Backlit Subjects

[Dominantly]

The flash can have commander mode all day long, but if the camera doesnt how does one fire the single flash? With a remote like the cactus triggers right?

Ideally, yeah you want the Sb-900. It's just plain better, but obviously more expensive. Now a perfectly viable option is to pick up the 600, and then down the road pick up the 900. That way you have a flash NOW and can learn to use single strobe. At that point you can expand to work with the 900 in commander mode and a second flash. After that, pick up another 600.

 

[Arkanjel Imaging]

Ya, I should have mentioned triggers. Nikon has made wireless so convinient I just dont think of them much.

Did I miss what camera he is shooting?

 

[Dominantly]

Just checked and looks like D300

Camera Maker: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera Model: NIKON D300
Lens: 18.0-70.0 mm f/3.5-4.5
Image Date: 2010-08-27 19:28:39 -0700
Focal Length: 44.0mm (35mm equivalent: 66mm)
Focus Distance: 1.41m
Aperture: f/4.2
Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160)
ISO equiv: 640
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Manual
Light Source: Shade
Flash Fired: No


As for the shot, I would expose for the background and fill your subject with some off camera flash.

 

[Hillsong]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but i can use the pop up flash on a D300 as a commander, allowing for any flash along the lines of the sb-600 to be used as a slave, correct?

 

[Dominantly]

Should be able to on the D90 and up bodies I believe.
Easy way to check is to look in your menu under flash.

 

[kundalini]

On the matter of reflectors, I've heard that dashboard reflectors work well as the poor-man's reflectors. Any other suggestions?

This may not work for you now because of budget restraints, but the Lastolite Tri Grip is really a great design. You can easily shoot with one hand and hold the reflector in the other. (No live model available.... Winston is always up for the gig though)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but i can use the pop up flash on a D300 as a commander, allowing for any flash along the lines of the sb-600 to be used as a slave, correct?

Correct, but with caveats. It is an IR trigger. This means you need to be kinda-sorta in line-of-sight from your pre-flash to the unit's receiver. It works great indoors because you can bounce the pre-flash around. In broad daylight, the signal between camera and flash sometimes gets lost. I finally went with RF triggers to overcome the hassles and misses.​

 

[doramider7]

Also, What would be the benefits of a SB-800 over a SB-600 for similar shots?

The SB-800 can be used as a Commander flash, it can zoom to 105 mm, it has SU-4 mode, it has an external powerpack jack, it has a built-in PC port.

The SB-600 is very basic and cannot do/has any of the above, except it can zoom to 85mm.

is the increased power/utility worth spending the additional $150+ for it? I don't have any flashes atm, and i'm just wondering if I should save up for the sb-800 first, or get an sb-600 much sooner.

 

[Christie Photo]

As for the shot, I would expose for the background and fill your subject with some off camera flash.

That's where I get lost. Once you address the background and take care of the fill, where o where is the main light?

-Pete