Joe McNally is the master of all things flash, so there was no way I could miss his speed light session at Photoshop World on Thursday morning. Joe's first class focused on getting the most out of one light, and the results are truly amazing. Often people think that to produce beautifully lit photos you need some seriously expensive studio equipment. But that's no longer the case; a small investment into a single speed light and some very cheap, or even DIY light modifiers, can go a long way.
The first thing Joe pointed out were the three essentials of light: quality, color, and direction. In terms of quality, are we going to use a large, soft light source like an octabank, or will we only fire the bare bulb for harsh lighting effects? More importantly, what effect will that decision have on the mood or feeling of the photo?
Next is color. Are you looking for daylight balanced flash for a natural look, or will you add a gel to give a colorful flare to your photos? Color is critical, and understanding color symbolism, or the mood that certain colors elicit, is even more beneficial.
And lastly, direction. Where will you place your light source and how will this affect your exposure, story, feeling, even composition?
Joe of course also offered a couple of technical tips to boot. First, the closer the light source is to your subject, the bigger it is relative to the subject, and the softer the light will be. It's also important to understand the difference between exposure compensation and flash compensation. Changing your camera's exposure comp is a "global change" and will affect all aspects of the photo including the ambient light and the effect the flash has on your overall exposure. Changing your flash compensation however, only alters the amount of light that comes from the flash and not the overall exposure of the picture.
Lastly, using flash is all about experimentation. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, just learn from them!
Christopher Stampar is an 18 year old photographer currently attending the University of Miami. He has an extraordinary passion for photography, travel, and social media, and loves to share and learn with fellow photographers. To read Chris’ personal blog about photography, pop culture and ideas, visit www.cstampar.com.
Class Notes: Small Flash Basics & Hot Shoe Flash – tips from @JoeMcNallyPhoto's #PSW sessions by @CStampar http://bit.ly/fFkvzW
RT @apcpro: Class Notes: Small Flash Basics & Hot Shoe Flash – tips from @JoeMcNallyPhoto's #PSW sessions by @CStampar http://bit.ly/fFkvzW
RT @APCpro: Class Notes: Small Flash Basics & Hot Shoe Flash – tips from @JoeMcNallyPhoto's #PSW sessions by @CStampar http://bit.ly/fFkvzW
RT @APCpro: Class Notes: Small Flash Basics & Hot Shoe Flash – tips from @JoeMcNallyPhoto's #PSW sessions by @CStampar http://bit.ly/fFkvzW
RT @APCpro: Class Notes: Small Flash Basics & Hot Shoe Flash – tips from @JoeMcNallyPhoto's #PSW sessions by @CStampar http://bit.ly/fFkvzW