After about two weeks of not posting anything, I am now back at writing and publishing.
In the last days I used my time with getting into the world of lighting.
As I wrote in my last article, I now own a one flash studio, and since this is a completely new field of photography to me, I want to use it as much as I can.
To start with, here are some of the shots that I took over the last days using my flash setup.
These shots are nothing really artistically worthful, but when you start to learn something new you have to play around and IMO best is to start small. Without an unleashed flash, these shots wouldnt have been possible, and I feel like the quality of light let these look a good bit better than they would without. That makes me happy.
Step by Step.
I really like the possibilities that light gives me, even though I think I will always prefer natural light over artificial.
Flash is awesome for portrait shooting, but this is something that I only want to learn for “science” but that will hardly ever be something I am really passionate about.
I think I will rather use it in Urban Exploration, where you normally simply have to be lucky about the light.
While a exploring a new location in the past, the light has often been the deciding factor whether a location is awesome or horrible.
Many things simply look like nothing in dull light but are amazing with a nice ray of sunlight on it.
Either a good motive has awesome light or not, its simply about being there at the right time. I had to let go some incredible motives due to bad or no light in the past, and I would be more than happy if this would not happen ever again.
In Urban Exploration its almost always about natural light.
Sure, you can help the light using flashlights or flashes, but some lighting situations are so special, almost magical, that you cannot copy this by lighting the scene yourself.
You, dont believe me? Here are some samples that proof that:
You can only shoot as far as sunlight goes, and in many cases the light is pretty plain and soft, no hard shadows or neat effects.
I love that I now have the chance to influence my light, and to create scenes that I could only dream of until now.
But its tough, very tough to learn IMHO.
Like certainly 90% of the people who learn to flash, I use Strobist.com for learning. Its an awesome resource, and perfect for a beginner like me.
If you dont know it yet, I cannot recommend going there enough.
But be aware, lighting is a huge think to learn, complicated and frustrating.
If you challenge the light it will strike you down by simply not working as you want it to.
But if you make it to get shot that looks awesome and that wouldnt have been possible without the flash, its all worth it.
I believe unleashed flashes are powerful tools, that will really help me improve my vision and my photography.
In the next article, I will finally publish the full list of material I am using, and my personal review after 2 weeks of using it.
So, keep following, not only if you are thinking about getting your own studio as well.
Yours
Crazy Ivory