Using what you've got...

[kirbym2]

Hi All,

Okay, first to admit I have easily fallen into the trap of trying to acquire as much equipment as possible in the shortest amount of time, because OBVIOUSLY, the more equipment you have the better your photos will be, right?

Anyways, to this end, I'm trying to take a step back and really understand what it is I want to accomplish, and how to best do it with what I have already. I've reviewed many threads that recommend this approach before trying to expand further.

I'm wanting to narrow my focus to family photography. In that I would include babies, children, couples, engagement, etc. I'm not comfortable with weddings/events, BUT would like to move in that direction as my skill set improves. I've got the D7000, an SB-600, a couple of decent lenses.

I am not comfortable using flash. I'm trying to incorporate it, but my lighting setups suck. I use a TTL setting, and the flash is either to strong or weak. Sometimes it can't keep up with me and doesn't fire at all. For that reason, I like shooting outdoors with lots of natural light. To be clear - I don't label myself as a "natural light photographer" - I'm quite comfortable saying I can't control my light sources well.

So I open myself to you guys - what suggestions do you have for me? I want to continue to shoot people... I'd like to do both indoors and out. I'm interested in what you do as far as lighting setups with a single flash (either off camera or on). What do you set your flash to (indoors and out). I don't think I should need to acquire a ton of new equipment - I'd really like to create a great product with what I have... Am I way off base here? Any DIY projects I can complete to complement my existing equipment?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Trever1t]

Well you're on the right track, asking and open to suggestion. Perhaps you post a shot up (post settings) so that we can see what help you need?

 

[Big Mike]

Off-camera flash (lighting) is a key to a whole new world of possibilities. I'd suggest to keep practicing that. But don't get locked into it. Simply using a reflector when shooting outdoors, can make for really good results.

Since you like shooting outdoors, learn to recognize good light when you see it. A typical example is a location that is shaded, but has nice side lighting. For example, under a tree(s) but next to the edge of the forest/tree.

Of course, you have to have a good handle on how to control your exposure, otherwise the good light is wasted.

 

[KmH]

TTL is quite difficult to learn to use well because of it's complexity, but because the camera is making so many critical decisions that are best made by the photographer, TTL is inconsistant.

That's why so many that use strobed light (flash, AKA speedlight) use the lights in manual mode, not TTL. By turning down the power level manually, the recycle time of the speedlight can be shortened considerably.

As Mike mentions, you still wind up having have to use supplimental light by at least using a reflector(s).
By foregoing using strobed light, you lose the ability to control the ambient and flash exposures independently. When you use flash, shutter speed controls the ambient light exposure, lens aperture controls the flash exposure.

 

[subscuck]

As Keith mentioned, TTL lacks consistency. Manually adjusting your flash output and checking the results (good old "trial and error") will help you develop a feel for the right amount in different situations. At this point, your best DIY project would be to get some white foam board for a reflector, and some sort of diffuser for your speed lite. There's quite a lot you can do with a one light/reflector set up, and it will certainly help you gain an understanding of lighting. Like Big Mike said, off camera gives you much more flexibility, but you can still learn a lot with on camera speed lites. You've taken a good approach to learning, all you need is practice and education.

 

[KmH]

With subscuck's additional comments it should be apparent that there is no avoiding learning about photographic lighting, whether available light or supplimental light is used.

Photography is mostly about the effective use of light.

 

[Derrel]

Sounds like you need more technical skills and a higher level of both knowledge and a higher level of proficiency inn using flash. Frankly, I think the SB 600 is not a good choice for professional flash work. Ity was designed for amateur use. The more-powerful, better-featured SB-800 (recently discontinued) and SB-900 units are far better to learn. Why learn on a beginner's flash???? Why become proficient with anything less than a professionally-targeted flash unit?

Anyway...you clearly need to learn and truly understand how flash "works". Perhaps the easiest mode to learn is AUTO flash, and by that I mean auto thyristor, NON-TTL flash. If you want to become a people photographer, I'd suggest looking into some good books and web sites where the basics are explained well, and then learn the basics, and then move toward becoming REALLY SOLID in terms of knowledge, and technical proficiency.

 

[kirbym2]

Thanks for the feedback... Some great things to consider. First step for me is switching to manual on the flash, and a little trial and error. I do have a reflector, and I believe a nice little stand to hold it - So I'm going to try to incorporate that into my next shoot. I like the idea of a diffuser for my flash - suggestions for a low cost option?

Sincerely appreciate the help. I'll try to post up some shots to give examples. I do feel that I've had some successes, but more often than not they're happy accidents (i.e. technique didn't necessarily play as much of a role as my fumbling with the dials until the blinking line was in the middle).

 

[tirediron]

I agree that manual flash generally provides the best results, and really is not that difficult to learn, at least as far as the basics to go. I do however disagree with Derrel's assertion that the SB600 is not a suitable flash. True, it's not quite as powerful or feature-rich as the recently discontinued SB800, or its newer cousin, the SB900, BUT it is an excellent flash in it's own right, and has the benefit of a very simple and intuiative set of user controls. Lighting 101 on the Strobist Blog is an excellent place to start.

 

[KmH]

I like the idea of a diffuser for my flash - suggestions for a low cost option?

A diffuser, particularly one mounted right on the speedlight, basically just scatters the light, which wastes light power, and it doesn't make the light appear any larger.

Making the light apparently larger softens the light and the shadow edges, which is why so many bounce light off a wall or ceiling, a photographic umbrella, or a softbox.

If you have a 5-in-1 reflector, one of the 5 is a diffuser, it can make the light apparently larger, and it doesn't scatter the light to badly. It's what the zippered cover that has the other 4 reflector colors goes over.

Westcott Photo Basics 304 5-in-1 Reflector Kit

Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector

Opteka 43" 5-in-1 Collapsible Disc Reflector, Translucent, White, Black, Silver, Gold, with Carrying Case

 

[pgriz]

I've been frustrated with the inconsistency of TTL flash, and with the encouragement of a number of posters on TPF (and elsewhere), started shooting manual flash, with good results. Recently, I've experimented with lighting up a room with strategically positioned manual flashes, so that no matter where I was in the room, the flash exposure was more or less the same. That allowed me to move around and take pictures of people without blasting them with light, or using a single bounce and getting racoon eyes. I've used both cheap radio triggers and optical triggers and the trick seems to be to position the flashes so that they give good bounce light in an overlapping pattern, and adjust the individual power so that they all give about the same amount of light contribution. I'm sure the pros use this method, but it was a discovery for me, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. The other benefit was that I could set one exposure on the camera, and most of the pictures came out well exposed.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Why become proficient with anything less than a professionally-targeted flash unit?

I agree but why not go straight to the best then and suggest getting a Metz, the Rolls Royce of flash units


Except that would be a waste of money considering what the OP is interested in shooting which would be best done with strobes imho. So that brings the question (to the OP): how far do you want to go with photography? Is this just for fun or do you want to make it work someday?