Why use an External Flash (Part 2)

I wanted to provide some additional information and example from my previous post.  Using an external flash has its pros and cons as with just about every other piece of equipment used in photography.  Another added benefit is that using an external flash during sunsets can allow you to capture the deeply saturated colors of the sky while capturing your subject at the same time.  Also by using the external flash, your shutter speed can be kept above 1/125 which will help keep the primary focal point (your subject) from being blurred and keeps it sharp.

I had the opportunity recently to have the lovely subject Kelly (above) that wanted to have some college graduation photos done and wanted some of them to be with the sunset.  Anyone that has been in El Paso knows that having a sky with any clouds is an unusual event and we were actually lucky enough to have had just a few.  I would have liked to have had more clouds so as to bring out more color, but in hindsight this was actually just the right amount so as to not distract attention away from the subject.

For photographers, understanding light is one, if not the most important aspect in photography to learn and understand.  It is not just knowing how to capture the light coming from the sun during the day, but it is also every aspect of lighting to include using an external flash.  I could have even gone further with the photo and used the external flash on a tripod just to the right of where I was standing, but with time of the essence while taking the photo which was only about five minutes total, I did not want to take that precious time away from the subject.  You have to know when to compromise and when not to.

I hope that I have given you something to think about when using an external flash and hope that you realize that you must be diverse enough to use all available resources in order to achieve the desired results for your clients.

As an additional note, after the client seen the final photo ordered many more prints for family members and friends which allowed me to gain a good profit from the photo session.  If you learn, you will eventually profit from your experience whether expecting to or not.  Until the next time, keep on practicing.

Raney

Why use an External Flash

There are "Photographers" and "Fauxtographers" everywhere you go.  One of the areas that separate them is knowing when and how to use an external flash when shooting.  This is not saying that if you do not use a flash that you are not a photographer and I do not want to start contraversy with others in my statement.  But there are certain instances that when using a flash will greatly improve your image and provide the right lighting in order to flatter your subject.

I am extremely opposed to using the built in flash that comes standard with cameras, but have been known to use it as a last choice when my external flash is not working.  I currently use a 430EX external flash when I need it and contrary to popular belief, a flash is not only for shooting inside or when it is dark outside.  As you can see in the above photo, it is toward the middle part of the day around 10:30-11:00am and I still used my flash.  The reason I use the flash was to provide enough fill light on the subject since the sun is behind the left side of the tree and would have had a great amount of shadows fall on the subject.  By doing this, I give just enough power to the flash (current photo was diffused lighting at 1/4 power) giving the appropriate lighting to the subject, at the same time able to use a fast enough shutter speed to not have a completely washed out sky and able to even pull in some of the blues from the sky in the image.

This is not the easiest thing in the world to learn and takes a lot of practice in order to estimate the amount of light needed in different scenarios.  I am not perfect in this aspect either and this set-up even took me about 2-3 tries to adjust the power and shutter speed to get the look I was after.

I hope that this has helped you understand some situations that you could use a flash and why it is needed.  It has been awhile since my last post and was actually determining if I would continue this blog or not due to being extremely busying with work.  The main reason I am starting to write this blog again is that I really have a passion to teach others from my own experiences and to help those that are starting out in photography.

Last note that I will mention is that the one reason I do not use the built in flash on cameras is that the maximum effective distance for the flash is around six feet and even when it is used it can cause your subject to look flat by having no shadows.  I recommend that everyone should have an external flash that has the ability to adjust the power level.  Good shooting everybody and hopefully I will be able to write again soon.

Raney

Tip - Applying the Rule of Thirds

One of the most fundamental aspects of photography is composition.  When talking about compostion, there are many elements of design that make up this as a whole.  You have line, form, shape, color, pattern, rhythm, etc.  Of all of these different elements, the most fundamental is the "Rule of Thirds."

I give a base diagram for the rule of thirds below, but essentially this fundamental element of design plays on the visual aspect of the photograph.  As a viewer looks at a photo, the natural tendency for the eye is to look at certain points of the image first.  Asking anyone on the street, they would probably tell you that the first place to look is at the center, but they would be wrong.

Using the rule of thirds, you would basically split the horizontal and vertical portions of the frame into thirds, as shown above.  There are four (4) points on the diagram that intersect (vertical and horizontal lines cross); the upper left, the upper right, the lower left, and the lower right.  These are the points that a viewer's eye naturally is drawn to when first looking at a photograph.  These are the main points to concentrate on, but typically anywhere along the lines either vertically or horizontally that the primary focus of your photograph should be placed.  There are exceptions to this rule, but let's stick to the basics for now.  If you are taking a portrait of someone, you would want to place him/her along the dividing lines of the frame.  This will create a more visual pleasing photo to look at.

As I have said before, this is probably one of the most fundamental rules of photography.  With that being said, it is also the most unused element of design.  I would recommend a training program of sorts for the amateur photographers out there.  Go out and take a lot of photographs, it doesn't matter what it is, just take them.  First concentrate on what is your primary subject of focus and then apply the rule of thirds.  This fundamental can only be instilled if it is practice, much like driving a car, the more you drove a vehicle the more comfortable and confident you drove.  The same is for applying this rule.  Practice, practice, practice.  I cannot say this enough.

A Day at the Tigua Cultural Center

During a recent trip to the Tigua Cultural Center of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso,  I took this photo of one of the dance performances.  The Tigua Native Americans currently celebrate over 300 years of tribal history in the local area.  Below I have posted the address, phone number, and times of these social dance performances if anyone is interested in seeing.

Tigua Indian Cultural Center
305 Ya Ya Lane
El Paso, TX 79907
915-859-7700

Dance Performances:  Saturday and Sunday only - one at 11:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m.

Monster Jam

These photos were actually taken during the Monster Jam event in El Paso in early March.  I have been going through about 8 gigabytes worth of photos and looking for the best ones.  This first photo is of Grave Digger jumping a pile of crushed vehicles.

This photo of the vehicle of  Iron Man jumping was one of the first of many photos that were taken.  This was one of the first few photos that I actually was able to get the camera settings just right in order to capture the subject moving focused properly while keeping the background just slightly out of focus.  This is a technique called panning and takes a good amount of practice in order to get right.

This photo is of Grave Digger the Legend.  This is also a slight use of the technique called panning but with the primary subject coming moving toward the camera slightly.  This is one of the most successful photos in respect to composition and other elements of design.

El Toro Loco is among the favorites of the El Paso people.  I would have to agree partly with the exception of Grave Digger.  Until next time.