Using Flash Outdoors (and eliminating tiny catchlights in the middle of eyes)

[afliegs]

I've recently begun to use flash outdoors during my photo shoots to become more flexible on when and where I can shoot. I have a Canon T3i (hopefully upgrading to a 6D very soon) with a Canon 430 EXII. I leave the flash mounted to the top of the camera, mainly because I have a run and gun style of shooting and like to shoot a lot of photos from different angles for each pose. Ideally, I realize it's probably best to get the flash off of my camera and wirelessly trigger it. But I haven't fully grasped the off camera set up just yet (I'm working on it).

My main problem that I'm getting with leaving the flash on top of the camera are tiny catchlights in the center of eyes (sometimes). Can this be alleviated in any way without putting the flash on a stand or having someone hold it. Will some kind of flash bracket do the trick? If so, do you have any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[runnah]

I guess why do you not want catch lights?

 

[pgriz]

The usual way of doing this is to mount your flash on a flash bracket which will, depending on the bracket, move your flash anywhere from 6 inches to several feet away from the lens axis. However the bigger this bracket, the more awkward it is, and you may end up clipping someone standing close to you (guess how I know). This approach allows you to use E-TTL or I-TTL with an appropriate connector cable. If you put a modifier on the flash, then the rig becomes bigger still. However, you can still move around with this set-up, while putting the flashes on a stand would mean you have a "fixed" shooting area.

 

[afliegs]

I do want catchlights, but the catchlights I am getting from leaving the flash directly above the camera are frequently tiny pinpoint catchlights (that I do not want)

 

[afliegs]

The usual way of doing this is to mount your flash on a flash bracket which will, depending on the bracket, move your flash anywhere from 6 inches to several feet away from the lens axis. However the bigger this bracket, the more awkward it is, and you may end up clipping someone standing close to you (guess how I know). This approach allows you to use E-TTL or I-TTL with an appropriate connector cable. If you put a modifier on the flash, then the rig becomes bigger still. However, you can still move around with this set-up, while putting the flashes on a stand would mean you have a "fixed" shooting area.

Do you recommend a certain bracket? Does it matter if the bracket mounts the flash above or to the side of the camera? Or is it just important to get some distance from the lens axis?

Thanks!

 

[pgriz]

That depends on where you want the light to be coming from. I have a bracket that allows me to position the flash above the camera, or to the side. However, I don't use the bracket much, because I usually use the flash (on camera) in bounce mode, with the flash=head pointed at a 45 degree angle behind me. This illuminates the white back wall behind me and the white ceiling to provide for a much more diffused light. But it can be a pain carrying the wall and ceiling around with me.

 

[OLaA]

Why not use your existing wireless ettl system and hand hold the flash? You get used to it pretty fast and absolutely free. Just make sure when out door rotate the body of the flash so it has more or less line of site with your camera.

 

[jwbryson1]

Why not use your existing wireless ettl system and hand hold the flash? You get used to it pretty fast and absolutely free. Just make sure when out door rotate the body of the flash so it has more or less line of site with your camera.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[pgriz]

I don't think his camera supports wireless E-ttl with the built-in flash.

 

[OLaA]

I don't think his camera supports wireless E-ttl with the built-in flash.

The t3i does for sure.

 

[pgriz]

I don't think his camera supports wireless E-ttl with the built-in flash.

The t3i does for sure.

Then, your suggestion will be very good. My T1i doesn't and I use a connector cable when I need the e-ttl functionality off-camera.

 

[afliegs]

Why not use your existing wireless ettl system and hand hold the flash? You get used to it pretty fast and absolutely free. Just make sure when out door rotate the body of the flash so it has more or less line of site with your camera.

Seems a little awkward, but I'll definitely give it a try.

 

[HughGuessWho96 11]

I do want catchlights, but the catchlights I am getting from leaving the flash directly above the camera are frequently tiny pinpoint catchlights (that I do not want)

Most people WANT the tiny catch light in the eye. Without them, they look unnatural.

 

[Derrel]

I think BIG catchlights in the eye look far superior to the tiny pin-point sized ones that come from using a speedlight that blasts light out through a 1/2 inch by 2-inch Fresnel lens panel...one of the reason that so much beachwear and outdoor fashion is photographed using BIG scrims and BIG reflectors, held by human assistants. Much of the time the fill is provided by natural light, not by flash. Sometimes however, flash is used, and is shot through or bounced off of these scrims and or reflector panels (although to be fair, many of these shooters using flash + reflector fill or flash + scrim are using medium format cameras with leaf-shutter lenses, so they can shoot their flash at FAST shutter speeds, in bright ambient light conditions on beautiful,sandy beaches...)

Reflector fill gives a full range of shutter speed and aperture possibilities, without any flash synch speed limitation issues.

Have you thought about using a small softbox or umbrella as a modifier, to make the catchlights larger?

 

[pgriz]

One reason that I do carry around that white wall and ceiling, is that they provide a nice large light source with also gives nice catchlights. Just have to remember to position my subjects appropriately to get the right amount of illumination.