Finally used my new wireless flash setup yesterday. Basically, a receiver is
attached to each flash unit, which is mounted on a lighting stand with an umbrella and the transmitter goes into the hotshoe of the camera. Hey presto! No wires.
I was photographing a friend's murals indoors and there was bright sunlight outside, coming through the windows indirectly (probably a northern exposure). I was photographing in stairwells and positioned the lighting stand below the base of the stairs.
I was using my digital camera, in preparation for taking pictures on film. However, it proved to be so useful to just be able to dial the intensity of the flash up and down (I'm using a Vivitar 283 with a Varipower module) that I was soon able to arrive at good exposures. After that, it was just a matter of steadying the camera enough (no tripod) to get a clear exposure.
It worked very well and I'm hugely satisfied - this makes a lot of photography a lot easier.
I know a bit more how the pros feel though. I had only a couple of hours for the shoot and sow brought everything under the sun (except a mat to lie on and keep myself clean). Now all I need is a very versatile, lightweight and stiff tripod and I should be good.
Oh yes.. and a big roll of gaffer's tape.
Posted by artandscience at August 20, 2006 05:41 PM