Strobist – David Moore

It took longer than I’d planned, but I’m now fully set up for some off-camera lighting adventures.

Some AlienBee triggers (the CST and CSRB, if you’re interested) and one of the Starving Student kits from Midwest Photo Exchange saw me right, and while I’m definitely a newbie at this, it turns out that some of what I’d already read made sense when I started to practice yesterday.

My aim (at least at first) with the strobism is to use it to make it look like I haven’t really used artificial light – a simple one light set up, working to support natural light.

My daughter Fionnuala was happy to help out as a model (so long as she got to take some pictures too). And I found another willing model – our loco cat Colin Feral.

Both of these shots have natural light coming from one side, balanced with the flash (through an umbrella) on the other side.

I can definitely see how this will be useful in some of the more challenging interior locations I find myself in (and outdoors, too I’m sure).

Starting out as a Strobist

090611girlstennispoy012 — © Matt Roth - mattrothphoto.com

I’m a natural light guy. Or have been until now.

Hugely unimpressed by almost all uses of on-camera flash, and fascinated by the challenge of capturing the quality of real light in my scenes, I used to swear I’d never use a flash.

And for most of my work – on location children’s portraits – that works well, most of the time.

I choose the right time of day, and a good location in possible, and chase after the kids always trying to maximise the catch-lights in their eyes, and get some flattering natural light falling across their faces.

But sometimes that’s just not possible.

A little flash light bounced off a nearby wall or ceiling might open up their shadowy face and cut the chance for motion blur. Or used outside, it could open up some opportunities to work with the sun to get some good effects.