Flash Photography: buying a flash and flash photography course

How to buy a flashgun: the most important features every photographer should have

This article on Digital Camera World explains about what to look for when buying a flash but if you need more help then we have our Flash Photography Course starting on 29th May

“This course is designed to help you understand the use of flash; on camera, off camera and in a studio.

In recent years there has been an interest in using flash off camera and various bits of camera gear have hit the market to make this possible, we look at these and aim to give advice as to which are best value and how to make most use of them. During the course we plan to identify ways in which you can use flash more creatively and will look at the use of flash guns as supplementary light sources, as fill in light, as highlight introducers (catch lights) and how we can use flash during the day as well as at night to better effect.

It is assumed you already have a full understanding of your DSLR, no camera use will be explained on this course, and you probably already have an external flash gun although this is not essential and you may wish to delay purchasing until you have completed the course. Areas covered include: studio flash lights, how and why to use them; metering; on camera flash; off camera flash; coloured flash; syncing off camera flash guns using radio triggers; light modifyers; backgrounds; lighting stands, clamps, reflectors and setting up.”

A full-sized flashgun delivers the potential for versatile lighting techniques in wide-ranging conditions. In this quick buyer’s guide we’ll explain how to buy a flashgun by revealing some of the most important features every photographer will want to have. Too many flashguns never see the light of day. They’re stashed away, only brought out after dark or for shooting in gloomy interiors.
So if you have a flash gun or plan on buying one this article will be of use to you

The Transformative Power Of Light In Photography: Marie Laigneau

On Faded+Blurred there are some wonderful articles and spotlights on photographers, this caught my eye particularly as I have worked on a series called Eternal Light for more than 30 years

One of the things I absolutely love about photography is that initial feeling of discovery in seeing the work of someone new for the very first time. Recently, I came across the portfolio of Chicago-based street photographer Marie Laigneau, whose work is absolutely terrific. In addition to her fabulous photography, her blog offers up some valuable insights into refining the craft of photography. One such post prompted me to email Marie and ask her if she would allow me to share it here on Faded + Blurred. In it, Marie offers some great observations on how light can affect not only the aesthetic value of a photograph, but also our emotional connection to it. Enjoy.

One of the things I absolutely love about photography is that initial feeling of discovery in seeing the work of someone new for the very first time. Recently, I came across the portfolio of Chicago-based street photographer Marie Laigneau, whose work is absolutely terrific. In addition to her fabulous photography, her blog offers up some valuable insights into refining the craft of photography. One such post prompted me to email Marie and ask her if she would allow me to share it here on Faded + Blurred. In it, Marie offers some great observations on how light can affect not only the aesthetic value of a photograph, but also our emotional connection to it. Enjoy.

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The Transformative Power Of Light In Photography

by Marie Laigneau

Light – and the absence of light – is inherent in all photography. But light is not neutral – it shapes your image, it emphasizes your story, and can ultimately transform the reality to create new worlds as mysterious and powerful as those found in our dreams. Knowing when and how to use light is key to creating greater impact with your photography. If we look at the impact of light as a continuum, light can transform your image in four different ways:

1. Separation – At the very basic level, light acts as a separator between your subject and the background. Back to the core of our perceptions, the human mind can only distinguish elements in visual art if, and only if, they have different colors or shades of a similar color. In B&W photography, when colors are de facto absent from your composition, the only way to define your subject vs. the background is to create tonal differentiation. In other words, you need to capture elements with different values of light if you want them to be distinct from one another.

2. Emphasis – A more advanced use of light in your composition can allow you to emphasize your main subject. In other words, light can help create better stories if used smartly and appropriately. Think about how light, and its opposite the shadow, can contribute to your composition: leading lines, blockers, frames, negative space. All those elements will support your story by leading the eyes to what really matters – and get rid of what doesn’t.

3. Substance – Furthermore, light can create elements of its own – secondary actors that will help you tell a more subtle and powerful story: silhouettes, shadows, reflections. Those elements often convey more mystery and depth to your stories, helping to emphasize underlying emotions in your images. Those elements will create substance if they reinforce your existing story – which means, if they do not contradict the story in place.

4. Tension – The most powerful impact of light that can be found in photography is to create meaning. When new elements created by light – or absence of light – detract and contradict the story in place, you are in fact creating new meaning. This is probably the most interesting and inspiring use of light for street photographers. New meaning will be created if, at the end of the day, elements with contradictory meaning come together to form a greater whole. This is the power of opposites – stirring emotions in multiple directions to create, ultimately, meaningful tension.

1. Separation: Using light to dissociate elements in your photographs
The primary subjects in the photo below would be almost indistinguishable from the background if the sun was not highlighting their faces. Here, light creates that required differentiation between tones that is at the basis of our perceptions. Because the light in the background is subdued, the point of highest contrast (meaning, the point where there is the highest difference between light and dark) also falls on the subjects. The eye will naturally focus on the point of highest contrast, ensuring that my subjects are prominent in my composition.

 

Read more of this engrossing article here