Learn how to light
Strobist style

Learning how to use off-camera flash with
your dSLR to take your photos to the next
level. Or the next ten levels.
David Hobby, strobist.com

strobist.com

David Hobby
a 20-year career
newspaper shooter.
Baltimore,
Washington DC
based

Why would I strobist?

Why would I strobist?
Smal kit
No more power
outlets
Fast to assemble

How to trigger your flash off-camera
Cables
Optical slave
Infrared
Radiosignal

Cables
Pros
Reliable
No line of sight
Cons
Fragile
Limited in range
Can spoil your image

Infrared
Pros
Settings on camera
High speed flashing
Cons
Limited to one brand
Limited in broad
daylight
Line of sight needed

Optical slaves
Pros
No extra
components
Cons
needs master light
Limited in range
Needs Line of sight

Radio Triggers
Pros
Reliable
No line of sight
No problems with
Cons
More expensive
All manual

Cactus triggers
Pros
very cheap
small
Cons
1/5 misfires
fragile
battery operated

Pocket wizards
Pros
Reliable
Great distance
Cons
Expensive
Big

How does light work?

How to work with light
Light travels in
straight lines
Light works best at
an angle
Shadows are part of
light

Light modifiers

Light modifiers
bare flash

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos
snoot

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos
snoot
short snoot

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos
snoot
short snoot
medium snoot

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos
snoot
short snoot
medium snoot
long snoot

Light modifiers
bare flash
one gobo
two gobos
snoot
short snoot
medium snoot
long snoot
grid

Umbrellas and softboxes
Diffuse light
Mimics the sun
Shoot through or
reflective

The sky is the limit

Ambient light + flash

Photos under CC license by:
Rupert German (flickr.com/photos/rupert-germann): setup shot
Mariano Kamp (flickr.com/photos/mkamp): chess shot
e-magic (flickr.com/photos/ emagic): cable guy
Michael Jones (flickr.com/photos/chealion): pocketwizard
Ragnar Jensen (flickr.com/photos/ragnar1984): strobistsmurf
Andy Gock (flickr.com/photos/andygock): cactus triggers
Philgarlic (flickr.com/photos/philgarlick): red filter
Jon Iraundegi (flickr.com/photos/joniraundegi): radio
Patrick Brosset (flickr.com/photos/gnackgnackgnack): light
Steven Wampler (flickr.com/photos/sgw): light modifiers
Tio (flickr.com/photos/66179962@N00): studio flash
Nick Wheeler (flickr.com/photos/nickwheeleroz): umbrella shot
Myself

Filip Bunkens
info@pitslamp.be
http://www.pitslamp.be
http://www.twitter.com/bunker