Working with strobes: Strobist!

Working with strobes: Strobist!

Throughout the world there are photographers who like to play with light and light effects. Many a photographer carries a whole rack of lights / spotlights and strobes with them, for the ultimate picture. Some disadvantages were also quick: the weight of a complete system flash (strobes, soft boxes, tripods, power supplies) was just heavy. Until a few are thought to external flash (the so-called flash report) to exploit this. And see there: soon the cry "strobist" a fact. Strobist is a corruption of the English word "strobe" an independent report which called flash. Strobist is the person who assumes this report bekwaamt in flash photography.

What will it take?
Ofcourse a camera in your possession, otherwise so difficult to photograph;)
A simple kit for strobist-done 1 may already be compiled flash report:

* A tripod;
* A swivel (this is a turning-point where the flash and the umbrella can be mounted);
* A flash umbrella (white / translucent or silver / gold for the bounce (or 'bounced' called);
* A channel for the camera (this is on the hot-shoe, the assembly point where the flash is normal);
* A receiver (with external flash is connected);


Depending on the flash, which you can often buy used, the costs for other materials so around 130-150 Euros (estimated / budgeted). The big advantage is that such an enormous set of light weight, and thus very portable for indoor and outdoor locations!

The flash report
The report may flash of the same brand as the camera you own, but it is not required. You can even very old flash photography from the analog era exploit! By using a radio transmitter / receiver can thus differ. So you find a used copy, already look after the flash has that GN. The guide number indicates how 'powerful' is the flash, at 1 meter distance to an object to expose the largest aperture number (and thus smaller aperture hole), with a 50 mm lens on a 35mm camera.
Some manufacturers specify the GN at ISO 100, ISO 200 others, that a factor 1.4 difference in guide number visible. So be good at!
Furthermore, the flash just works, and so light. Ideal is a manually adjustable flash with a range of 1 / 128 to 1 / 1 (full power).

The tripod
The tripod should be solid, especially to unstable / shaky! There are many stands in the market, and what is important (in addition to the placement firm), is the height of the tripod. Is an average height of 180cm/200cm beautiful and very useful. Is the height of the tripod is too low, then you limit yourself in the application of exposure to the model.

The swivel
The swivel is the pivot of the tripod with the flash / umbrella combination. Track the flash umbrella tilt up / down and also rotate (left / right) to your model / subject correctly explain.
Note that you have to purchase a good solid connection to swivel the flash can make. You must not think that your flash off the swivel moves, and falls on the hard surface ....

The flash-umbrella
The umbrella-flash ensures the spread of the light: you can view together (converge) using a silver / gold flash umbrella, or spreading (divergence) by a white umbrella (also called "shoot-through is called). The advantage of a white umbrella is a nice diffuse light, which is very nice skin of a person doing light. Skin bumps are lightly masked this.
The silver / gold umbrella for gecontentreerde (and harder) to throw light on the model. With the gold variant get a warmer skin tones glow thrown over him. The silver umbrella is good for the highlight of a hard topic.

The transmitter / receiver
The transmitter and receiver are important for communication between the camera and the flash. Because the flash of the camera, the signal must be transmitted properly. First there are models available that entry between 40-60 EUR (estimated) over the counter. Professional transmitter / receivers, such as the Pocket Wizard and Skyport Elinchrom, for amounts that are many times higher road. Contrast is greater reliability in flash-communication, and scope.
The slide channel of the hotshoe on the camera, involving the setting on the transmitter and the receiver must be aligned properly in advance. Also check your manual on the flash-sync speed. Because you top this flash sync can work, can take a picture when the shutter curtain covers one part of your photo (black and so late).
Average is the flash sync around 1 / 200 a 1 / 250 seconds. So until that time, the sensor / film in its entirety at once exposed.

And so on ...
Now for a flash you a starter-set created, you can get started with strobist photography. Would you expand, because you have more flash, you will for each flash in any case require an additional receiver. Moreover, as you become more and more skilled in this branch of photography, you can still expand with accessories like gels (for the flash from one color to shine (very nice for the background)), blew (to flash to bundle up a light beam), honeycomb (for parallel light rays toward the subject, without scattering) and so on!
Creativity is ultimately the only obstacle to the photographer!