I had planned to write about photography in the snow. After all it’s January here in western Canada and it should be snowing.
But there isn’t much snow in my neighbourhood, and it isn’t that cold out. So instead I’ll write about what I did on my first weekend of the New Year.
I decided that a good way to begin another year of photography would be to host a Flash (speedlight) workshop to help those photographers that are planning to photograph people in 2019.
While I was preparing for the class I found an article by California based photographer Jason Shelton tilled, “5 Reasons to Use Flash”. He continued, “Flashes are more than just Fill….Reason 1: Flash is Awesome. Reason 2: Flash is Awesome. Reasons 3, 4 and 5: Flash is Awesome.”
Although I absolutely agree with Mr. Shelton, I needed a bit more to tell the photographers in attendance than that.
So many of today’s modern photographers have become lazy with the amazing camera technology we have, without a thought about controlling the light, it’s direction, or the light’s quality. They point their cameras and hope their cameras will make good pictures. The one-day session I led was about speed lights (hot shoe type flashes) and how to use them on and off-camera.
This class filled up so quickly that I almost forgot how hard it is to convince photographers that a flash isn’t only for darkened rooms. When I passed handouts about using flash to everyone I watched people begin to read and some even nodded as if agreeing with what they were reading.
I use handouts so participants don’t need to take notes. For those that didn’t have their own flash I had several lying on the table. There were also flashes with wireless receivers mounted on light-stands topped with umbrellas ready and waiting around the large room.
I began with my thoughts on why I think everyone should have a dedicated TTL flash and how we can balance the light in a room without giving our subjects that “deer in the headlights” look.
I moved on to high-speed sync and after everyone set his or her cameras up we moved outside to give that exciting feature a try. When I tell people their cameras can sync at 1/8000th of a second I always get looks of knowing disbelief because camera and flash manuals usually show a sync speed of 1/250th or slower. After that, lets call it “awakening”, I gave everyone triggers to place on their cameras and we moved to the light-stands and spent the rest of the day using off-camera flash.
Although I talked a bit about posing, I was mostly interested in showing participants how to position the light.
It’s gratifying to have a group of photographers sit listening to one’s lecture on any subject, that’s great for the ego. But what makes me smile and reinforces my desire to continue is the excitement in the room.
In this case it was when eight photographers, all competent at using their cameras, suddenly discovered how wonderful and creative using flash instead of natural light is.
They may have bought a flash because the salesperson said they’d get a good deal if they purchased it with the camera. Or possibly they worried their camera’s ISO might not go high enough and needed a flash at a friend’s wedding reception.
As I was showing a quick, easy and flattering way to pose an uncomfortable subject I realized that the room was noisy with loud talk. I stepped back while a photograph was taken using an off-camera flash and I listened to the many excited discussions.
I realized I had a room full of converts.
These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net. Stop by Enman’s Camera at 423 Tranquille Road in Kamloops. I sell an interesting selection of used photographic equipment. Don’t hesitate to call me at 250-371-3069.
