Using off-camera flash seems like something difficult to do. It isn’t. Once you get over the mental hurdles involved, it is really quite simple. To illustrate, I have an image that I really like that I took this last fall.
This image was really simple to create. I took the couple out of the reception at sunset. Then I set camera to the setting I wanted to expose the background. When doing this, I usually underexpose the background by about 1 stop to create the deeper, richer colors. So the ambient exposure that I set was 1/250, f8 at ISO 400 on my 30D. Next, I decided I wanted the light to hit the couple from the left. Then, I set up flash, which was an Nikon SB-25 on a small lightstand fired directly at them. The flash was set to about 1/4 (might have been 1/8) to properly expose the couple to “normal” density of the skin tones. Finally, I put the groom where I wanted them and told the bride to go get him. Pretty simple! You can see more of my most recent work on my blog.
But how do you figure out how far to put the flash and what power setting to use without a lot of trial and error?
Hey Cal,
It is just trial and error. You decide where you want the flash to come from, take a test shot, and adjust. Takes less than a minute to figure it out.
Cory
Good advise here. I too take the flash off, and in most cases use 2 flashes and fire one remotely. It’s not hard, it does take a new mind set and approach. I guess a lot of wedding photographers are not brave enough to give it a go.
Another good way of getting different light is to use a mono pod and attach a remote trigger to it…
Cheers
Peter
http://www.absoluteandalivephotography.com.au