What do i Do????

[Photo_Mama2]

I am totally new to DSLR... I bought my camera at the beginning of this month, and im waiting on my strobes... I have a backdrop set up, and a YN-565ex, I have been playing around with it, and cant seem to get good pix... Im still learning the whole f/stop, iso, shutter speed (ect) thing, I know im probably moving too fast.. But can anyone help me!??? #1 #2 This is my youngest son... Only used PSE11 to resize the photo so I could upload on here... No other edits done

 

[tirediron]

Read this.

Buy this.

 

[pgriz]

Well, when you keep running off the road, I'd suggest you slow down a bit. Keith gave good advice, and that book is really good - but you need to practice what it teaches, step by step.

The things you need to know at the beginning are:
1) how to set up the exposure (how to read the meter for average vs. spot, and how to select the exposure based on subject brightness)
2) how to focus (or how to tell the AF where to focus)
3) how aperture influences depth-of-field
4) how to control the flash manually
5) how to shoot a combination of ambient light and flash

Pretty much all of these are covered in the tutorial thread. (http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...299286-new-feature-photography-tutorials.html)

For specific issues, tell us what you're trying to do, what your setup is, what your settings are, and the result. We'll usually be able to help you or at least point you in a better direction. Best to try to solve one issue at a time.

 

[TomHarmon]

I think the second one is the better one, but the lighting one both are not that great. I would study lighting techniques and composition as your first order of business.

 

[Tee]

First, learn the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to give you a proper exposure. Learn this before putting the flash on. Then search video tutorials on how flash effects ambient light, the inverse square law, etc. Practice, practice, practice. There's no rush to go pro.

 

[KmH]

When not using strobed light (flash) the 3 exposure controls - shutter speed, lens aperture, ISO - all control the exposure. Additionally, shutter speed controls motion stopping, aperture controls depth-of-field (DoF), and ISO controls image noise.

When using strobed light (flash), the ISO setting you use is tailored to the flash unit power setting, but like in an available light exposure is set to as low a value as possible based on the flash unit power setting.

When using strobed light (flash), shutter speed is no longer used to control motion stopping. The short duration of the flash of light does that instead.
Shutter speed is then used to control the ambient light exposure.

When using strobed light (flash), the lens aperture still controls DoF, but it also controls the strobed light exposure.

In summary, when using strobed light (flash), you control 2 exposures with a single shutter release, 1 for the ambient light (shutter speed), and the second for the strobed light (flash) (lens aperture + flash unit power setting).

Note: Inverse-square law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Inverse Square Law says that as light source distance from the subject changes, the light power changes as a square function.
In other words, if the light source is moved 2 times further away from a subject, the amount of light delivered to the subject is reduced to 1/4 as much. If the light source is moved 2 times closer to a subject, the amount of light delivered to the subject is 4x as much.

By the same reasoning, if the light source is moved 4 times further away from a subject, the amount of light delivered to the subject is reduced to 1/16 as much.
If the light source is moved 4 times closer to a subject, the amount of light delivered to the subject is 16x as much.

 

[KrisztinaK]

What a good explanation. I wish I read this when I was learning how to use my flash. I have to agree with the link that was posted to the Strobist website. This is where I learned most everythink I know about using my flash as a light source when I was at this point. But really, when you are first starting out you have to learn one thing at a time. I'd recommend practicing with natural light until you have learned the basics of exposure, DOF, etc. Then, and only then, would I recommend adding flash to the mix.