Tim, Beginner questions is what it's all about.... It assumes you are working in manual mode on the camera and with the flash. You put your flash (IF it has the capability to do this, and it may not) on manual mode at full power and fire it. Meanwhile, you are standing where the subject will be standing. Using a flash meter, meter the light output. If it reads f/11 you then set that as your f/stop on your camera with a shutter speed of 1/60th or so (not to exceed the synch speed of your camera). Really, the best (and damn near only way) to get comfy with this is simply by doing it. Set it up in your living room, garage, dining room, wherever you can find space, and fire away. You'll learn quite a lot in a very, very short period of time. Trust me, that's how I learned it and now I have a full-fledged studio...prior to doing flash work digitally I was scared to death of it and only did on-location and natural light work. The beauty if digital is that you can shoot it and see it and make corrrections on the fly. The learning curve is dramatically shortened when you work digitally. It may be that you'll do this shoot using auto on your flash and that would be ok, too...just be sure to test it to make certain what you think you're getting is what you're really getting. Lea ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Holmes" <W8TAH@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 12:35 PM Subject: Re: Suggestions and Recomendations needed > Thanks for the suggestions, I have just on question, and I suspect it is > a real dumb one at that. > > I have always used flashes in full auto mode, and Lea mentioned metering > the flash after I put the diffuser and the bounce on it, but I have > absolutely no clue how to do this, as the module on the flash does not > allow the TTL or iTTL metering. If someone could enlighten me, I would > be most appreciative. Sorry for the beginners question. > > TIM > > lea wrote: > > >I think you'll be just fine with the equipment you have...I'm not > >familiar with your flash but assuming it can be set to manual and > >bounced/swiveled you'll be ok. Get a diffuser of some nature for the > >flash head (we just had a discussion about these types of accessories on > >this forum last week). I'd put the camera on a tripod, put the flash on > >the camera, add the diffuser, bounce it towards the ceiling, meter it > >and go for it. Have extra batteries on hand as you'll likely need them > >depending on the numbers of kids you'll be shooting. > > > >Be sure to keep the subjects away from the background as you don't want > >their bodies casting shadows. > > > >This will give you flat frontal lighting which will be very safe. > > > >Posing should be fairly straightforward...you might have a nice chair on > >hand or just have the kids/couples stand (which tends to feel pretty > >dorky to them). I like to get in closer than most...those full-lenght > >shots end up making the subject look so tiny that it's hardly worth it > >so fill up the frame. > > > >As far as costs, see what Costco, Walmart, Sams, etc. charge for 5x7 and > >wallets then put together a package deal based on that. > > > >I'd set it all up and test it before the big day just to be certain > >everything works as you think it ought. With digital of course you'll > >see errors immediately. > > > >Good luck. > >Lea > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Tim Holmes" <W8TAH@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" > ><photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 11:35 AM > >Subject: Suggestions and Recomendations needed > > > > > > > > > >>Hello all: > >> > >>I was sitting in my classroom yesterday when one of the parents who is > >>organizing our homcomming banquet stoped by and said "you take > >> > >> > >pictures, > > > > > >>right?" I should have recognized the sandbag decending toward my head > >>at this point. The long and short of it is they would like me to take > >>the portraits of our students for the banquet. I actually am looking > >>forward to it, but I have never done this type of photography. So I > >>need some adivice on how to procede. I dont have a lot of resorces > >>(money) to purchase equipment, but I would like to use this chance to > >>make some money to be able to buy some new toys. > >> > >>My equipment > >> > >>- Nikon D70 > >>Onboard flash > >>hotshoe flash gun - Promaster FTD 5200 with the module for the N70 > >> > >> > >(yes > > > > > >>the N70) - its a bounce gun > >>Good Tripod and ball head - no problmes there > >>Sigma - 70-300 1:4-5.5 D DL Macro Auto Focus Zoom > >>Sigma - 28 - 70 1:2.8-4 D Zoom > >>Promaster Spectrum 7 2x Teleconverter - N-AFd > >>A strong mastery of Photoshop CS > >>All the computer horspower I could ever need > >>Epson R200 photo printer > >> > >>The one major weakness that I see is that I dont have any kind of > >> > >> > >studio > > > > > >>lights. The pictures are likely going to be in the foyer of the hotel > >>that is hosting our banquet. I do have access to some halogen > >>floodlights - Strand 65Q fresnels, and Par 64 and 56's as well as > >> > >> > >maybe > > > > > >>one 9 inch scoop. I just stopped by our local camera store, and they > >>said I could rent some studio strobes, but they want like a 1500$ > >> > >> > >deposit. > > > > > >>So anyway, I need some recomendations in the following areas > >> > >>- Lighting > >>- Posing > >>- Techniques > >>- Costs (remember these are students at my school, so I am not > >> > >> > >planning > > > > > >>on charging studio prices - it's more like shooting for friends > >>- format - (NEF vs JPG Fine etc) > >>- Filters, post processing etc > >>- Recomended reading etc > >> > >>In short folks, I need some help - this is an area I have wanted to > >> > >> > >get > > > > > >>into, but his is pushing my timetable up by about 6 months, so I gotta > >>learn quick --- The shoot is on December 18, 2004 > >> > >>Thank you for your time and your help > >> > >>Timothy A. Holmes > >>Fine Light Photography > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
