Hot Shoe Flash tips

Bob Rules

Senior Member
Hello Nikonites,

Could someone recommend any videos, books or tips regarding using the hot shoe flash? I currently struggle with getting the correct balance using flash and ZI would like to have flash as an option.

Thanks in advance
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
You might want to check out "Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash" by Bryan Peterson.
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WayneF

Senior Member
You might want to check out "Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash" by Bryan Peterson.
....


I'm thinking you have not read it? At least, I do have to differ strongly with that recommendation. Peterson's Understanding Exposure was good for beginners, every beginner should start there (no flash in it however). This Understanding Flash book does have a few good things in it, but it is about using the Nikon GN mode found on a few flashes (SB-700, SB-800, SB-900). Flashes without GN mode are left in the dark. :) And that is of course direct flash only. Maybe nothing wrong with that, but it is an extremely limited view of flash.

We can always compute Guide Number ourself, but this book makes absolutely zero mention of Guide Number, or what it is, or how to use it. It only uses the GN calculator mode found on a few flash models. You can see Understanding Guide Numbers, including GN Calculator about Guide Number.

Even worse, this book ignores all TTL, which is not an appropriate approach for beginners. Speaking of reflective metering, it simply dismisses TTL, saying it might not always be accurate, without any mention of how to correct it (flash compensation). The same is of course true anytime of our reflective camera meters.
Yet, amazingly, for bounce flash, it just says "open up two more stops" over the direct flash value. Like that is going to be accurate. LOL

TTL and/or bounce flash are tremendously important. So is Guide Number if you're going to use it.

In my opinion, this book is a much better try:
David Busch's Flash Photography Compact Field Guide (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides): David D. Busch, Ed Verosky: 9781133597162: Amazon.com: Books

It actually covers stuff, but it does not mention Guide Number.
 
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kevy73

Senior Member
Best tip I ever remember was if you have to use a hotshoe flash for a portrait, then point the flash in the direction of the nose...

ie, if your subject's face is pointing over your right shoulder, then with the speedlight, turn the flash to point to the right...

Jerry Ghionis tip. Works a treat.
 
You dont need to understand much ..the flash has a computer which understands it all.
If you use a hamerhead flash in the hot shoe then only shoot landscape or you will get terrible side shadows..any shaddow under the ears is easy removed in photoshop much easier than a huge side shadow.
Much better to use a flash flipper ($20 on e bay) to always keep the flash on top of the lens.
My choice is a SB400 or Meike MK 300 (syncs at all speeds SB does not) ..The closer you have the flash to the lens the less shadow problems you have.
KISS.


I see you have the D7100 remember that when you put a flash in the shoe then the iso goes to 4x the minimum you have set ...ie auto iso 200-6400 will give you flash at 800 iso ....this gives you more range on your flash ..this is not in the handbook.
 
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