If your past attempts at learning flash have all ended in failure (not to mention tears and/or blind rage), then The Off-Camera Flash Handbook is about to change everything for you. For years, photographer Vanessa Joy has been using off-camera flash to create gorgeous portraits that look like they were shot in the most beautiful natural light at the perfect time of day. Well, guess what? That consistent look was not created thanks to the most amazing luck with the weather. No. It was created by a pro photographer who mastered her use of off-camera flash. And with her down-to-earth and practical explanations, that’s exactly what Vanessa teaches you in this book.
Vanessa breaks down off-camera flash into an easy-to-understand approach, and instead of focusing on the gear and the settings (which are also included, of course), she focuses on the kinds of shots you want to make. This book is about learning to use off-camera flash easily and quickly so that you can create beautiful, natural-looking light in any situation, at any time you need it…regardless of the weather or time of day.
The book is divided into three parts. Part One covers the fundamentals of off-camera flash, and it does so without blasting you with a firehose of information. Instead, Vanessa gives you the basics you need so that you can start shooting right away without becoming overwhelmed with technical jargon.
Once you’re set up and ready to go, Vanessa jumps right into Part Two with specific photo scenarios and real-world situations where you’ll learn key techniques for using your flash to create consistent, beautiful photographs. For each scenario, Vanessa provides the goal for the shoot, a gear list, the step-by-step shooting instructions, and images that show both the progress of the shoot and the behind-the-scenes shots or lighting diagrams of the setup. She also discusses problems you may encounter, variations on the shot, and additional practical scenarios for each situation.
Just a few examples include:
- • Recreating the golden hour at any time
- • Shooting groups
- • Making indoors look like outdoors
- • Enhancing natural light
- • Using flash at events
- • Working in harsh sunlight
- • Creating silhouettes
- • Shooting at sunset
- • Fixing an ugly-light room
- • And much more
Finally, Part Three tackles the questions you’ll likely have once you’ve got the basics under your belt and you’re already creating great photos with your off-camera flash—things like high-speed sync, sync speed, a practical understanding of the inverse square law, etc. There is also a helpful FAQ section at the end of the book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH OFF-CAMERA FLASH
- You Already Know This
- Getting Your Flash Off Camera
- The Fourth Point of the Exposure Triangle
- Light Positions and Modifiers
- How to Add More Lights
PART 2: SCENARIOS
- Golden Haze
- Golden Hour
- Creating Twilight
- Photographing at Sunset
- Making a Magenta Sunset
- Groups with One Light
- Individual Portraits
- Couple Portraits
- Enhancing Natural Light
- Making Indoors Look Like Outdoors
- Super Soft Portrait Light
- Creating a Fiery Sky
- Keeping the Sky Blue
- Lighting a Dark Room
- Creating a Silhouette
- Turning Day into Night
- Tiny Little Details
- Table Details
- Event Speeches
- In Harsh Sunlight
- Shooting with Reflectors
- Event Bounce Flash
- Using Gels for Fun Color Effects
- Using Gels to Color Correct
- Lighting a Dark Room
- Turn a Rainy Day Sunny
- Lighting to Look Like Window Light
- Making Front Bokeh
- To Fill in Shadows
- Wow, This Indoor Light Sucks
- Rim Lighting
PART 3: FACTS AND FAQS
- What Are You Talking About?
- But Light Doesn’t Do That
- FAQs about OCF
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