On Feb 17, 2011, at 9:54 AM, John Sessoms wrote: > From: Larry Colen >> I was experimenting with the flash at a friend's gig tonight, mostly >> with a snoot, but with the flash off camera on a cable. The >> technique has definite promise, but it takes so much attention to aim >> the flash with one hand, while doing everything on the camera with >> the other, that it'll take a lot of work before I've got it solid. >> >> I think that what the technique really needs is a snooted flash aimed >> by an assistant, several feet off camera, with an on camera flash a >> couple stops underexposed, acting as an on axis fill. >> >> This shot, however, was done by bouncing my flash off a mirror, a few >> feet to the left of the stage. Since Gypsyjack was on the left end of >> the stage, I was able to side light him with the flash like this. >> >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellarsee/5452691805/in/set-72157625947632715/ >> > > A little DIY magic with gaffers tape and you could mount a small LED > flashlight to the strobe for a modeling light that would help in aiming the > strobe.
That's an excellent idea. Though I could probably get away with mounting it to the snoot. I suppose I shouldn't use my green laser though. > > This sounds like our first assignment in small format class: > > Photograph 36 strangers "up close & personal" > ... 3 - 5 ft (with a "normal" lens, closer if you use a wide angle lens) > ... off camera flash (at arm's length) > ... 3 images of each person, different angles (108 total images minimum) > ... 3 - 36 exposure rolls of 35mm C-41 FILM (so you can't chimp). > ... record aperture & shutter speed for each exposure > ... record Name; Age; Where the person is from AND an *interesting fact* > about each person. > > Make an 8x10 print mounted on an 11x14 mat board of the best images of 5 > persons. Turn in contact sheets and the personal data about the persons > (personal data went into the shredder at the end of the semester). Sounds like a great assignment. One of these days, I'll have to start a thread asking people for their most educational photo class assignments. > > -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- > > The instructor's recommendation for technique was to tape the lens to fix the > focus and use your body to bring the person into focus in the viewfinder > (worked for me). > > I shot 5 - 24 exposure rolls (too many is better than not enough) and > "cheated" a little bit by carrying a lightweight light stand for the strobe > along with me so that I didn't end up with all my images lit from > photographer's left. > > Mount the strobe so it's at your eye level & just plop the stand down at arms > length so you can use both hands for the camera. This is where the LED > flashlight "modeling light" would come in handy. I often put my strobe on the end of my monopod to get the extra reach. > > Bouncing the strobe off a mirror is a good idea. I don't think there was any > opportunity to use it during the assignment, but I'll try to keep it in mind > if I ever run into a situation where it will work in the future. If you're ever shooting in a photo studio, there will be big mirrors. Also large windows work also. It gives a sharper bounce than just a white wall. > > Oh, and that assistant thing ... it's what we call a VALS - Voice Activated > Light Stand. Love it. > -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
