Off-camera flash
From Nikonians Wiki
Flashguns are typically fitted with a foot which fits into the hot-shoe of the camera. A flashgun used in this way, or a flash built into the camera, is referred to as an on-camera flash.
On-camera is the 'obvious' way to use a flashgun, but there are very significant advantages to getting the flash off-camera. This can be achieved in two ways: cables, or wireless triggers.
Reasoning On-camera flash produces very short, sharp shadows on the subject, as well as tending towards hot-spots on the areas of the subject which are specular and parallel to the camera. For portraits, this is typically the forehead and the end of the nose. On-camera flash also tends to produce red-eye, although this can be avoided in other ways. On-camera flash also tends to throw harsh, unflattering shadows on backgrounds behind the subject. However, when photographing in available light, it is often preferable to have an on-camera flash to fill in and to provide catch lights.
Equipment A TTL lead can connect most flash-guns to the camera hot-shoe. Studio strobes can be connected with sync-cables. Alternatively, an infra-red trigger mounted on the hot-shoe can be used to trigger most studio strobes, and hand-held flashguns which have an optical slave. A Nikon Commander can be used to remotely control up to four groups of Nikon CLS equipped flash guns wirelessly. An SB 800 or SB 900 can be configured to act as a Nikon Commander, as can the built-in flashes of many current Nikon dSLR cameras. A Radio trigger, such as a Pocket Wizard, can be used to trigger studio strobes or flashguns which have been equipped with equivalent receivers. These techniques can generally be used in combination.
Technique Almost all studio photography is done with off-camera flash. For general shooting, up to four lights or groups of lights are used, supplemented by reflectors.
One light setup Two light setup Three light setup Four light setup
- This page was last modified on 13 February 2021, at 07:51.
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