First shots with a strobe, your thoughts appreciated.

Hi all,

Just got back from a dive trip with the school to the northern red sea. I got a chance to try my new strobe out for the first time.

I'd appreciate any comments and feedback. I only have one at the moment. I chose to mount it close to the top of the housing facing slightly upwards. I figured this was a fairly safe position, but does give a flat light.

I would like to hear how you use / position a single strobe.

Anyway take a look, let me know what you think.

Cheers Andy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andycolley/se...57624598718271/

Hi Andy,

Lots more color than your 2009 set. Love the cleaning station shot. I'm not sure what you mean by "close" when describing where you mounted the strobe. What rig are you using and do you have a shot of your camera with the strobe mounted? There are a couple of shots where your strobe didn't reach out far enough, or hadn't recycled from a previous shot. On the blue spotted ray for example, the light landed in front of him. General guideline is to move the strobe farther away from the housing the farther it is to the subject. I would struggle if I had to live with my strobe stuck in one place. Is that what you mean?

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Andy,

Lots more color than your 2009 set. Love the cleaning station shot. I'm not sure what you mean by "close" when describing where you mounted the strobe. What rig are you using and do you have a shot of your camera with the strobe mounted? There are a couple of shots where your strobe didn't reach out far enough, or hadn't recycled from a previous shot. On the blue spotted ray for example, the light landed in front of him. General guideline is to move the strobe farther away from the housing the farther it is to the subject. I would struggle if I had to live with my strobe stuck in one place. Is that what you mean?

 

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve, Thanks for your comments. The pic shows the rig and strobe position I was using. This is why i mentioned it was a pretty safe choice but would provide a pretty flat light. ( Assuming of course the light reaches the subject, whoops! )

Cheers Andy.

Look at the modelling on your close-up shots, like the eyes of the crocodile fish (my favourite image in your set). What has happened is that the angle between the strobe and the subject is greatest when you are close, and this introduces some texture. A larger angle (the strobe position farther away from the camera, vertically or to either side) would exaggerate the modelling shadows, and spoil a close-up, but perhaps improve an image taken from further away.

Inons are not the most powerful of strobes and need to be aimed at the subject, particularly at a distance of 1m. Much further than 1m and the light isn't very bright. Closer in, particularly when you get down to 40cm or less edge (or "Edge", after Martin Edge) lighting can work well, with the strobe angled away from the subject so that only the outer part of the beam illuminates it.

Needless to say Martin's book has a detailed explanation and examples.

Of course, the temptation is to go to two strobes, but you're getting nice lighting from one, so I recommend to keep experimenting: try several frames of a cooperative subject and vary the strobe position. It's a pity that Inon have dropped the aiming laser, which used to help me point the strobe in the right direction.

Tim

Thanks for the advise Tim. I must admit there is a strong temptation at the moment to buy a second Inon. The aiming laser? seems a good idea, but what about using the Inons aiming light?

Andy.

... what about using the Inons aiming light?

You can't see it in daylight...

Tim

You can't see it in daylight...

 

Tim

 

Good point!!

Your Avatar worries me, by the way: have you been infected by Rob Cuss's self-photography virus?

Tim

Your Avatar worries me, by the way: have you been infected by Rob Cuss's self-photography virus?

 

Tim

 

Sorry for the delay Tim, I was on a photo shoot with myself Got some really good stuff!

Think I'm coming down with something???