Flash/Strobist thread...

[thearne3]

I just realized that we don't have a thread dedicated to flash photography. Since mu-4/3 is often a 'step up' from point and shoot, use of separate flash is also often a new skill set to consider.

I propose that we use this thread to share info on flashes, technique, resources, etc.

I am no expert with flash. As George Carlin said "We're all Bozo's on this bus". So let's start pooling our knowledge! (I should add, I have seen many pictures here where flash was used - so I know the skills are already here!)

The best resource I have found for using small flashes/strobes is www.strobist.blogspot.com. There are lots of free lessons/exercises and examples. There's also a large following on Flickr.

I use the Oly Fl36R. I had a Nikon SB-26, which was fine for manual and Auto (using the flashes sensor), but there are times when I wanted full TTL control. The E-P's w/o built in flash (1 and 2) don't have remote capability, so the R in FL36R is not used. However, if you want to use the flash as a Slave, you need the FL36R. BTW, the Canon TTL cord works fine with Oly flashes.

Yesterday I posted a Picture a Day shot using flash, which is what inspired me to start this thread. So I'll kick this thread off with that photo.

I used a "snoot" - a roll of black paper taped to the flash head which produces a very focused light pattern. The shot was taken in a well-lit room, but with manual metering at least 4 stops down only the flash counts:

E-P1, 17mm, f3.5, iso 400, 1/60. Manual flash about 1/16 with snoot

[pointoneeight]

Thanks for starting this thread Tom, I'll have a good read of the Strobist link. I use the OLY FL36R on my GF1 as well. I've not experimented too much yet, other than a composite for the reflections image quest and one for my PAD yesterday.

I was going to ask how you put your PAD iamge together and now I don't need to :) I will have to give that technique a try for one of my entries soon. Thanks for sharing

Alan

[Amin Sabet]

Thanks for starting this thread, Tom. Lighting is an area I hope to learn much more about over the next couple of years! I'm using an Oly FL-50R on my G1/GH1, but I haven't really tried any creative use of flash yet.

[cstevens]

I did a model shoot the other week, with Pocket Wizard and using my Elinchrom Strobes.

It was a model I knew so she didnt bat an eye lid when I put down the D700 and said, lets try this mini-cam :)

It was certainly odd to shoot with it at arms length, and this is the limitation of the GF1 (cant have a trigger and a EVF on the hotshoe). I would say however that I would happily shoot models with a G1 or GH1 and I may well be getting an additional m4/3 cam soon for that very reason.

I do a lot of location model work, and to go from 2 rucksacks down to a small bag with some speed lights, pocket wizards and a bunch of m4/3 would be incredible!

[f6cvalkyrie]

Excellent idea for a new thread, Tom !
And I would like to join in with a question already !

I own a professionnal flash set (generator, tripods, diffusors, lamp heads, ...) that I use a lot in combination with my SINAR and some film Nikons.
The set is synchronised through a cable that could be readily inserted in the Nikon bodies or in the Rodenstock lenses (shutter).

But, my G1 does not seem to have a flash synchro out.

So, how can I connect that together ?

TIA,
Rafael

[thearne3]

Rafael -

You need something called a Universal flash hot shoe adapter.

Here is an example from Hong Kong, but most big suppliers have them:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-Camera...ht_3007wt_1167

[thearne3]

Originally Posted by cstevens

I did a model shoot the other week, with Pocket Wizard and using my Elinchrom Strobes.

It was a model I knew so she didnt bat an eye lid when I put down the D700 and said, lets try this mini-cam :)

It was certainly odd to shoot with it at arms length, and this is the limitation of the GF1 (cant have a trigger and a EVF on the hotshoe). I would say however that I would happily shoot models with a G1 or GH1 and I may well be getting an additional m4/3 cam soon for that very reason.

I do a lot of location model work, and to go from 2 rucksacks down to a small bag with some speed lights, pocket wizards and a bunch of m4/3 would be incredible!

Thanks for posting, cstevens. I've seen somewhere that someone taped flash leads to the hotshoe and still fitted the EVF. Surely someone will produce a more reliable, thin piece for that purpose. The EVF apparently doesn't use the hotshoe contacts at all.

[cstevens]

Originally Posted by thearne3

Thanks for posting, cstevens. I've seen somewhere that someone taped flash leads to the hotshoe and still fitted the EVF. Surely someone will produce a more reliable, thin piece for that purpose. The EVF apparently doesn't use the hotshoe contacts at all.

Well, one thing you could easily do is to tape an IR gel over the popup flash and use that to trigger your flashes. In the studio this would work well.

However I do quite a bit of location work and IR just doesnt cut it unfortunately. However this is only a problem with the GF1/Pens of the range, the G1 and GH1 already have a EVF so you could put a trigger/PW on that.

I just find when shooting this sort of work it just doesnt feel right not bringing the camera up to the eye.

[thearne3]

Pop-up is great advantage of the Panny's and the new Oly - but I have no pop-up on my E-P1. Not sure why you need IR? Why not just use the Slave function (if you have it?). Agree that IR and Slave are limited to controlled situations, such as studio.

I often use a wireless remote. I tried the Cactus V4, but it it creates interference patterns with m4/3 sensors -AVOID! I now use the RF-602, which can also be used as a wireless shutter release.

[jhob]

You'd use the IR if you didn't want the on-camera flash to contribute to the exposure, although you could just turn it down to the minimum setting which would have the same effect in most situations.

Playing around with off-camera flash is a really fun way to get creative - I recommend it!