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| 1 | 2 | 3 |  » Stats |
Members: 48,655
Threads: 78,892
Posts: 821,435
Top Poster: glsammy (14,779)
| | Welcome to our newest member, redfrag | |  | | 
16-01-2008, 06:31 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 9,436
| | | Flash set up and example shots
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  |
16-01-2008, 06:54 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SE Northumberland
Posts: 2,120
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
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 |
16-01-2008, 07:06 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East Sussex
Posts: 1,495
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
Impressive set of shots. And great to see how you set it up. Something for the rest of us to aim at. Nice! |
16-01-2008, 07:19 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 9,562
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
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.
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16-01-2008, 07:29 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Lothian
Posts: 2,375
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
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 |
16-01-2008, 07:47 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,562
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
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 |
16-01-2008, 07:51 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 9,436
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
Quote:
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 |
16-01-2008, 07:55 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 9,436
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
Quote:
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 |
16-01-2008, 08:00 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 9,436
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
Quote:
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 |
16-01-2008, 08:17 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southend, Essex
Posts: 327
| | | Re: Flash set up and example shots
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
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