Man y'all were great. This was arguably one of the best 30minutes spent watching tutorials, I consider myself a professional and you explained things in detail that already made me a better photographer! Inverse square law, Aperture = light of subject, Shutter speed = ambient light usually these components get explained for other reasons or generalized, thank you for breaking it down and showing best case uses!
I've been a photographer for years but this is a great refresher. - Shutter speed controls the ambient light - Aperture controls the flash exposure on your subject - ISO increases/decreases both, subject and background exposure I knew these fundamentals but explained in the context of outdoor flash photography, everything makes so much more sense now.
What a great refresher. After needing to learn so many facets of photography and video over the years, you can forget some of these basics. For example, I somehow lost the fact that the Fstop is what drives the light on the subject directly and the shutter is for the ambient. Now granted, I understood this but as I was watching the video I realized that my understanding was 'loose' and now I better get the idea of dialing in my subject with the f stop then adjusting for my ambient with shutter speed. On top of that, the refresher about using ISO to up the exposure on the full image was like a light went off. Separating out these 5 parts as taught in the video was super helpful. There's so much to know when you are a photographer and have to move quick with your camera along with on camera/off camera lights, etc etc. It was just nice to have a refresher on the basics again because I truly forgot some of the finer points covered in the video. I always get the right exposure etc when I am on a paid gig after a few adjustments, but this helps me isolate more effectively those elements that I only need to adjust to get my exposure the way I want it. Thank you!
This could be the best teaching tutorial video I've ever watched on understanding flash photography. If you're interested in learning flash, watch this!!! WELL DONE!!! 👍👍
I think everyone has already said it, this is a very well easy to understand tutorial on flash. The best one I’ve seen because it covers everything. I love how the 5 components are explained with examples. Nice and tight tutorial!
This is one of the best instructional videos on flash lighting. Thank you for sharing. One thing I like to add is another way of adjusting background lighting is exposure compensation on the camera. I use it all the time and is quick and easy.
Guys and Lilly, this was an amazing learning and refresher on flash. You covered everything in a way that is very easy to digest and understand. Wow!!! Thank you
This was a great video! Really enjoyed the way you two guys educated and explained everything. You answered the why, the what, the how, and the when questions. I feel more confident now. Thank you so much for sharing!
Been doing photography for a while now but there is aways something to learn by going back to re look at the basics, this was such an excellent tutorial and has been really helpful! Thanku guys!
07:02 this did happen to me and I thought my flash battery was dying 🤣. thanks this video is great to learn as a lot of us using continuous light and just bounce the flash using roof as a medium.
Very informative video, Westcott! I appreciate you collaborating with these gentlemen. Entertaining and very insightful to even to someone who has been using flash for a few years!
Hello! Great video for beginners. I have friends starting photography and this will be a great for them. I’m based in Sacramento and I love the locations. Thank you and keep up with good work with all the videos!
It’s cool seeing a video where the instructors are in my area. This looks like Downtown Old Sacramento and the American River Bridge. I’ve walked that area with my camera taking photos of the River Queen boat, Crab House restaurant and ……… Good job guys. There are many good places to eat along with those great photo locations. As for lighting a single person I’m happy with a 24” Octa box. I have bigger ones, but I’m fine with a midsize 24”. My setup is a Nikon d850, 24-70, 85, 135, GODOX XPro transmitter, GODOX ad200Pro, Glow EZ 25” octabox on a sturdy stand, 20lb sand bag weight.
hi chopstick guys, thanks for sharing this video, I am new to OCF and you made things so simple especially the inverse square law, love your work. Mark from Australia
Another great video Panoptic Chopsticks!!! I have learned so much from you two over the years! Thank you for always being willing to share your knowledge with all of us in the industry.
This is the first video of yours I've watched. It is an excellent tutorial on lighting, easy to understand and follow, and in-depth. An excellent video for beginners and a great video for seasoned photographers as a refresher. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward watching more. Well done and thank you!
Excellent flash tutorial. Now the next step would be using flash with a global shutter, such as a available on the A9III. This opens up a lot of new capabilities using a flash without flash synch speed.
such a good, valuable video! Straight to the point, easy to understand and covers all the basics. Fantastic! Do you guys ever use the grey card method or use a light meter?
Thanks, guys - this was awesome! Any modifier recommendations for shooting full-body sportraiture-type shots of athletes? Doing my first set of those in a couple weeks, using the Sony a9iii and either the Sony 24-70 GM2 or the Sony 50mm/1.2 with your FJ80IIS light. New at this type of shooting and would love any setting/modifier/lens recommendations you can offer. Thanks so much!
Great work guys...I have a Canon slash Wescott question. If using my FJ400s as a Key and Side light, can I set my canon 600EX-Rt to Optically fire at my background?
The reason your colors pop in a flash image, is that most scenes with a diverse range of colors are best illuminated with light source of 5500K. Rather than overly cool light (shade) or overly warm light (incandescent lighting). Yes, you can change the cameras setting to accept any temp of light hitting your subject, but but most surfaces respond best to light around 5500K. Wanna check this theory, shoot skin with with light that is 2500K, 5500K, and 9000K, white balance correct them in LR or Adobe Raw, then have a look at the tonal detail in the file. 2500 will be flat, 5500 will have moderate tonal detail, and 9000 will have hyper tonal detail. This is because of how different color surface reflect diffetent color of light source.
Hey Guys! Great video and explanations, thanks! I was thinking about getting me a FJ400 to shoot with a Nikon Z8... but got a bit hesitant, as the Z8 is not mentioned as compatible on the westcott website and the lady from support said that HSS will only work up to an exposure of 1/1600 due to banding at faster speeds. In the vid you showed an Z8 as well, and also a picture taken at 1/4000 using HSS - so I'm a bit confused as to whether there is this problem with the Z8 and HSS or if it has been resolved? Thanks for your answer.
@@markbehrens5828 Thanks for your fast reply, might want to pass that to Westcott's support or even let them update the compatibility webpage ;-) Any suggestions as to a suitable light meter allowing to trigger the Westcott Flashes?
Neither one of us ever use TTL, it has never been a part of our workflow. We know people who do and love it, we are just control freaks who like everything manually set.
Have you found the banding issues when shooting in HSS with the z8? I have used the AD200, FJ200 & FJ400 - they all will have major banding issues. I heard you briefly mentioned it. I need to freeze sports action for my dramatic sports shoots. and the electronic shutter is killing me. and Nikon will not respond back still. :(
We have not seen any banding on the Z8, again we are mostly doing stationary portraits. For our sports/equestrian stuff we use the Z6ii to manage the lower light of arenas.
Have a question. I am currently searching for a pi saw that you guys used a power pack for yhe light, i guess you guys can help me. Recently i am searching for a power pack/power station to run 500w light. Which wattage or power is the best for that?
Most people shoot natural light photos with a faster SS than your flash sync speed. So no, flash photos are not technically sharper due to the SS but can be perceived to look sharper due to better lighting and contrast. If you know what you're doing then the same can be achieved with natural light.
I know you're trying to keep things simple. but want to stress with the inverse quarte law, every time you move your light backwards you are making a harder light. So keep that in mind if you want a soft light you need to be evry close to a small modifier.
Reason 3 to use flash, Flash adds sharpness?? hmmm not sure about this. A hard light source can definitely add micro-contast to scene, making the image appear sharper, this is true. But using flash is not a reason to use higher shutter speeds (this may have been an error in your script copy). And flash doesnt always freeze motion either. Full power on a flash will be anywhere from 1/250 - 1/500 sec flash duration. Will freeze some things, not everything. Example, dancer jumping into the air... will need a flash duration of around 1/2000 sec to hopefully freeze. Or water splash, the same.
Can tell you guys dont own the flash!! No WAY I'd be placing it that close to water without someone holding onto it, or having 20kg+ weighing it down. Small gust of wind will toss that setup in 😂😂
Thank you for allowing us to be part of this project. We LOVE helping others along their photo journey, always be learning!
We had an absolute blast filming this in beautiful Sacramento! Can't wait to come back for that amazing sushi 😁
Man y'all were great. This was arguably one of the best 30minutes spent watching tutorials, I consider myself a professional and you explained things in detail that already made me a better photographer! Inverse square law, Aperture = light of subject, Shutter speed = ambient light usually these components get explained for other reasons or generalized, thank you for breaking it down and showing best case uses!
I've been a photographer for years but this is a great refresher.
- Shutter speed controls the ambient light
- Aperture controls the flash exposure on your subject
- ISO increases/decreases both, subject and background exposure
I knew these fundamentals but explained in the context of outdoor flash photography, everything makes so much more sense now.
I’ve been a photographer for four years and I have never heard these points be explained so well. Phenomenal job.
We really appreciate it, thanks for watching!
What a great refresher. After needing to learn so many facets of photography and video over the years, you can forget some of these basics. For example, I somehow lost the fact that the Fstop is what drives the light on the subject directly and the shutter is for the ambient. Now granted, I understood this but as I was watching the video I realized that my understanding was 'loose' and now I better get the idea of dialing in my subject with the f stop then adjusting for my ambient with shutter speed. On top of that, the refresher about using ISO to up the exposure on the full image was like a light went off. Separating out these 5 parts as taught in the video was super helpful. There's so much to know when you are a photographer and have to move quick with your camera along with on camera/off camera lights, etc etc. It was just nice to have a refresher on the basics again because I truly forgot some of the finer points covered in the video. I always get the right exposure etc when I am on a paid gig after a few adjustments, but this helps me isolate more effectively those elements that I only need to adjust to get my exposure the way I want it. Thank you!
Your video is the most complete video on RUclips on flash photography, I literally got things I took a year to get in one whole video. am so grateful
This could be the best teaching tutorial video I've ever watched on understanding flash photography. If you're interested in learning flash, watch this!!! WELL DONE!!! 👍👍
Thank you, you made our day!
100% agree
I have to agree with you. I have shared this on our camera club group as well.
Brilliant video. I am starting my journey with a portable studio flash and you really helped me, thank you.
I think everyone has already said it, this is a very well easy to understand tutorial on flash. The best one I’ve seen because it covers everything. I love how the 5 components are explained with examples. Nice and tight tutorial!
We appreciate that! Glad it was helpful
This is extremely helpful thank you!
I liked the light from the Octabox the best. It doesn’t spill over light and has the soft light effect you’re looking for from a modifier.
“Let’s talk about something REALLY FUN now…. ISO”
Steve & Mark were great, I could use more videos like this, the information and application all at the same time in front of us gives so much clarity!
Glad it was helpful!
This was a great help! The most comprehensive explanations and examples I’ve ever seen. I will definitely rewatch and practice using this tutorial.
wow... this is what new to off flash should be watching... and im one of them...thanks for this wonderful video
You're welcome, glad you found it helpful!
This is one of the best instructional videos on flash lighting. Thank you for sharing. One thing I like to add is another way of adjusting background lighting is exposure compensation on the camera. I use it all the time and is quick and easy.
So glad this helpful for you, Michael!
Just ordered a 2 light fj400 kit for a shoot in a few weeks🎉😊 I'm excited for this next level
Wow, what a great video. Just packed with information. Thanks so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Guys and Lilly, this was an amazing learning and refresher on flash. You covered everything in a way that is very easy to digest and understand. Wow!!! Thank you
Thanks for watching!!
An awesome video and one of the best I have seen. I have shared this video on our camera club group as well.
Wow, thank you!
This was a great video! Really enjoyed the way you two guys educated and explained everything. You answered the why, the what, the how, and the when questions. I feel more confident now. Thank you so much for sharing!
I loved seeing the different light source effects. Thank you.
Shutter speed affects the background, aperture affects the subject, iso affects the overall light
You got it!
Been doing photography for a while now but there is aways something to learn by going back to re look at the basics, this was such an excellent tutorial and has been really helpful! Thanku guys!
A no nonsense, perfectly scripted and informative video. It was easy to follow and easy to digest. Well done. Thank you😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Westcott has been my go to for years. Thank you for making beautiful light affordable. Their customer service is top notch.
It is our pleasure. Thanks for your continued support!
07:02 this did happen to me and I thought my flash battery was dying 🤣. thanks this video is great to learn as a lot of us using continuous light and just bounce the flash using roof as a medium.
Extremely well explained. I think this is my favorite lighting video ever. ❤
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Very informative video, Westcott! I appreciate you collaborating with these gentlemen. Entertaining and very insightful to even to someone who has been using flash for a few years!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great educators thank you guys
Steve and Mark are the best!
Hello! Great video for beginners. I have friends starting photography and this will be a great for them. I’m based in Sacramento and I love the locations. Thank you and keep up with good work with all the videos!
It’s cool seeing a video where the instructors are in my area. This looks like Downtown Old Sacramento and the American River Bridge. I’ve walked that area with my camera taking photos of the River Queen boat, Crab House restaurant and ……… Good job guys. There are many good places to eat along with those great photo locations. As for lighting a single person I’m happy with a 24” Octa box. I have bigger ones, but I’m fine with a midsize 24”. My setup is a Nikon d850, 24-70, 85, 135, GODOX XPro transmitter, GODOX ad200Pro, Glow EZ 25” octabox on a sturdy stand, 20lb sand bag weight.
You guys are amazing
This video is gold
Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤❤
hi chopstick guys, thanks for sharing this video, I am new to OCF and you made things so simple especially the inverse square law, love your work. Mark from Australia
Heeeyyyy that’s Sacramento! I live in Sacramento 👍🏽💯
Another great video Panoptic Chopsticks!!! I have learned so much from you two over the years! Thank you for always being willing to share your knowledge with all of us in the industry.
This is the first video of yours I've watched. It is an excellent tutorial on lighting, easy to understand and follow, and in-depth. An excellent video for beginners and a great video for seasoned photographers as a refresher. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward watching more. Well done and thank you!
Glad it was helpful, and welcome to the channel!
Very good presentation. Well done. Thanks.
Wow! How ez was this to follow. Awesome!
Fantastic video, right to the point, very good explanations and demonstrations.. please keep making them and Thank You
Thanks, will do!
That was helpful thank you so much
Excellent tutorial. very easy to follow, very light (no pun intended) and entertaining
Much appreciated!
Great intro video, thank you!
Thanks for watching!!
What a GREAT video!
Excellent flash tutorial. Now the next step would be using flash with a global shutter, such as a available on the A9III. This opens up a lot of new capabilities using a flash without flash synch speed.
We actually did a video on that with our FJ Wireless System here: ruclips.net/video/Y8xLiRuK_og/видео.html
Great video. Thank you so much!
Sir, now I have also become a master thanks
Keep it up!
Great job guys
Thanks for watching!
Excellent tutorial. Thanks Wescott for sharing this.
Great video guys
Glad you enjoyed it!
GRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT Vid!!!
Thank you both for the great tutorial
Glad you enjoyed it!
Muchas gracias.
Very well explained! Thanks a lot! :)
You are welcome!
Incredible ❤
Thanks for watching!
@@WestcottLighting You're most welcome 🙏🏻
Really great video. Very well explained.
Thanks for watching Richard!!
Very helpful
Superb tutorial 🙏🇮🇳🙏❤️👍
Thanks ✌️
Well put together presentation.
Thank you so much!
The Ninjas!
This video is amazing!
Thanks for watching! We really appreciate it
Very nice, thanks.
Thank you
You're welcome
such a good, valuable video! Straight to the point, easy to understand and covers all the basics. Fantastic! Do you guys ever use the grey card method or use a light meter?
Yes, however, we find it more valuable that people start by learning how it all works and what it looks like before picking up the light meter.
Great Video!!
Thanks Martin!
Good job✅✅💯💯
Thanks, guys - this was awesome! Any modifier recommendations for shooting full-body sportraiture-type shots of athletes? Doing my first set of those in a couple weeks, using the Sony a9iii and either the Sony 24-70 GM2 or the Sony 50mm/1.2 with your FJ80IIS light. New at this type of shooting and would love any setting/modifier/lens recommendations you can offer. Thanks so much!
I really like the Westcott 1 X 4 Stripbox for full-body shots, check out some of the videos from Westcott by Matt Hernandez
ruclips.net/video/FrgtGARckDA/видео.htmlsi=F7ayHwNJEbX7O8uy
Great work guys...I have a Canon slash Wescott question. If using my FJ400s as a Key and Side light, can I set my canon 600EX-Rt to Optically fire at my background?
The reason your colors pop in a flash image, is that most scenes with a diverse range of colors are best illuminated with light source of 5500K. Rather than overly cool light (shade) or overly warm light (incandescent lighting). Yes, you can change the cameras setting to accept any temp of light hitting your subject, but but most surfaces respond best to light around 5500K.
Wanna check this theory, shoot skin with with light that is 2500K, 5500K, and 9000K, white balance correct them in LR or Adobe Raw, then have a look at the tonal detail in the file. 2500 will be flat, 5500 will have moderate tonal detail, and 9000 will have hyper tonal detail. This is because of how different color surface reflect diffetent color of light source.
Hey Guys! Great video and explanations, thanks! I was thinking about getting me a FJ400 to shoot with a Nikon Z8... but got a bit hesitant, as the Z8 is not mentioned as compatible on the westcott website and the lady from support said that HSS will only work up to an exposure of 1/1600 due to banding at faster speeds. In the vid you showed an Z8 as well, and also a picture taken at 1/4000 using HSS - so I'm a bit confused as to whether there is this problem with the Z8 and HSS or if it has been resolved? Thanks for your answer.
We both shoot Z8s with absolutely no issues with any of the Westcott gear.
@@markbehrens5828 Thanks for your fast reply, might want to pass that to Westcott's support or even let them update the compatibility webpage ;-) Any suggestions as to a suitable light meter allowing to trigger the Westcott Flashes?
@@cyber-r I'm not aware of one that will trigger Westcott, just have to turn on the meter and flash with the trigger.
Video is great; I am assuming you guys were shooting with flash set to TTL
Neither one of us ever use TTL, it has never been a part of our workflow. We know people who do and love it, we are just control freaks who like everything manually set.
What are you guys using for hanging the camera on your belt? Great job on video.
Thanks for watching! They are using Spider Holsters
Have you found the banding issues when shooting in HSS with the z8? I have used the AD200, FJ200 & FJ400 - they all will have major banding issues. I heard you briefly mentioned it. I need to freeze sports action for my dramatic sports shoots. and the electronic shutter is killing me. and Nikon will not respond back still. :(
We have not seen any banding on the Z8, again we are mostly doing stationary portraits. For our sports/equestrian stuff we use the Z6ii to manage the lower light of arenas.
In HSS you're talking about wanting to shoot wide open while at ISO320?
love from pakistan
❤
Have a question. I am currently searching for a pi saw that you guys used a power pack for yhe light, i guess you guys can help me. Recently i am searching for a power pack/power station to run 500w light. Which wattage or power is the best for that?
Best video about flash EVER. Period 🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾 thank you guys! You are uhh-mazing!
Most people shoot natural light photos with a faster SS than your flash sync speed. So no, flash photos are not technically sharper due to the SS but can be perceived to look sharper due to better lighting and contrast. If you know what you're doing then the same can be achieved with natural light.
I know you're trying to keep things simple. but want to stress with the inverse quarte law, every time you move your light backwards you are making a harder light. So keep that in mind if you want a soft light you need to be evry close to a small modifier.
I'm not liking this video cause I want all the tips for myself.😂
Great breakdown @panopticChopsticks!!
Thank you!
Davis Robert Anderson Donald Johnson Ronald
A very confusing video and making things harder than they are. Instead of hss you can also use an nd-filter btw.
Reason 3 to use flash, Flash adds sharpness?? hmmm not sure about this. A hard light source can definitely add micro-contast to scene, making the image appear sharper, this is true. But using flash is not a reason to use higher shutter speeds (this may have been an error in your script copy). And flash doesnt always freeze motion either. Full power on a flash will be anywhere from 1/250 - 1/500 sec flash duration. Will freeze some things, not everything. Example, dancer jumping into the air... will need a flash duration of around 1/2000 sec to hopefully freeze. Or water splash, the same.
Why is someone like you who knows everything watching a video on lighting for beginners?
Can tell you guys dont own the flash!! No WAY I'd be placing it that close to water without someone holding onto it, or having 20kg+ weighing it down. Small gust of wind will toss that setup in 😂😂
dramatic
This is why so many 'PROS' have really bad results. so many flaws on the way the use their settings, oh well.
Thank you ! Super helpful 😊
You're so welcome!
Davis Frank Jones Donald Hall Laura
Jackson Matthew Taylor Nancy Taylor Carol