The Off Camera Flash Handbook

The Off-Camera Flash Handbook

If your past attempts at learning flash have all ended in failure (not to mention tears and/or blind rage), then The Off-Camera Flash Handbook is about to change everything for you. For years, photographer Vanessa Joy has been using off-camera flash to create gorgeous portraits that look like they were shot in the most beautiful natural light at the perfect time of day. Well, guess what? That consistent look was not created thanks to the most amazing luck with the weather. No. It was created by a pro photographer who mastered her use of off-camera flash. And with her down-to-earth and practical explanations, that’s exactly what Vanessa teaches you in this book.

Vanessa breaks down off-camera flash into an easy-to-understand approach, and instead of focusing on the gear and the settings (which are also included, of course), she focuses on the kinds of shots you want to make. This book is about learning to use off-camera flash easily and quickly so that you can create beautiful, natural-looking light in any situation, at any time you need it…regardless of the weather or time of day.

The book is divided into three parts. Part One covers the fundamentals of off-camera flash, and it does so without blasting you with a firehose of information. Instead, Vanessa gives you the basics you need so that you can start shooting right away without becoming overwhelmed with technical jargon.

Once you’re set up and ready to go, Vanessa jumps right into Part Two with specific photo scenarios and real-world situations where you’ll learn key techniques for using your flash to create consistent, beautiful photographs. For each scenario, Vanessa provides the goal for the shoot, a gear list, the step-by-step shooting instructions, and images that show both the progress of the shoot and the behind-the-scenes shots or lighting diagrams of the setup. She also discusses problems you may encounter, variations on the shot, and additional practical scenarios for each situation.

Just a few examples include:

• Recreating the golden hour at any time

• Shooting groups

• Making indoors look like outdoors

• Enhancing natural light

• Using flash at events

• Working in harsh sunlight

• Creating silhouettes

• Shooting at sunset

• Fixing an ugly-light room

• And much more

Finally, Part Three tackles the questions you’ll likely have once you’ve got the basics under your belt and you’re already creating great photos with your off-camera flash—things like high-speed sync, sync speed, a practical understanding of the inverse square law, etc. There is also a helpful FAQ section at the end of the book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH OFF-CAMERA FLASH (OCF)

You Already Know This

Getting Your Flash Off Camera

Getting the Exposure

Light Positions and Modifiers

How to Add More Lights

PART 2: Off-Camera Flash Techniques

Creating Golden Haze

Creating Golden Hour

Creating Twilight

Photographing at Sunset

Making a Magenta Sunset

Group Shots with One Light

Individual Portraits

Portraits of Couples

Enhancing Natural Light

Making Indoors Look Like Outdoors

Super Soft Portrait Light

Warming up the Sky

Keeping a Blue Sky

Light like It's Coming Through a Window

Creating a Silhouette

Turn Day into Night

Tiny Little Details

Table Details

Event Speeches

In Harsh Sunlight

Shooting with Reflectors

Event Bounce Flash

Using Gels for Fun Color Effects

Using Gels to Color Correct

Lighting a Dark Room

Making a Rainy Day Sunny

Lighting to Look Like Window Light

Making Front Bokeh

Filling in Shadows

Wow, This Indoor Light Sucks

Rim Lighting

PART 3: Features, Troubleshooting, and FAQS

WTF Are You Talking About?

But Light Doesn’t Do That

FAQs about OCF

The Off-Camera Flash Handbook

If your past attempts at learning flash have all ended in failure (not to mention tears and/or blind rage), then The Off-Camera Flash Handbook is about to change everything for you. For years, photographer Vanessa Joy has been using off-camera flash to create gorgeous portraits that look like they were shot in the most beautiful natural light at the perfect time of day. Well, guess what? That consistent look was not created thanks to the most amazing luck with the weather. No. It was created by a pro photographer who mastered her use of off-camera flash. And with her down-to-earth and practical explanations, that's exactly what Vanessa teaches you in this book. Vanessa breaks down off-camera flash into an easy-to-understand approach, and instead of focusing on the gear and the settings (which are also included, of course), she focuses on the kinds of shots you want to make. This book is about learning to use off-camera flash easily and quickly so that you can create beautiful, natural-looking light in any situation, at any time you need it...regardless of the weather or time of day. The book is divided into three parts. Part One covers the fundamentals of off-camera flash, and it does so without blasting you with a firehose of information. Instead, Vanessa gives you the basics you need so that you can start shooting right away without becoming overwhelmed with technical jargon. Once you're set up and ready to go, Vanessa jumps right into Part Two with specific photo scenarios and real-world situations where you'll learn key techniques for using your flash to create consistent, beautiful photographs. For each scenario, Vanessa provides the goal for the shoot, a gear list, the step-by-step shooting instructions, and images that show both the progress of the shoot and the behind-the-scenes shots or lighting diagrams of the setup. She also discusses problems you may encounter, variations on the shot, and additional practical scenarios for each situation. Just a few examples include: - Recreating the golden hour at any time - Shooting groups - Making indoors look like outdoors - Enhancing natural light - Using flash at events - Working in harsh sunlight - Creating silhouettes - Shooting at sunset - Fixing an ugly-light room - And much more Finally, Part Three tackles the questions you'll likely have once you've got the basics under your belt and you're already creating great photos with your off-camera flash--things like high-speed sync, sync speed, a practical understanding of the inverse square law, etc. There is also a helpful FAQ section at the end of the book. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH OFF-CAMERA FLASH You Already Know This Getting Your Flash Off Camera The Fourth Point of the Exposure Triangle Light Positions and Modifiers How to Add More Lights PART 2: SCENARIOS Golden Haze Golden Hour Creating Twilight Photographing at Sunset Making a Magenta Sunset Groups with One Light Individual Portraits Couple Portraits Enhancing Natural Light Making Indoors Look Like Outdoors Super Soft Portrait Light Creating a Fiery Sky Keeping the Sky Blue Lighting a Dark Room Creating a Silhouette Turning Day into Night Tiny Little Details Table Details Event Speeches In Harsh Sunlight Shooting with Reflectors Event Bounce Flash Using Gels for Fun Color Effects Using Gels to Color Correct Lighting a Dark Room Turn a Rainy Day Sunny Lighting to Look Like Window Light Making Front Bokeh To Fill in Shadows Wow, This Indoor Light Sucks Rim Lighting PART 3: FACTS AND FAQS What Are You Talking About? But Light Doesn't Do That FAQs about OCF

This Is Strobist Info

In 2009, photographer Dustin Diaz began a “365 project,” the goal of which is to shoot and share one picture per day for a year. Not only did Diaz actually complete the project–an achievement in and of itself–he consistently shared both the final image and the behind-the-scenes setup shot for that image, allowing the viewer to see how the shot was arranged. He also included information about exposure, flash power, distance, and light modifiers. The project was a huge hit that attracted thousands of followers. This Is Strobist® Info recreates and expands upon this approach by featuring an image alongside a setup shot that helpfully explains how that image was created. By showing the finished pictures as well as the setup shots for 50 of Diaz’s images, you’ll gain tons of knowledge about the basics–and beyond–of flash photography, including everything from simple one-light shots to images created with five lights and numerous gels, clamps, umbrellas, softboxes, and grids. Additionally, This Is Strobist® Info includes two chapters that guide you through the basics of starting your own lighting kit and explain the important but often-misunderstood inverse square law.