Playing around with flash set-up

Let me first say that I am not a pro at lighting by any means. Heck, I don't even know what I am doing with my camera half the time, but I love playing around and try to learn more about it.

On Monday, when Better Homes and Garden's was here (which was totally awesome - full story tomorrow), I got so inspired by all the lighting equipment Edmund, the Photographer had brought, that this morning, I dove in, head first to my own camera gear closet. I dug out my lighting stuff.

Here is what I tried today. I put my camera on my tripod and started shooting  a few photos of my hallway for the hallway reveal post coming up in a bit.

Here is first a shot of the hall without flash. I ran my usual action of sharpening, lifting the curves and adding a bit of contrast.



There is so much light coming from the window by the door that the rest of the space looks dark by comparison.

Then I set up my flashes and did a lot of fiddling. I originally bought all this equipment for shooting portraits, but the way I shoot portraits, I don't have time to wait for a flash to recharge because an expression can be gone that quickly never to be seen again. I also much prefer natural lighting in portraits. I usually don't shoot portraits in a dark hallway anyway

However, for interior shoots, I think I am loving the use of fill light this morning. Mwah.



Here is the hall way floor plan so you can see the set-up I used.



At the end of the hallway by the living room, I set up my camera on a tri-pod and mounted my 580EX II flash to it. I set it to ETTL mode, then held down the Zoom button on the back until "OFF" started blinking. Then I turned the dial until it said "on", then I hit the "set" button in the middle of the dial. That sets up the flash to communicate with my two other flashes.



I have two 430EX flashes that can be set to slave mode by turning a lever on the back. I put this first one on the stairs, pointing it toward my reflector on the other side.



Here is the reflector. I used the silver side and angled it toward the bench.



By the cabinets, I put my other slave flash. I tried multiple set-ups here. What worked best for this shot, was to point it toward the wall and let the light bounce back onto the cabinet so that I didn't get any harsh shadows on the wall above the cabinet.

And with flash - then fixed in Photoshop:



You can also see the tri-pod on the other side of the cabinet, but oh well... I'm not getting paid ha ha.

Here is the picture again without flash.



And with flash



Of course not perfect, but much much better, wouldn't you agree?

My settings were ISO 100, F9, Shutter 2.6 sec, Focal length 32 mm. Not sure why I set the shutter for such a long speed... Edited - Now I know why I did that: it was to get light into the shadow areas not hit by the flashes and minimize shadows from the flashes firing.

Let's stuff this post with a few portraits I have shot.












If you ever want a portrait and see me with my camera, just ask. I love shooting portraits!