External flashes

[JoeDif]

Just be careful using a flash. I've been told that the iPhone and the iPad don't support flash, so some people might not be able to see your pictures.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't wait to get my hands on this! I have learned a lot this past year about photography in general. But just this morning I picked up my camera to take a few pictures of my daughter in her new glasses.... and I just froze. I knew I wanted to use a flash....... but my mind came up blank on the rest. I ended up using 4.5 aperture priority and dialed the flash way down. It turned out ok, but I'd really like to have a better mastery of this!

 

[LaurieG]

Thanks for the information, I will be keeping my eyes open for this one.

 

[mabas9395]

This is the flash book I'm waiting for. "Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites" by Syl Arena.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I've listend to Syl on Scott Bourne's podcast (www.photofocus.com) and I'm waiting for his speedlite book as well.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

The strobist DVD's are pretty good too. I really enjoyed the Nikon Lighting system set as well even though I no longer own a Nikon D90.

 

[Icemann]

Thanks for the heads up Joe,when it comes out I will have to add it to my library

 

[NateNLogansDad]

If this is a family vacation with your kids, I think you should have the external flash with you everyday. Capturing those family moments, in my opinion, is far more important than any static shots.

I'm intrigued.
Honestly, that's the reason I'd love to get a UWA lens. The flash is nice but I'd like to get pictures of my kids sitting next to me at shows or sharing a ride. I figure an UW lens would be perfect for such a thing.

Thoughts?

 

[JoeDif]

This is the flash book I'm waiting for. "Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites" by Syl Arena.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Even though I don't shoot Canon, I'm definitely going to pick this up as well. His flash work is amazing!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm intrigued.
Honestly, that's the reason I'd love to get a UWA lens. The flash is nice but I'd like to get pictures of my kids sitting next to me at shows or sharing a ride. I figure an UW lens would be perfect for such a thing.

Thoughts?

I have found that the wide end of most telephotos (17 or 18) already does this. Because of the distortion with UWA's, it's a little tricky to use with people. Like you, I thought it would be great for on rides. Then I took some of my daughter driving our Autopia car and couldn't keep my own legs OUT of the photo! I realized that the 18 mm shots I have always taken were just fine for that after all.

That said, I also did love having the UWA along. It's especially nice at Disney so you can get right up next to something, get a great shot, and not get a single one of the thousands of other people right behind you.

I like this shot, but you can see what I mean about the distortion:

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Great, yet ANOTHER thing to take into consideration!!!

Thanks, it does give me something to think about. I do here you about the wide end, but there were quite a few times I couldn't get the shot in my head because 18 just wasn't wide enough. I can't see having another lens by this trip in Nov, but next year we'll be there in Oct and will maybe need a bigger bag!

 

[saturndb]

I guess it would depend on what you want to photograph. have you thought what type of shots you want to take yet? As others have said, if you plan on photographing the kids, a flash would be nice.Now if you want to photgraph the many beautiful buildings at Disney, the UWA lens would be nice.

Whatever you do have fun!!

 

[Fanatic Father]

Maybe I could leave the 70-200 at home?

Other than possibly AK, is there a great need for this lens? It would save quite a lot of weight, plus I'd be able to carry around the 10-22, 17-55 and flash. Seems like this might be a more versatile kit.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe I could leave the 70-200 at home?

Other than possibly AK, is there a great need for this lens? It would save quite a lot of weight, plus I'd be able to carry around the 10-22, 17-55 and flash. Seems like this might be a more versatile kit.

Well, that's certainly a possibility. I had a taste of what you would have last year. It was late September and they were setting heat records. I was trying to shed as much stuff as possible heading into the parks each day. So I switched to my kit lens and ditched the heavier and bulkier Tamron 18-270 a couple of days. We didn't make it to AK, so no problem there. Where I missed it was at DHS for the shows, where I really found myself wanting something longer than the 50mm my kit lens offered.

I didn't miss it at the MK at all, But we didn't see the stage show. That's the one spot I probably would have wanted it there.

Maybe have a small second bag you can stow in a locker as you enter the park, then you'll have it if you really want it?????

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

I have to throw my two cents in here on this topic even though I am not proficient YET on the topic. This year I have dedicated my photography efforts in learning how to use flash properly. I was lucky to find someone online that in my opinion one of the best flash guys out there. The great thing is that he loves sharing his knowledge with the rest of us. Neil van Niekerk is a wedding and portrait in New Jersey. If you visit his blog and look along the right hand column you will see topics about flash photography. He recently published a book this year On Camera Flash which our library had and went through it in about 2-3 weeks. I totally get flash now. It is just a matter of practicing and perfecting. He is coming out with a book later this year "Off Camera Flash" which I am looking forward to reading as well. His book is just as easy to read as Bryan Petersen's books (maybe more so) and he shoots both Nikon and Canon and describes each. Hope that he can help out others.

 

[pgowder]

The strobist DVD's are pretty good too. I really enjoyed the Nikon Lighting system set as well even though I no longer own a Nikon D90.

I've watched those too, very good!

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/05/now-available-strobist-lighting-dvds.html

Strobist also has Lighting 101 and 102. These are self paced online tutorials with assignments. If you are trying to learn flash, definitely worth trying!

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

 

[JoeDif]

I have to throw my two cents in here on this topic even though I am not proficient YET on the topic. This year I have dedicated my photography efforts in learning how to use flash properly. I was lucky to find someone online that in my opinion one of the best flash guys out there. The great thing is that he loves sharing his knowledge with the rest of us. Neil van Niekerk is a wedding and portrait in New Jersey. If you visit his blog and look along the right hand column you will see topics about flash photography. He recently published a book this year On Camera Flash which our library had and went through it in about 2-3 weeks. I totally get flash now. It is just a matter of practicing and perfecting. He is coming out with a book later this year "Off Camera Flash" which I am looking forward to reading as well. His book is just as easy to read as Bryan Petersen's books (maybe more so) and he shoots both Nikon and Canon and describes each. Hope that he can help out others.

I totally agree. His Tangents blog has been a tremendous help explaining how flash works and how to get the best out of it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am working on using my flash also. Thanks for the heads up, I'll add it to the series when it comes out!

 

[WDWFigment]

Maybe I could leave the 70-200 at home?

Other than possibly AK, is there a great need for this lens? It would save quite a lot of weight, plus I'd be able to carry around the 10-22, 17-55 and flash. Seems like this might be a more versatile kit.

Here's the long answer to that: http://www.wdwphotography.com/photos/a-layman’s-explanation-of-creative-focal-lengths/

(Now Groucho or some other techie person who may read that, keep in mind, it's a Layman's explanation! )

 

[Fanatic Father]

Thanks for that link! So often I forget about "creative focal lengths". I LOVE my 70-200 f4 and it would kill me to leave it behind. Despite it's range, it's one of my most versatile lenses in that regard.

I'm simply going to have to bring everything! I'll just need a bigger bag and a stronger back! I'll explore the locker option while in the park if it becomes necessary. After browsing all the pics posted here as well as several flickr galleries, it seems there's an application for everything I've got.

Or maybe I should just bring the P&S...