |
| Quartz | | | | Many photographers advance to a point where |
| Quartz-halogen lights are an alternative to flash | | | | they want remote and or multiple flash sources. If |
| heads for studio photography. Problems occur | | | | you reach this level, you will likely use a sync cord |
| with flash photography. One of the most common | | | | for your remote flash. Slave devices can be used |
| is finding out after you look at pictures taken that | | | | to trigger multiple flashes. There is one problem |
| the flash units created unwanted shadows. This | | | | often encountered with sync cords. They don't |
| doesn't happen with quartz-halogen lights. These | | | | always maintain good connections with the |
| lights are on while you are composing a picture, | | | | camera body. |
| so you see the exact effect the lighting has on | | | | You can reduce flash failures by using a sync key, |
| your subject. This is a big advantage for a lot of | | | | a small device that resizes the connection pieces, |
| photographers. An added bonus to this type of | | | | to keep your connections tight. This is a very |
| lighting is that it's less expensive than flash units. A | | | | inexpensive accessory that should be kept in your |
| good quartz-halogen starter get will cost you | | | | camera bag or vest at all times when doing flash |
| about $250. It will include the lights, barndoors | | | | photography. |
| (which allow you to angle the lighting), light stands, | | | | Slaves come in a variety of shapes and sizes. |
| and a carrying case. | | | | Peanut slaves are inexpensive and work well |
| (CAUTION) Quartz-halogen and other photo lamps | | | | under most conditions. This is the type of slave |
| get extremely hot during use. They can easily | | | | that I use, and I can recommend them highly. |
| inflict serious burns and are capable of starting | | | | Most slave devices are made like a hot shoe. The |
| fires if they come into contact with flammable | | | | ones that are not can be coupled with a remote |
| materials. | | | | flash by using a sync cord. The cord runs only |
| I started my studio lighting with quartz-halogen | | | | from the slave to the flash, not from your |
| lights and continue to use the same lights today. | | | | camera body to the remote devices. Once you |
| My flash heads see a lot of use, but so do my | | | | get to the point of doing creative things with |
| steady lights. Both types of lighting have their | | | | artificial lighting, you will want multiple flashes and |
| advantages and disadvantages. One drawback to | | | | remote firing devices. |
| quartz lights is that they get very hot. This can | | | | Studio strobes of good quality usually have slaves |
| make a model's make-up run, present a fire | | | | built into them. When you fire one light, they all go |
| hazard if flammable materials come into contract | | | | off. Before you invest in any studio strobes, |
| with them, and there is some risk of serious | | | | make sure that they have adjustable power |
| burns if someone touches the lights. | | | | settings and built-in slaves. When this is the case, |
| Another problem with quartz lighting is that it can't | | | | you only have to connect one light to your |
| stop motion like a flash unit can. Since quartz | | | | camera body with a sync cord, which is also |
| lighting produces tungsten lighting, you will have to | | | | known as a PC cord. |
| put a corrective filter on your lens to maintain | | | | Filters |
| accurate colors in color photographing. But, this is | | | | Filters are available for most photographic lights |
| no big deal. Of course, you can made lighting | | | | and flashes. Using filters with your lighting can |
| corrections in your photo editing program in your | | | | produce some outstanding results. Even |
| computer. | | | | inexpensive pocket flashes are often sold with an |
| Quartz lights allow you to take normal light | | | | assortment of colored filters. Some models use |
| readings. This can be done with an independent | | | | gel-type filters and others use plastic filters. It is a |
| light meter or the one that is in your camera. A | | | | good idea to make sure that any lighting units you |
| flash meter is not required. Since quartz lights are | | | | buy will accept filters for future interests in special |
| on at all times, you can see shadows and lighting | | | | effects. |
| effects before you fire the shutter. This is a big | | | | Snoots |
| help. If you want big-time lighting on a limited | | | | Snoots and barndoors sound like things you would |
| budget, quartz-halogen lights are the way to go. | | | | find down on the farm, but they are accessories |
| Ring Lights | | | | for photography lighting. Any reputable studio light |
| Ring lights are a specialty flash. They are used | | | | will accept these types of accessories. |
| with macro lenses when taking close-up pictures. | | | | Barndoors consist of two or four metal flaps that |
| These units often consist of a sensor that | | | | allow you to angle light creatively. Snoots are used |
| mounts in the hot shoe of a camera, a battery | | | | to concentrate a beam of light. They are often |
| pack, and the flash attachment. The flash mounts | | | | used to highlight a model's hair. There are many |
| on the ring of a lens, in a way similar to a filter. | | | | other types of add-ons available for studio lighting, |
| Since the flash elements surround the lens, it | | | | so make sure the products you are considering |
| gives good, even illumination of your subject. | | | | will accept them. |
| Some models, like the one I have, allow you to | | | | Umbrellas |
| disable one-half of the ring for creative | | | | Most people have seen umbrellas used in |
| photography. Other models fire all at one time. | | | | flash-photography sessions. They are used to |
| For documentary photography of close-ups, ring | | | | bounce light in a soft, shadowless, attractive |
| lights can't be beaten. | | | | manner. Most photographers use white umbrellas, |
| A ring light would not normally be used for | | | | but silver umbrellas produce more bounce. You |
| anything other than documentary work. Taking a | | | | should experiment with both types until you are |
| picture of a human model with a ring light used | | | | comfortable with which one to use on various |
| for flash would result in a bright, well-lit photograph | | | | assignments. As good as umbrellas are, the can |
| that would probably be boring. Ring lights bring out | | | | be cumbersome at times, and they don't allow a |
| extensive detail in subjects. This is usually not | | | | lot of mobility. There is a solution to this dilemma. |
| desirable when photographing people or pets. If | | | | Inflatable umbrellas are the answer to higher |
| you don't chase after grasshoppers, mushrooms, | | | | mobility and better results when using small flash |
| and wildflowers, you shouldn't need a ring light. | | | | units. These little blow-up umbrellas are only |
| But, if you love to bring nature home on your | | | | several inches in diameter, but they produce great |
| memory card with you in a film canister, a ring | | | | results. They attach to an electronic flash with |
| light might be right for you. | | | | elastic bands. Your flash fires into the clear |
| Flash In a Box | | | | surface of the device and is reflected by the |
| Some photographers like to take their flash | | | | white or silver interior surface. You get bounced |
| shows on the road. If you are one of these road | | | | lighting from a small, portable, affordable package. |
| warriors, look into portable studio flashes that can | | | | I've used them to photograph modeling sessions |
| travel with you. Any studio lighting can be used | | | | and weddings with wonderful results. This is one |
| where electricity is available, but if your take your | | | | accessory any serious flash photographer should |
| photos off the beaten track, you may want | | | | own. |
| some battery-powered flashes to go along with | | | | Reflector Cards |
| you. There are two ways to do this. One is much | | | | Reflector cards are often used in photography. |
| more expensive than the other. | | | | They are implemented with natural light and flash |
| If you want to take full-power studio strobes out | | | | photography. A reflector card can be a small, |
| into a meadow to photograph a model, be | | | | hand-held size, or it can be a large unit that is |
| prepared to spend between $1,000 and $1,500 | | | | supported by a stand. The painted walls and |
| for the privilege. You might find a portable, | | | | ceilings of buildings act as large reflector cards for |
| battery-powered location kit for less than $1,000, | | | | photographers bouncing flashes. By bouncing flash |
| but they are not numerous. It might be cheaper | | | | or natural light with reflector cards, you receive |
| to take your regular studio lights and rent a small | | | | lighting that is not harsh and distasteful. |
| electric generator for your location session. For | | | | Lightweight survival blankets fold to pocket-size |
| that matter, it might even be cheaper to buy a | | | | proportions and are often silver on one side. |
| small generator to run your AC lights. It's very | | | | These inexpensive items make fantastic |
| difficult to justify or afford location strobes. But, | | | | reflectors. |
| don't get discouraged; I'm going to show you how | | | | Meters |
| to beat the system. | | | | Light meters are critical to good photography. |
| Most photography doesn't require super-powerful | | | | Most modern cameras have some type on built-in |
| studio strobes. If you want to take models on | | | | meter, but these meters can be fooled under |
| location and get some great shots, you can do it | | | | certain conditions. The use of multiple flash units is |
| with inexpensive, portable, battery-powered flash | | | | one of these conditions. If you are going to do |
| units. I'm talking about the same electronic flashes | | | | much flash photography with any type of flash |
| that you might normally mount on your camera. | | | | other than a dedicated, automatic, on-camera |
| These flashes when put together with either sync | | | | flash, invest in a decent flash meter. You will save |
| cords or slaves and some light stands make a | | | | time, frustration, and wasted film many times |
| good substitute for expensive location kits. You | | | | over. A lot of flash meters double as reflective |
| can still use umbrellas and reflection cards, and | | | | meters, so that you are getting two meters for |
| you will save a tremendous amount of money. | | | | the price of one. This is the type that I would |
| Granted, you won't have the full power and | | | | recommend. Flash photography and studio lighting |
| control you would with a location set, but you | | | | can add a new dimension to your hobby, so give |
| probably won't need it. | | | | it serious consideration. You should enjoy the |
| To give you an idea of the results you can | | | | journey. |