SOoooo discouraged.

flyingember · Dec 6, 2010

they're not bad. the low-key effect is really professional. I always find that I'm pickier with my photos than the subject. I grumble over them and then they're happy.

What made me realise they were good is that at one time I had 10 people simultaneously use a photo I took as their profile photo on facebook and more than 20 people have in total. I've had a couple of people use my photos years after I took them various places online. If they didn't like the photo I figured they wouldn't do this/

For lighting tips, visit the Strobist website. they have really good tutorials about lighting in their 101 section. the site is big into using cheap manual flashes with good results for the budget conscious.

if you retake something like the yoga pose again consider practicing using off camera flash to create shadows on her face and a turned heads to hide her face even more

fokker · Dec 6, 2010

KmH said:
fokker said:

+1 for the ctr-310p triggers, I also have the trigger and 3 receivers. Can't fault them really and for $50 they open up a new world of possibilities.

Click to expand...

Do those use the CR2 batteries, instead of AA?

Yeah they use the CR2 batteries. Seem to last for ages as long as you remember to turn the receivers off.

KmH · Dec 6, 2010

fokker said:
KmH said:

fokker said:

+1 for the ctr-310p triggers, I also have the trigger and 3 receivers. Can't fault them really and for $50 they open up a new world of possibilities.

Click to expand...

Do those use the CR2 batteries, instead of AA?

Click to expand...

Yeah they use the CR2 batteries. Seem to last for ages as long as you remember to turn the receivers off.

They seem quite a bit more expensive than AA's.

tirediron · Dec 6, 2010

How did you meter these? Do you have a flash meter?

twoboysnmygirl · Dec 6, 2010

I just metered in my camera, I don't have a flash at all...but I will soon b/c it was not fun to shoot with such low light.

Blips · Dec 7, 2010

I like the YongNuo RF 602 trigger set a lot, build quality is very good and they have very good reviews. For a set you pay $22 so a decent price. It takes forever to get it home as they use the slowest mailroute ever! Next up a decent (manual) flash would be a YongNuo too, the YN-560. It is a very nice and decent flash for a fraction of the cost compared to the Canon or Nikon flash but it has the same power as their top of the line models. Want to read more about Off Camera Flash including all the technical stuff? Head over to my website, there is more than you ever wanted to know.

twoboysnmygirl · Dec 7, 2010

Ok, this will sound like a totally noob question, but I have avoided flash for 2 years now(b/c I hated the way it looked) and I just don't know much about it...why I'm trying to learn finally!

So, with these off-camera flashes, I can use them ON camera as well, right? Just in Manual? (which isn't an issue b/c I shoot in manual). I just don't want to get something for off-camera and not be able to use it to bounce on-camera when I'm not in a studio setting.

I found the Yongnuo YN460 for 40$!...but I can spend up to about $100 if there is something better for that price? Anymore suggestions?

Geaux · Dec 7, 2010

twoboysnmygirl said:
Ok, this will sound like a totally noob question, but I have avoided flash for 2 years now(b/c I hated the way it looked) and I just don't know much about it...why I'm trying to learn finally!

So, with these off-camera flashes, I can use them ON camera as well, right? Just in Manual? (which isn't an issue b/c I shoot in manual). I just don't want to get something for off-camera and not be able to use it to bounce on-camera when I'm not in a studio setting.

I found the Yongnuo YN460 for 40$!...but I can spend up to about $100 if there is something better for that price? Anymore suggestions?

The YN's and other japanese 3rd party lenses will be only manual, used on or off the camera. Not sure what camera you are using, so I'll use mine as an example. I have an sb600 (nikon brand) for my nikon d3000. When on camera, it TTL, which means it flashes what it thinks it needs based on the settings on camera. If I go off camera, the flash will only be manual b/c of my cam body. Higher up models (d90/d7000) have off camera ttl and it works just like it is on camera. They also have commander mode, so you don't need wired or wireless triggers for it to flash.

Basics

twoboysnmygirl · Dec 7, 2010

I only have a D40, and I did read one review where the YN got stuck on their D40, so I'm a little concerned with that. I just want something with the versatility of bounce as well as using it off camera as a strobe when I'm doing studio lighting.

Geaux · Dec 7, 2010

When I bought my first flash (still only have 1), I fought the idea of a YN460II vs the nikon sb600 and since it was my first one, I spent the extra money to have the ability to let the TTL take over and not worry about manual on camera. I chose the sb and haven't looked back since. I'll more than likely pick up a YN460II once I go with dual off camera flashes though.

If you aren't going to use it ON camera at all, go with the cheaper YN b/c you'll have to go manual on the flash no matter which brand you get lol. I was going to use mine on camera for the beginning, so I wanted the 'auto' modes.