flashbus ranunculus

aka - my lame-o attempt to become a serious strobist.

 

I took a ride on David Hobby and Joe McNally's Flashbus, and O.M.G., was it the best day I've ever had in photography training! The focus (heh, bad pun) of the day was simply this - how to do great lightning with small flashes. They both have very different approaches, and both are incredibly effective.

 

Fast forward 2 weeks. I have now mastered "commander mode" on my camera, and can fire my flash off-camera like I was born to do it. I have umbrellas and light stands, and the orbis ring light is on its way (arriving this week, thank you very much Mr. UPS man).

 

The hard part? The stuff of magic and art and timing? Pulling it all together. Finding the perfect light, creating the perfect light. The ultimate quest.

 

What I like - the color of the red flower stayed pretty true, and I like the shadows in the petals. What I don't like - I think it could benefit from some more drama in the lighting, less monotony, more contrast. Or something.

 

Strobist info: Ambient light, camera left, key light above and camera right, flash at 1/25, fill light on camera at 1/50. Or something like that.

Done