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C&C New Lighting Setup

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Mel Boonstra

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O.k. LOVE the new lighting setup, small light weight and portable. I finally broke down and bought a 580ex II to go with my 550ex. I also purchased a Photoflex mini soft box. I put the 550 on a light stand and 580 on camera. I love being able to control everything from the 580. I have to admit I was skeptical, but after using it I will not be lugging around all those battery packs and strobes nearly as much. Anyway on to the picture, this is just a quick snap shot early evening (4:30ish I believe). Used my 12 year old daughter for model. I metered for ambient and adjusted camera and flashguns 2 stops higher, to "overshoot" the sun. 550 camera left just out of scene 580 on camera with 1:3 ratio. ETTL flash selected, with camera on manual set 2 stops higher than ambient. The sun is at her back for hair light. By the way this is straight out of camera, only pp was smart sharpen. Let me know what you think.

 
I like the lighting in these shots.

In both of the pictures, there is some redness on her stomach that I find a little distracting. In the second picture, the shadows of her fingers on her leg are a bit strong.

Aside from those minor things, I think the light, color, and pose is good. These are better results than I am getting with my 580EX, 430EX, and umbrella. I may have to consider a softbox.

--
Mark-B
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msteve1/
 
You say you metered for the ambient, and overexposed two stops and the flashes were set to over expose two stops, right?

Anyone know how this would be done with the CLS system's ittl in nikon? Set the camera exposure to +2, and the flashes to +2?
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David L. Morel
http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel
 
Hmm not sure with nikon, but canon makes it real easy. With the flashes on ETTL, put the camera on manual dial in what you want (2 stop over ambient) and the flashs calculate what to do on there own. Now this is not bulletproof and I am used to using strobes and setting everything manually, but from my first test shots, I am really liking the quickness and ease.
 
You're probably better off doing without the CLS system, as you'll never get predictable consistent results.

I'd like clarification as well Mel, you metered for ambient, then set both flashes for 2 stops over, yet you let the ETTL do the work for you?
 
koooba said:
You're probably better off doing without the CLS system, as you'll
never get predictable consistent results.
Click to expand...
I couldn't disagree more. I use Nikon's CLS system for every single shoot I do, indoor and outdoor. I never use manual settings on the flashes, they're on TTL 100% of the time. I find the results are very consistant and predictable.

David Morel: To get this look with the CLS system, I put the camera on manual, and set the aperature I want...usually start at about f2.8, but in the lower range for a tight DOF. I modify the background exposure with the shutter speed. If I want less light than at the flash-synch speed of 1/500th, I just choke down on the aperature a bit. I never use the camera's EV value button to change my camera settings. To adjust the flash power, I simply bump the Flash Value on the SU-800 (or SB-800, whatever the Master is) and that's it. If you do find that the CLS system is thinking too much and varying the light from one shot to the next (never a problem for me), simply hitting the FV Lock button will lock the flash value...it also eliminats preflashes and model pre-blinking which is what I use it for.

I love the CLS system.

Dave

--



'Now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb' - Dark Helmet

David Sammonds
LentoLux Photography
http://www.lentoluxphotography.com
Baton Rouge, LA
http://www.myspace.com/lentoluxphotography
 
Okay i'll try again, I meter with light meter ambient light. Put CAMERA on manual and set it 2 stops over metered ambient. Leave the flashes on ETTL with a 1:3 ratio and let them figure out the rest.
koooba said:
You're probably better off doing without the CLS system, as you'll
never get predictable consistent results.

I'd like clarification as well Mel, you metered for ambient, then set
both flashes for 2 stops over, yet you let the ETTL do the work for
you?
Click to expand...
 
I love this light! Could you show a picture of the set-up please? Her skin looks so smooth and soft that is great too!
 
Light is simple, 550ex on stand just out of frame and approx 1' higher than her nose, tilted down to hit her face 45 degree from camera axis, second light is 580exII on camera. As far as her skin goes, she's 12, she has pretty much perfect skin. As her father I hope it stays that way, I was not so lucky in my teens.
diamondlovr said:
I love this light! Could you show a picture of the set-up please? Her
skin looks so smooth and soft that is great too!
Click to expand...
 
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