kenyee wrote: cgardner wrote:
Static lighting set-ups with stands and metering, vs. shooting on the fly putting the off-camera light any distance and letting the camera sort out the rest in TTL mode.
To be fair, IMHO \"strobist\" was more about emulating studio lighting w/ speedlights and light gear. It was *not* about event (aka high paced action/wedding photography). In that case, the best bet is to do your approach of using a few static speedlights on stands to bring up ambient and use TTL for fill. I\'ve done this a few times too...I did recognize that the strobist stuff had its place and TTL or Auto-thyristor mode had its own.
I don\'t disagree with anything you say, but it highlights why I offered different advice and an alternate approach to beginners. If you are a parent with a couple active kids running around the house you want to document growing up a static lighting scenario isn\'t the best choice; not because it won\'t produce great lighting but because it just isn\'t logistically feasible.
People knowing I\'m a photographer are always asking me what type of camera to buy on a limited budget. My advice has changed over the years as camera and computers have changed. To someone expecting their first kid I suggest they buy a good HD video camera and a P&S that will fit in the diaper bag. Video editing tools like iMovie are so simple now they can pull together a video that will be fun to watch on TV years later when the kids are grown. Where will the still shots be then?
For those wanting to use and master still lighting gear have suggested consistently since starting giving advice: 1) start first with a north facing window learning the basic short lighting pattern on full, oblique, and profile views; 2) learn to use the butterfly pattern using single flash on a bracket, direct, bounced, diffused; 3) add a second system flash; 4) if you at that point you find you need radio triggers by them.
That differed from the advice of others offered overt the years, often advice offered in opposition to mine without example of why there\'s was better. I will point out the cause and effect differences of why I think my approach works, and the logistical reasons works for me. I just Googled and found a USA Today interview with Hobby on uTube where he said everything I said above 7 years ago, including trying system flash first without radio triggers and only buying them if finding the need.
All lighting choices are constrained by budget and logistics. I didn\'t shoot photos for a living after 1974. I got a better paying job with better benefits and made enough money to buy anything I want; I just don\'t by more than I need and I find the easiest way to use it for what I need done.
Don\'t think centered fill is effective? Start with fill centered in a lighting pattern then take comparison shot as you move it around to the side and it points at the ear. Post them and we can discuss the cause and effect of what you think works best.
Think the white towel thing is ridiculous? Have you every tried it in a situation where you can\'t judge exposure just the histogram of the scene? Here\'s a challenge. Go out and shoot a dozen scenes at random, with and without flash in flat, cross and back lighting how every you do them now to judge exposure. Then with the camera in M mode try setting the exposure using the towels, clipping warning and histogram. Post the photos Post them and we can discuss the cause and effect of what you think works best.
Think you can learn anything from me? No problem, go find another teacher there are plenty of them around..
Does what I do and how I do it bug to the point you feel you need to warn others about me and my false doctrine? That\'s more your problem than mine my friend. I just try to help folks here and last time I checked that was allowed under the First Amendment where I live. I trust that the people asking the questions, if they look at all the examples and advice offered on various approaches will be able to sort out what will work for them.
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Jan 27, 2012 at 02:29 PM
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