Flash basics/beginner guides

[cranraspberry]

Hi everyone!

I recently got an amazing and very unexpected present - the SB-700. The only thing is, I know nothing, as in ab-so-lu-tely nothing about flash photography. The manual is mostly technical stuff, and all the googling I've done so far has brought up either super basic advice like tape some tissue paper to the flash of your point-and-shoot, or advanced material like positioning groups of remote flash units at certain angles.
So I come to you, all-knowing TPFers. Are there any books/articles you could recommend for somebody just getting to know their speedlight?
Thanks in advance!

(First post here, so all hazing is welcome.)

 

[Dao]

Maybe google "photography flash tutorial" and see if you can find some useful links.

 

[kennysghost]

Hope This Helps

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

 

[cranraspberry]

Digital Photography Tutorials

Thanks! That's so much more comprehensible than anything I was able to google up.

 

[KmH]

The user's manual describes the features and functions you new SB-700 has. No doubt, it is dry, un-embellished prose, but the user's manual contains very valuable information.

By the way, using strobed light (flash) effectively, and doing digital photography effectively is technical, as reading those excellent tutorials will show.

 

[D-B-J]

The user's manual describes the features and functions you new SB-700 has. No doubt, it is dry, un-embellished prose, but the user's manual contains very valuable information.

By the way, using strobed light (flash) effectively, and doing digital photography effectively is technical, as reading those excellent tutorials will show.

Are you kidding?! The prose of Nikon's manuals is on par with some of the greatest authors.

No but in all seriousness, i second the cambridge in color link. An AWESOME site.

 

[cranraspberry]

My problem with the manual is that it describes the features, but doesn't give a clear explanation of when and how the features should be used. As a very non-technical person (woe is me, I know, I know) I find that confusing and am looking for something with a more hands-on approach. As in, "Mode N gives result A and should be used in cases X, Y, Z", preferably with illustrations.

 

[cranraspberry]

Are you kidding?! The prose of Nikon's manuals is on par with some of the greatest authors.

Haha in all seriousness I don't remember having this much trouble with my D90 manual. In fact, it even had illustrations of a lady in front of a mountain! That's pretty much the level at which I am capable of grasping things.

 

[KmH]

My problem with the manual is that it describes the features, but doesn't give a clear explanation of when and how the features should be used. As a very non-technical person (woe is me, I know, I know) I find that confusing and am looking for something with a more hands-on approach. As in, "Mode N gives result A and should be used in cases X, Y, Z", preferably with illustrations.

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/.../253998-flash-sync-speed-does-make-sense.html

 

[cranraspberry]

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/.../253998-flash-sync-speed-does-make-sense.html

I have, but flash sync speed is a bit too advanced for me right now, to say the least. I've yet to figure out the very basics, the flash version of the exposure pyramid and rule of thirds, so I have a long way to go before I get to using the flash off-camera and determining sync speed.
Maybe there's a well-known book out there you could recommend, something like the Understanding Exposure of flash?

Speaking of which, this is wonderful: http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2009/12/camera-flash-cookbook-for-any-lighting.html

 

[kennysghost]

Digital Photography Tutorials

Thanks! That's so much more comprehensible than anything I was able to google up.

Glad I could help out.. I'm also In the Learning stages.. And that Site really helps out allot!

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Maybe google "photography flash tutorial" and see if you can find some useful links.

Or even "camera flash basics"

 

[cranraspberry]

Or even "camera flash basics"

Thanks! That yields much better results than the wording I was trying this whole time. My google results were either too basic or too advanced, and thus frustrating.