srika

not quite.... its some kindo of small controller keyboard with a shoulder strap..

srika

ok so... I do need the diffuser... BAD. did get some to come out OK but a lot of times it was "hit or miss"... much more unpredictable than with the diffuser on.

stogie1020

Do you ever use the diffuser straight on? I remember the package said not to, but I have seen people doing it.

srika

never tried that but I would think you could get some kind of usable result with it. just a guess.

Mizouse

honestly the only reason why i use a diffuser is because i see everyone using one

srika

oh yea me too, lol

Mizouse

it still baffles me how a picture with like 1/15 shutter can come out.

here is one i took at hot import nights



Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Image Date: 2008:03:22 21:20:32
Flash Used: Yes (Manual)
Focal Length: 44.0mm
CCD Width: 3.05mm
Exposure Time: 0.067 s (1/15)
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: 0.67
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

probably would've been better if i didn't accidentally leave it at +.67 exposure bias.

Mizouse

sorry for the hi-jack.

srika

what's baffling about it? the pic would have looked rather good, if it was in focus.

and I don't consider it a hi-jack, I think any discussion about the technical aspects of photo is good, anywhere.

Mizouse

yea, its not quite in focus

im just used to having to use 1/focal length for a shutter speed.

i have much to learn for flash photography.

Dan Martin

Flashes have very fast durations, so they freeze motion well. Depending on the power output you've selected, a 580EX fires at 1/15,000 sec at 1/16 power all the way down to 1/35,000 sec at 1/128 power.

When you're shooting with a flash as your primary source of light, your camera controls behave a little differently. Because the flash duration is so short, shutter speed does not effect the exposure you would get from the flash. In other words, the flash doesn't have to do anything different to expose properly at 1/200 than it does at 1/15. So long as the pulse can happen while the shutter is fully open, the scene will be exposed properly.

The only thing shutter speed does for you is control the ambient lighting. Slower shutter speeds will let more ambient light in. Flashes help to freeze the motion, but you'll want the flash to be a stop or two brighter than ambient to make the effect noticeable.

Aperture controls depth of field and ambient light. It will also reduce your flash efficency. Now remember, since the flash duration is so short, you can't use a longer shutter speed to offset your smaller aperture, you have to increase your flash power. The shutter speed only controls the ambient light because it's usually a continuous light source.

ISO sensitivity is a global change of lighting. It affects flash power and ambient power equally. If you're happy with the ratio between ambient and flash, then you can use the ISO adjustment to make the whole scene brighter or darker.

srika

hey what I was trying to say was, you were very close to getting a good shot.

that didn't come out the right way at 2:30am. lol

Next time you are in the situation, pause for just a bit longer and half-press maybe 2-3 times, just to ensure you have a lock-on. When I had the focusing "issue" with the 24-70, this is what I did - I just spent a tad longer prepping the shot, and now I'm used to that and rarely ever have soft shots anymore with that lens. Especially if its a shot you surely want to NAIL - take just a tad longer prepping it - it will be worth it. Also in that case review the pic and if it didn't come out, request to take it again, 9 times out of 10 they won't have a problem with that.

Shift_it

*** Just curious; Do you approach these people and just take the pictures or do you ask for permission?

I don't shoot at clubs but there was times when I was @ the park and saw old people or kids running around by the lake that looked like it be wonderful pics to shoot but I am not sure if I just take the pictures or do I ask for permission first.

So I just wanted to ask.

BY the way, your making me feel that I am getting to OLD!! Wait; I am married now. LMAO!!

BTW these pictures are bad ass

Mizouse

interesting reads, thanks

waTSX

That's good advice. I've found the same thing works for me. I don't know how I came to start doing it, but doing it increases the keeper rate considerably. Also, with portraits like that, I like to make sure I'm focusing directly on the persons closest eye, even if I have to recompose after locking focus (I say closest eye, because at wider apertures and shallow DoF, the girl's right eye could be in focus while the left is not...it looks odd if the nearest eye is OOF while the other is sharp). It can make a big difference as to how the shot comes out. Even using IS at slower shutter speeds, slowing down, being sure of good focus and keeping a steady hand means you can nail sharp shots.

srika

hey well it depends... before I say anything more let me say that the club is a very very different place than say, a park. That being said, they're not really comparable to one another. At the club, people know photographers are around and they know they might have their pic taken that night. Esp if they are hot girls. So it's not really any problem to take pics of such people at the clubs (but of course there will be exceptions). Depending on the need (if you need lots of pics of different people) - then you might have to ask people for pics - if it's early in the night, many will say no. And, many will look totally unapproachable (it's pretty easy to tell when people don't want to be bothered). The reason for this is because, quite simply, they aren't drunk. The real pics come later in the night.

As far as a park goes, I really don't think I would ever take pics of random people there, even if I asked them. It's a totally different scenario. If I had to, I would probably approach it by saying I was working on some project that needed such pics, and I would guess that I would definitely find some people who will allow that. Also, you'll have better chances in doing that if you have an SLR with a flash - generally speaking, for the general public, the bigger your gear, the more "serious" they think you are. If you take a P&S around the park asking to take pics of people, they might think you have some kind of social problem. Whereas with a DSLR and flash, you look more "legit". Of course these days, SO many people have DSLR's so the issue may be becoming moot.

srika

and that's good advice.

Billiam

Here's something about flash photography I've wondered about for a while now. Check any book or web site that covers the subject and you'll see the same thing: "Get the flash off the camera."

Ok, fine. But here's the thing. I would venture to say an overwhelming majority of (non-professional) flash photos are taken hand held. How exactly are you supposed to "get the flash off the camera" when you're shooting hand held? Does anyone even make old school potato masher flash brackets any more? I checked Really Right Stuff and Kirk Photo and they both only made flash brackets for macro and tripod mounted work.

srika

There's people in the clubs shooting with the flash off the camera. I started seeing it first maybe 9-12 months ago. It is definitely possible because the shots do look quite nice (when done right). Yes you hold the cam with one hand and the flash with the other hand. I haven't seen anyone doing this with a bigger cam - mainly D70/80 and Rebels - but I would not doubt that people are doing it with the bigger cams too. I would think it would be quite tedious to shoot like this for a whole night with a bigger cam with grip. There are times when I shoot with one hand too - 2 reasons being getting different angles and not obstructing the DJ - and I do get good shots that way as well.

It's definitely an interesting look with the light coming from the side, but I personally don't feel any desire to do it. It's a different style of photography and for sure it has its place and lots of people love it - it has its own personality and a unique look. Here's one of the Chicago outfits that does it - have a look at some of the galleries:

http://www.darkroomdemons.com/

srika

ps. here's one of the guys in action:



also saw a guy shooting with TWO flashes - one on the cam and one remote. dunno how his pics came out.

Mizouse

i thought the whole idea behind that was to get the flash as high above the camera as possible so as to generate more natural looking light and shadows

srika

Sasha & Digweed @ House of Blues

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2429001044/" title="sasha_digweed_028 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2429001044_d702c27b1b_o.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2429001114/" title="sasha_digweed_070 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2429001114_f8eaa8061d_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="sasha_digweed_070" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2428188327/" title="sasha_digweed_088 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2428188327_d7c089741c_o.jpg" width="1058" height="903" alt="sasha_digweed_088" /></a>

stogie1020

Great shots! #5 is awesome. What ISO where you shooting at?

srika

320 and 500

einsatz

LOL @ couple kissing up front on the 3rd pic - that's awesome.

That looks like it was a wicked show!

PixelHarmony

This is good stuff Srika, I was at the BT in soundbar, that was amazing, until the system broke... Good stuff, I just jumped on this thread today but it's amazing to see progress from your first Vision shoot up until your recent gigs.

Good stuff!

Mizouse

any updates?

Mizouse

ohh and i just got back from photographing some bboy battles, i was suprised how well i was able to stop motion with 1/15th f/4.0 and ISO 200

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

amazing pics ... they really put u there...

srika

you want to see some new pics? OK!!

Sound-bar Friday 05/23/2008

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2533827417/" title="soundbar052308 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2533827417_c0e569e698_o.jpg" width="1128" height="2572" alt="soundbar052308" /></a>

srika

posted some of these in another (obscure) thread, here they are again in case you missed em.

Armin van Buuren @ Vision 05/24/2008

http://www.delobbo.com/gallery2/v/052408_armin_vision/

srika

Paul van Dyk @ Vision 05/17/2008

http://www.delobbo.com/gallery2/v/05...vandyk_vision/

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2502934881/" title="IMG_0793 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2502934881_773d8c3e91_o.jpg" width="826" height="685" alt="IMG_0793" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2503765610/" title="IMG_0879 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2503765610_7a5e8dfd8c_o.jpg" width="826" height="645" alt="IMG_0879" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2503766650/" title="IMG_0986 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2503766650_603886e54d_o.jpg" width="826" height="559" alt="IMG_0986" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2502936383/" title="IMG_1054 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2502936383_6b278eeac1_o.jpg" width="826" height="559" alt="IMG_1054" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/2504180479/" title="IMG_0697_pvd01 by delobbo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2504180479_899e90a17d_o.jpg" width="1058" height="717" alt="IMG_0697_pvd01" /></a>

Mizouse

should've flown to Chicago for my birthday

Mizouse

btw love yer pics

srika

what's bboy battles.. .do I even wanna know..

srika

oh man that woulda been some problems

it was one of those girls' bday too, (actual 05/22)

srika

btw I just killed my gallery. need to get it restored. this is the reason why, I am very reluctant to try upgrades... sux.

Mizouse

serious??? my actual bday is on 5/22

Mizouse

i was about to post this, but its break dancing battling

ex.

Mizouse

ohh yea and i tried out 2nd curtain sync with that shot.. nifty