As a photographer with a background in web development, I’ve noticed something interesting about learning. In the world of learning code via YouTube and other resources, there’s a term called “Tutorial Hell.” It describes a situation where people get stuck watching endless tutorials without ever putting what they’ve learned into practice. They gather tons of…
One of my favorite lighting techniques involves mixing flash with natural light, particularly when the natural light is strong and coming from behind the subject. This method creates a beautiful backlighting effect that adds dimension to your photos. The Basics Using natural backlighting alone can work if there’s enough illumination bouncing around to reach the…
Speedlights (shoe-mount flash units) or Strobes (larger units not meant to be used “on-camera”) for portrait photography? Each has its own perks and drawbacks. Some things to consider: Note: For no specific reason, I’ll use the term, “speedlight” to refer to shoe-mount flash units. Speedlight is what Canon calls its flash units. SPEEDLIGHTS (SPEEDLITES): Weight…
I wanted to talk about something I believe is important for portrait photographers to learn: mastering the use of artificial lighting. While natural light can be beautiful, gaining skills with artificial lighting, especially flash, is what’s really going to make the difference in your work. Here are a few reasons why understanding how to use…
Creating good silhouette figure images is fun and a neat type of image you can add to your portfolio. Silhouettes emphasize shape and form, stripping away details and letting the viewer’s imagination fill in the blanks. There are more than a few ways to create silhouettes. One approach involves using flash lighting against a white…
Learning any new photography skill can be challenging, but there are strategies you can use to make it easier (and more effective). Here’s a good strategy for mastering new lighting techniques: Set aside time to practice regularly. Experiment with different lighting setups, try new techniques, and see how changes in angle and distance affect your…
In the ever-evolving world of photography, certain lighting gear has gradually faded from use, a couple of examples: the optical sync slave attachment and the PC cord/cable for flash sync. These tools have been overshadowed by advancements in flash technology and wireless connectivity. Optical Sync Device Let’s start with the optical sync slave attachment. About…
When using flash, adjust your shutter speed to control the brightness of continuous lights in your exposure. Continuous lights include ambient lighting, natural light, lamps, LED lights, and so on. Here’s the deal: let’s say you’ve got your flash dialed in for a perfect exposure on your subject, but that cool lamp in the background…
One of the most important elements that can make or break a portrait is lighting. Lighting can dramatically alter the mood, feel, and quality of a portrait. While there are various lighting setups and techniques, understanding the basics—Key Light, Fill Light, and Hair Light—can significantly improve your portrait game. In this blog post and video,…