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Nikon accessories and creative lighting
Summary: The Nikon D2HS digital camera and the SB-800 Speedlight are top of the line camera equipment. Getting the most out of the equipment and accessories requires creative thinking. Don't depend on the equipment alone to expand your creativity.
Using my Nikon D2HS digital camera accessories I
took advantage of a creative lighting technique to create a moody
portrait.
The room in a bed and breakfast where I was taking
photos of the owner featured a roaring fireplace.  | | The bounced/reflected light from the wood coffee table puts a warm glow on the subject. It enhances the mood and reflects the personality of the B and B owner. |
The room also
was well lit with indirect light from a large bay window.
Facing the problem of how to create that warm glow
on my subject positioned in front of the fireplace and keep the
fireplace visible in the background created a lighting challenge.
Thinking the problem through
My first thought was to use a flash to directly
light the subject. The SB-800 Speedlight could be  | | The SB-800 SPeedlight placed on the coffee table, when triggered by the camera attached with the SB-17 coiled cord, will bounce a warm toned light on to the subject. WIthout the flash you can see the cold tone of the room light on the subject. |
positioned off my Nikon D2HS
digital camera with a SB-17 coiled cord. The cord attaches to the
came at the on-camera flash hot shoe.
The flexible/expanding coiled cord enabled me to
place my SB-800 Speedlight away from the lens. A light source placed at
an angle helped enhance the portrait of the bed and breakfast owner.
Working the scene
My first challenge was to determine the right
exposure to capture the flames of the fireplace. At ISO 200, combined
with a slow shutter speed (1/30th of a second), I took several test
shots at different lens settings from f11 to f4 and reviewed them on
the digital display on the rear of my camera. That ISO 200, f11
and slow shutter speed looked great and captured the movement of the
flames in the firebox and enhanced the look of the fire.
With the electronic flash positioned off-camera I
tried a few pictures that were technically sound. There was a balance
of on light on the subject’s face and the background. The angle of the
light complimented the light from the bay window. However, the
tone of the light was cold and in stark contrast to the warm glow of
the fire.
The illusion, the mood
Some photographers would be happy with the results
of a technically sound photo, but that is where I tried to take the
photo to the next level.
When taking a photo it is sometimes helpful to
improvise to create an illusion that enhances the overall mood of the
picture. The warm glow i sought was very much like the warm and
comfortable feel of a bed and breakfast. So too, the persoanlity of the
B and B's owner.
A coffee table in the room provided a perfect posing
prop where my subject could pose. The wood’s tone, used as a reflector,
provided a perfect compliment in color tone that would be similar to
the warm glow of the fireplace.
Technique versus technical
The TTL feature of the off-camera SB-800 SPeedlight
removes a great deal of guesswork on a photographer’s part. That
TTL mode automatically balances the light emitted by the flash with the
light in the room.
However, you can still use your creative techniques
to get even more from the accessories you have as opposed to the
accessories you wish you had.
There are filters and gels that you could place over
the flash to change the color temperature of the light. You can use
these filters/gels to color correct the light from the flash to match
the ambient light in a scene. An example would be using the filters to
change the color of the flash to that of flourescent lights in an
office. This would allow you to match flash and ambient light using the
flourescent light setting on your camera. Those same filters/gels can
be used to create mood in portraits by adding warm tones coming from
the electronic flash.
I have to confess that I seldom carry that full
range of accessories and lighting gear with me on assignment. I find it
challenging and fulfilling to come up with a solution at the moment. I
suppose it is contrary to the “professional image”, but there is a
satisfaction that comes from “creative improvisation”.
“My solution”…not the only solution
After surveying the scene, checking the light,
deciding on the shutter speed, f-stop (aperture) and pose here’s the
method I used to add a warm glow to the portrait of the bed and
breakfast owner.
I rotated the head of the flash, laid it on the wood
coffee table, attached the flash to the camera’s hot shoe via the SC-17
coiled cord and took the photo.
A final thought
There are an infinite number of solutions to taking
this portrait. Some will work better than others, but it is
important to note that the message here is to extend your range.
Think creatively and use your imagination to solve problems you face
when taking photos. I’m sure you will develop your own style and get
satisfaction in solving lighting challenges in your own way.
Right away I checked the camera’s rear display to
make sure the light was right and the low able “bounced” light from the
coffee table
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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