hekp using flashes

RawRyder · Jun 13, 2008

i have 4 studio flashes from steve kaeser ( continuos light )
am using in 300 watt for the big flashes with soft box
and 50 watt ( i will change it later to 300 watt ) cuz my dad bought it for me he dont know that i must use alot of watts
i have a nikon camera with 18-70 mm

this is what i get ...

Camera:Nikon D200Exposure:0.167 sec (1/6)Aperture:f/4.2Focal Length:40 mmISO Speed:100Exposure Bias:0/6 EVISO Speed:100
Orientation:Rotated 90 degrees clockwiseX-Resolution:300 dpiY-Resolution:300 dpiSoftware:Ver.1.00Date and Time:2008:05:18 22:02:27YCbCr Positioning:Co-SitedExposure Program:NormalDate and Time (Original):2008:05:18 22:02:27Date and Time (Digitized):2008:05:18 22:02:27Compressed Bits per Pixel:4 bitsMaximum Lens Aperture:42/10Metering Mode:PatternLight Source:FlashUser Comment:KANDARISub-Second Time:90Sub-Second Time (Original):90Sub-Second Time (Digitized):90Color Space:sRGBSensing Method:One-chip colour area sensorCFA Pattern:GREEN RED BLUE GREENWhite Balance:ManualDigital Zoom Ratio:1/1Focal Length In 35mm Film:60Compression:JPEGColour Mode:COLORQuality:FINEWhite Balance:FLASHSharpening:AUTOFocus Mode:AF-SFlash Setting:NORMALWhite Balance Red, Blue Coefficients:514/256, 300/256, 256/256, 256/256Thumbnail IFD Offset:2354ISO Speed Requested:100 (May be different to Speed Used when Auto ISO is on)Photo corner coordinates:0, 0, 3872, 2592AE Bracket Compensation Applied:0/6Tag::Nikon Type 3::0x001B:0, 3904, 2616, 3904, 2616, 0, 0Tag::Nikon Type 3::0x001E:1Tone Compensation (Contrast):AUTOLens Type:6Lens Min/Max Focal Length, Min/Max Aperture:180/10, 700/10, 35/10, 45/10Bracketing & Shooting Mode:Shooting Mode: Single Frame AE/Flash Bracketing Off White Balance Bracketing OffTag::Nikon Type 3::0x008A:2Colour Mode:MODE1Lighting Type:NATURALNoise Reduction:OFFTag::Nikon Type 3::0x009A:605/100, 605/100Tag::Nikon Type 3::0x00A2:2629721Tag::Nikon Type 3::0x00A5:3276Total Number of Shutter Releases for Camera:3276Image optimisation:NORMALSaturation:AUTOImage Width:3872 pixelsImage Height:2592 pixels
how can i take photos with good lights ?? by using it manual ..
thanks ...

Big Mike · Jun 13, 2008

i have 4 studio flashes from steve kaeser ( continuos light )

If they are continuous lights...then they are not 'flashes'. Big difference.

Your main problem is that your shutter speed is too slow (too long) and it's causing blur from camera and subject movement. It's only 1/6 of a second. To get clear shots of people, you will probably need at least 1/60 and 1/125 would be better.

You are already using a somewhat large aperture (F4.2) for that lens. But just to be sure, put the camera in A mode and set the largest aperture (lowest F number).
The camera will them meter the scene and give you the shutter speed that you need for the exposure. In this case, the light level is so low, that you need a long shutter speed to get a properly exposed image.

Your ISO is only at 100. You can turn it up to 800 (three stops) and with the same set up, that would increase your shutter speed to about 1/50 or 1/60. That might be enough but you might need to turn the ISO up another step. That will introduce noise into the images but that's the trade off you make.

It looks like the white balance is way off. Try it in auto WB, or set a custom WB (see your manual). If you shoot in RAW, you can adjust the WB after.

It's always going to be a challenge when you try to shoot people with cheap continuous lights and slower lenses. I would have recommended that you use flash (strobe) lighting for this type of shooting.

RawRyder · Jun 14, 2008

before i bought this contenious light, i asked many forums which one is better, they told me this ...
i bought it more than 1000 dollar .
i think i will sell it later , because i just got bought it. which lense do you recommend ? i need a lense not more than 200 dollar ( can i get one in that price ? )

by the way can i use bothe contenouis and strobes at the same time, i can buy only one strobes for now.

reg · Jun 14, 2008

Why do they both look so disturbed?

RawRyder · Jun 14, 2008

lol you mean the kids in the photo , it took me alot of times to take the shot, she is hitting her brother and that makes me angry, they look funny in the pix, but i have to post it to know my mistakes.