Got myself a new flash!

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Boy, how fun is this? I finally forked up the money and got myself a Canon Speedlite 430EX! I also got the 2 foot extension cord so I can use it off-camera since the 430 can only be used as a slave. (I did it this way so that when I eventually get the 580EX/EX II I'll feel like it is more of an investment since I'll already have a slave unit. Plus I really want to use its stroboscopic feature.)

Anyway, I also purchased a detachable light bounce/diffuser kit that's pretty spiffy. Came in very handy for the pictures I'm about to show here.


These pictures came as a request from my aunt who ultimately was the one who got me interested in photography. Of all things, it was a series of pictures similar to the ones I will post that she showed me that got me so fascinated in photography. At the time I was probably about 8 and photography was just a distant interest.

So, in dedication to my aunt, here is what I have to offer:

Alright, wanna know the trick?

First of all, a LOT of good timing... every time I was trying to get the last shot of the "crown" effect... rather difficult I must say!

But, I started out with some clear, clean tap-water but that didn't work out with it being transparent... so I added some different colors of paint to turn it a rather ungainly grayish color. Got a turky baster and as I would let drops go one at a time, I'd snap the picture! I also found that the effect works much better if you have shallow water, about 1/2 inch.

My camera was set to full auto with shutter at 1/2000, F/22, ISO 800, and flash power was at 1/4 and was taken with my kit Canon 18-55mm NON-IS lens at the 55mm end.

To make the pictures a little more appealing to the eye, I just adjusted the color balance and could then turn the water any color I wanted. One of my personal favorites is the second to last as it seems to have two colors... this was just the difference between highlight and shadow coloring.


Anyway, enjoy!!

 

[MarkEvan]

There all really nice, but as you say the second to last does seem to have the appearance of two colours, so I think that I would agree that that one is my favourite too.

Darn it I might just have a go at that myself. Did you use the camera on continuous shooting?

Mark

 

[cristianna]

Excellent job! Enjoy that new toy!

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

There all really nice, but as you say the second to last does seem to have the appearance of two colours, so I think that I would agree that that one is my favourite too.

Darn it I might just have a go at that myself. Did you use the camera on continuous shooting?

Mark

Thank you, I'm glad you like them as well. And no, single shot+good timing is how it's done. With the flash at that high of power setting I can't do multiple shots, takes too long to recycle. Plus, at 3 FPS it is just way too slow for something like this.

Excellent job! Enjoy that new toy!

Thank you, I'll have some more fun with it later this evening when I'm done with work.

 

[Tiberius]

The 430 EX only works when used as a slave with another flash? You can't use it as a flash mounted directly on camera?

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

What planet was I on when I wrote that sentence?? lol

anyway, no, I think I had originally mentioned the stroboscopic feature is only available when the flash is used as a slave.

 

[Tiberius]

lol, I thought so. A flash as nifty as that and it only a slave? :o

I got the 580ex meself.

 

[cristianna]

I think I may be falling victim to *flash envy*!

 

[Tiberius]

We're just a couple of flashers in this thread.

 

[cristianna]

 

[MarkEvan]

We're just a couple of flashers in this thread.

LOL very funny!

 

[Pointe a L'Etoile]

Another 580ex user here!

I do mostly outdoor photography, but am slowly starting to move some different things indoors. However, I'm having trouble knowing which direction to aim my flash. Does anyone know of a good tutorial to help me make sense of it in my brain? Or does anyone have any good tried and true tips?

 

[Tiberius]

For indoor flash, try using bounce flash. Just press the button to unlock the head of the flash so you can either rotate it from side to side, or tilt it up. That way you can bounce the light off the ceiling or bounce it off a wall. Remember though that this will reduce the effective range for your flash.

Bounce flash gives you two advantages. First, it moves the lightsource off camera - when you bounce your flash off the ceiling, the ceiling becomes the apparent source of light. That gives you more natural shadows. Secondly, it diffuses the light source. Instead of a light source measuring two square inches, you get a light source of several square feet, so the lighting isn't as harsh.

Just make sure that the ceiling/wall isn't coloured, or you'll end up with a coloured light shining on your model.

If you don't have a plain wall or ceiling, you can use a reflector. You can get them from camera store, but you can go to a $2 shop and pick up one of those car windshield reflectors for cheap. Just get an assistant to hold it where you want it, and bounce your flash off that. The silvered side will give a very crisp light, but the plain white side will give a softer, warmer light.

The single best resource for Canon flash users is the Photonotes article on flash photography, which is specifically aimed at Canon EOS camera uses. With the 580EX, this is just what you need. it's long and technical in some places, but you won't EVER find a better flash resource.