Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Speedlight Mastery - full production (2009)




Speedlight Mastery - full production (2009)


This is one of my old Speedlight tutorials shooting in TTL mode with Canon and Nikon cameras. In this 2.5 hour production (shot in 2009) I show 23 set ups using single or multiple Speedlights. The simplest set ups use just one Speedlight on the camera and the most complicated uses 3 Speedlights off camera, a Lastolite Ezybox and a reflector. I’ve tried to show every nuance of the rig and shoot. I’ve avoided detailing some of the button pushing info that is flash model specific for brevity reasons knowing that this information is in the manual that came with the flash. Some of the set ups are explained in more detail than others if they repeat the same action to avoid too much repetition throughout the whole movie. This video is presented at my normal shooting pace. Note - I was using Pocket Wizard units back in 2009 for shooting TTL. At several times when using the Pocket Wizard Mini and Flex units I say channel 1 instead of configuration 1. I happen to have configuration 1 set to channel 1 on the TTL set up, hence my train of thought :) Please feel free to take a look at the current range of Lovegrove training videos here: https://lovegroveadventures.com/train... UPDATE - I have received a few questions about the flash settings / power. These images were shooting using TTL with either Pocket Wizards, or Canon/ Nikon transmitters so the camera sets the power. I use manual now. If the flash is too dark I turn it up a bit or move it closer. If it is too light I turn it down a bit or move it away. I never tend look at the numbers. I just rely on how it looks on the back of the camera :) I am very much a trial and error shooter. Take a picture, see how it looks, make the changes, take another and so on... Flash brackets: In this video from 2009 I'm using a 'Lovegrove flash bracket' We used to sell them back in the day. A Lovegrove Flash Bracket was a Hama insulated aluminium cold foot on a small ball head by Novoflex, Gitzo or Manfrotto (depending on product version) on a custom made 16mm dual axis spigot socket. We sold 1000s of these flash brackets but once RF triggering was a thing of the past there was no need to buy double axis brackets and demand dropped off. Ebay is awash with brackets to mount a Speedlight to a stand. I now use the wonderful Godox AD200 instead of Speedlights and the Godox comes with its own bracket in the box. Times change. Enjoy the video.