Steelevisions Blog Rotating Header Image

speedlite

Canon 320EX — Do You Need It?

Canon’s new 320EX flash is the first to feature a continuous LED light for shooting video.

Sounds great, but will it still meet your needs up as a dedicated flash?

Watch the video to learn why I have serious doubts about the 320EX as a flash for still photography.

Rooftop Model Shoot – Minus Sunset

For the full gallery click here.  (Requires Flash, sorry iPad users.)

This was supposed to be a sunset shoot on a gorgeous rooftop of a high-rise downtown.  We had the perfect angle to place the setting sun behind the models for dazzling backlight effect.

Everybody ready? Lights, camera, action…

Clouds.

Oh well. I’m on a roof with several beautiful models, so we’re going to make the most of it.  Switch to plan B.

Since we had a gray day I tried to create dramatic lighting and dramatic effects in post-processing to make the best of the situation.  Underexpose the sky (oops, missed that in some shots when my camera got bumped into Av mode instead of Manual. How did that happen?).  Add some vignette in processing and punch up the blacks, etc.

I’m not sure I really succeeded, in getting exactly what I wanted, but do I like some of the shots.  And more importantly, I learned some things from my mistakes.  Sometimes that is more useful than getting exactly what you planned for.

This was all lit with Speedlites. The techniques I’m experimenting with here are all part of the preparation for an upcoming course on “Advanced Off-Camera Flash.”

I’ll keep you posted on that.

Flash Photography Tips (video)

Gotta love YouTube for always coming up with a splash screen where I have a funny expression on my face. They must have a special filter that searches for those frames.

If you’re interested, here is my course on Off-Camera Flash Photography.

You can also view this Flash Photography Tips video on YouTube.

Canon Flash Blinking Display: Mystery Solved

Every wonder why the display on your Canon Speedlite 580EX or 430EX flash is blinking at you?  Ever want to throw it against the wall because you can’t get it to stop?  Here’s the solution.

Warning: It’s a bit of a rant.

Wireless Flash Triggers Compared

Here’s my breathless 10-minute rundown of all the current contenders for radio-triggering your off-camera flashes.

This is an update of the information contained in my course, “How to Shoot Professional-Looking Headshots and Portraits on a Budget with Small Flashes.”

This technology is changing fast, practically daily, so I’ll make periodic updates available as things evolve.

I hope you find it helpful, and I welcome your feedback or stories of your own experience with any of this gear.

Canon Speedlite 430EX vs. 430EX II – Which is Better?

You might think it’s always better to buy the latest model of any photographic equipment, but that’s not always true.

For example, there is a good case to be made for the older Canon 430EX flash over the newer 430EX II. Why? Watch the video to find out which one is right for you.

Off-Camera Flash Photography – How and Why

If you own a detachable Speedlite-style flash, and you are shooting with it on your camera, you are wasting your investment in that expensive flash.

Face it, on-camera flash sucks. It drains the life out of your subject and makes everyone look like they are posing for a police line-up or a driver’s license photo.

You gotta get that flash off your camera!

The video above is my YouTube “commercial” for my off-camera flash course. Frankly I don’t know if it’s cheesy or if it’s cool, but I had fun making it, and people seem to love it on YouTube, so I thought I’d share it with you here.

Choosing the Best Canon Flash for Your Needs

Choosing the right flash can be intimidating to beginning photographers. It’s easy to find lots of jargon-laden technical specifications, but hard to find a simple analysis in plain language of which flash is the best one for your needs.

I’m going to make the choice easy for you.

Canon Speedlite 270EX

Speedlite 270EX

If you are a Canon shooter, you basically have three options at the time of this writing in 2010: the Speedlite 270EX, 430EX II, and 580EX II.

We’re going to immediately simplify it by eliminating the little 270EX right out of the gate. In my opinion it just doesn’t make economic sense. (more…)

Google Profile