Flash set up and example shots

[Ollie]

Hi all
Well today was my day off and what a day, no chance of getting out with the camera due to the rain so I decided to give my flash set up a really hard trial to see how it coped under the appalling conditions.

It was raining steadily and obviously very dull and overcast. I have posted a photo of my set up below along with a few example shots taken this morning in the rain. I was well pleased with the results, but any comments appreciated I don't mind criticism.

First is the set up.
A Canon 400d with a Canon 400mm f5.6 L lens mounted on a Manfrotto tripod. The flash is a Canon 580EX 11 Speedlite flash mounted on a Stroboframe quick flip flash bracket with the Better Beamer flash extender mounted on the Speedlite flash unit with an off camera flash cord to connect the flash to the camera.

I use this from an open bedroom window in the house looking slightly down to my feeding station.



I must mention that it was Matt zyz who introduced me to this set up in the first place seeing the impressive results he was able to achieve using basically the same set up.

Roger

A Blue Tit


A Goldfinch


A Goldfinch


A Great Tit


A Great Tit


A Starling

[mh68]

I dont think theres much that can be done to improve these Roger, i`d say you have the flash setup spot on. Are you using the flash in TTL mode or set to manual or standard auto?
I`ve been doing the same today in our garden, but results werent as sharp as these.I think due to the angle I had to shoot from, the flash was causing detail to be lost by flattening out shadows in the feathers.Going to have to try upping the flash power and trying again when its dry (next month by the look of the weather!! ).

Mark H

[Words]

Impressive set of shots. And great to see how you set it up. Something for the rest of us to aim at. Nice!

[pressld2]

Those are stunning Roger! You can even see the raindrops on the feathers. Very impressive!

Can I ask what the flash to subject distance was?

A flash extender has been on my shopping list since seeing the thread with Matt's pics in. Is there any difference between the Better Beamer, the Kirk or any other make or are they all much of a muchness?

Dave P.

[John D]

Roger these are first class images. With a set-up like you have there is not much need for the sun. Very interesting to see your set-up and the excellent results you have obtained. Keep up the good work!
John D

[matt_xyz]

Roger, those shots provide a perfect advertisement for the use of flash. Without flash these shots would have had far less detail and 'sparkle' given the poor light that you describe. Very nice work

Matt

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by mh68

I dont think theres much that can be done to improve these Roger, i`d say you have the flash setup spot on. Are you using the flash in TTL mode or set to manual or standard auto?
I`ve been doing the same today in our garden, but results werent as sharp as these.I think due to the angle I had to shoot from, the flash was causing detail to be lost by flattening out shadows in the feathers.Going to have to try upping the flash power and trying again when its dry (next month by the look of the weather!! ).

Mark H

Hi Mark, I was using the flash in TTL mode. Have tried it in other modes but TTL seems to work best. I have also used it in High Synch mode but you need a shutter speed of 1/250 or above for it to work in High Synch which I wasn't getting today as it was so dull.
Roger

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Those are stunning Roger! You can even see the raindrops on the feathers. Very impressive!

Can I ask what the flash to subject distance was?

A flash extender has been on my shopping list since seeing the thread with Matt's pics in. Is there any difference between the Better Beamer, the Kirk or any other make or are they all much of a muchness?

Dave P.

Hi Dave, the flash to subject distance on these was only around 18 feet but I do know it works just as well at greater distances.

As far as I am aware the Kirk is much the same thing as the Beamer, but I can't say for sure.
Roger

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Roger, those shots provide a perfect advertisement for the use of flash. Without flash these shots would have had far less detail and 'sparkle' given the poor light that you describe. Very nice work

Matt

Thanks very much Matt, and thanks again for introducing me to it, money very well spent in my opinion. I turned the flash off for a few shots while trying this today and the results were drab in comparison.

Thanks also for the comments Words and John D
Roger

[Brocker]

Wow Roger. These are truly breathtaking images. The detail is incredible and the focus absolutely pin sharp. I would be over the moon with these and would undoubtably use any one of them for my portfolio. . . Well done. Exceptional

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Hi Mark, I was using the flash in TTL mode. Have tried it in other modes but TTL seems to work best. I have also used it in High Synch mode but you need a shutter speed of 1/250 or above for it to work in High Synch which I wasn't getting today as it was so dull.
Roger

I leave my flash on high speed sync mode all the time Roger. It means the flash will sync with the shutterspeed whether you're above or below 1/250 sec. If the shutter speed falls below 1/250 high speed sync will automatically disengage but will come back on as soon as you go above 1/250 sec.

Matt

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

I leave my flash on high speed sync mode all the time Roger. It means the flash will sync with the shutterspeed whether you're above or below 1/250 sec. If the shutter speed falls below 1/250 high speed sync will automatically disengage but will come back on as soon as you go above 1/250 sec.

Matt

Thanks Matt , I do actually leave it on high speed sync but didn't realise it would sync with the shutter speed below 1/250.
Roger

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Brocker

Wow Roger. These are truly breathtaking images. The detail is incredible and the focus absolutely pin sharp. I would be over the moon with these and would undoubtably use any one of them for my portfolio. . . Well done. Exceptional

Many thanks Chris your comments are appreciated
Roger

[JeffH]

Wow - superb shots Roger and what a great set up.

May I ask if you (or Matt?) have tried it in very low light conditions such as at dawn or at dusk? If so, with what result?

Also, when you say "...it works just as well at greater distances" may I ask up to what maximum distance (roughly)?

thanks

Jeff

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by JeffH

Wow - superb shots Roger and what a great set up.

May I ask if you (or Matt?) have tried it in very low light conditions such as at dawn or at dusk? If so, with what result?

Also, when you say "...it works just as well at greater distances" may I ask up to what maximum distance (roughly)?

thanks

Jeff

I've never used mine in very low light Jeff. I think the problem is that the bird may look artificially lit up compared to the darkish background.

I find it very difficult to judge distances, but the effects of the flash are visible when you're about as far away from a bird as you could be with a 400mm lens i.e. if the bird is very small in the frame. In other words, the flash covers the full working distance of a 400mm lens.

Matt

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by JeffH

Wow - superb shots Roger and what a great set up.

May I ask if you (or Matt?) have tried it in very low light conditions such as at dawn or at dusk? If so, with what result?

Also, when you say "...it works just as well at greater distances" may I ask up to what maximum distance (roughly)?

thanks

Jeff

Hi Jeff, I haven't tried the set up myself in very low light, dawn or dusk but would imagine with a tripod and remote shutter release it would be possible, the limiting factor being shutter speed.

As for greater distances, I'm not sure how far the flash will reach, but it reached this Moorhen ok and I would guess at it being at least 30 feet away
Roger

[Seajay]

Excellent shots Roger! Most impressive! These are the sort of images I'm after and it looks like the road I'm going to have to go down certainly in the hide though how practical is it out and about?
I'll have a good look at the posts in the morning as I'm away to work but thanks for a most interesting thread.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Seajay

Excellent shots Roger! Most impressive! These are the sort of images I'm after and it looks like the road I'm going to have to go down certainly in the hide though how practical is it out and about?
I'll have a good look at the posts in the morning as I'm away to work but thanks for a most interesting thread.

Surprisingly enough it's pretty stable when being carried as the Better Beamer weighs very little, that little that you would not notice it. It takes off and folds flat in a matter of seconds if required. Just have to be a little careful of low branches etc and also be aware that the Fresnel lens in the Beamer is a magnifier and it's possible to melt the flash unit if you have it positioned into the sun for any length of time.
Roger

[glsammy]

I was just posting a reply to your shots Roger, when we had a power cut! Just got back on again a few minutes ago.

What can I say now that hasn't already been said?These are spot on. You can't really tell flash has been used, which is exactly what you want!
One minor gripe, how come you have such a great view out of your bedroom window and all I get is bulldozers??

[Ollie]

Glad you are back with us Graham, you should pay your bill more regularly

Thanks for the comments, as you know I always appreciate your comments and advice. I'm well chuffed with the set up and just need at least a fine day with no rain to get out in the field with it. Haven't managed to get out since we were at Rufford and Sherwood the other week and it doesn't look promising for the rest of this week either.
Roger

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Glad you are back with us Graham, you should pay your bill more regularly

Thanks for the comments, as you know I always appreciate your comments and advice. I'm well chuffed with the set up and just need at least a fine day with no rain to get out in the field with it. Haven't managed to get out since we were at Rufford and Sherwood the other week and it doesn't look promising for the rest of this week either.
Roger

Tell me about it. The forecast here for today wasn't bad, dry and brighter. We set off in good spirits to Rufford, only to run into big black rain clouds that stayed all day. Yet another let down by local forecasters..they're fast becoming my most hated species!!
My camera never left the back of my car. We went to Clumber, Hawfinches have been reported there over the last few days, saw nothing.
Just to really make our day, Lindas Binoculars fell on the floor, and now they don't focus correctly. They're going for a repair estimate tomorrow. We had a really great day out.

[JeffH]

Thank you Matt and Roger for your replies to my earlier questions - very useful.

Jeff