i wanted to begin improving some of my shots and finally got around to ordering a used speedite 580exii... any books/sites you guys can recommend for me to get started???

 

I'd be interested in this also. I recently got myself a 430EXII and 270EX.

 

Understanding exposure has a decent flash section if I remember rightly. Honestly your best bet is the canon forums FAQ's and online google. POTN has an amazing flash forum with tons of info to learn.

 

I highly HIGHLY recommend a DVD box set by Zack Arias call "OneLight"... Zack explains the 5 main elements of flash/strobes photography soooo well, it makes it easier to understand for people new to flash/strobes photography. Even though, everything he talks about in the DVD is based on "One Light" setups (thus the title), you can still apply the 5 main elements to multiple light setups.

It IS a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny IMO.

 

He is very easy to understand. I often go back to his video just for refreshment. The only downside, if any would be that his DVD was made in 2006 iirc, so the prices of his equipment are more expensive now.

AdoramaTV on Youtube does do lighting videos, but i don't like how mark wallace explains things.

 

www.strobist.com

great site.

 

really? I actually like how he explains stuff

 

not too much. Even though he is goofy and he's accent is funny. i don't mind Gavin Hoey.

 

what does accents have to do with tutorial/advice videos? You're basing his videos on his accent?? Mark's explanation of the Inverse Sq. Law was one of the better ones I've seen. Better than Zack's IMO

 

I think you had read my post wrong, not about accents. I dont like how mark wallace teaches in his video. Not knocking the guy, hes there for a reason but his teaching methods arent for my tastes. As for gavin hoey, seems a little better for my liking. I just added about him having a funny engrish accent

 

Meh' I've personally learned a lot from watching Mark Wallace, Gavin is okay, I just don't like how he sometimes (or often times) do a 2 parter video and the 2nd part is usually in Photoshop on how it was done. I like the concept but I don't like Photoshop, I'd rather just use Lightroom and be done with.