Waverley Camera Club

Details about the WCC Portrait & Flash photography group

We will again be running the Flash & Portrait Group Meetings in 2012 and anyone and everyone of our members can turn up to see if you really want to improve your flash and portrait images

The first night will be Tuesday January 24, 2012 which will be a basic introduction to using a flash and what you can expect to learn over the following months.

The technical detail starts on the second meeting in February.

Tuesday 24th May is Flash and Portrait Group Night run by Teddy and starting at 7.30, upstairs at Wadham House.

All are very welcome to attend

Apologies to those who were told Wednesday night, it’s definately the 4th Tuesday of every month.

See you there

The flash/portrait group will not be running this week.

On Wednesday night members of the Portrait & Flash Group were able to put previously learned portrait and flash theory into practise with some dedicated subjects. Thanks to Teddy Tan, we were graced with three models: Cassie, Jodie and Monica who were all very comfortable at the other side of the camera lens.

Anyone who has ever been in front of a camera at a portrait workshop will know it’s definitely not as easy as it looks, but these women were in their element and made it look so easy (even with limited directing.)

With the Knox Interclub being held on the same night, we were a few members down from past nights but  with a few newbies coming along, there was a cosey ratio of models to photographers.

A special thanks to Cassie, Jodie, Monica and Ted for making the night a success.

The WCC Portrait & Flash Group is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. New members are welcome!

Following the excellent talk from David Williams at the last workshop evening, Ross Garner sent through the following:

After the inspiring talk from David Williams last tuesday night I have been doing some research on lenses and remote flash triggers.

I found this site had good information: Strobist: Lighting 101

The following comments are for Canon users, however I think the same price points apply to Nikon and other brand cameras.

Lenses

Canon make two (affordable) 50mm lenses:

• EF 50mm f/1.8 II, costs about $140
• EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, costs about $500

I noticed David was using the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM which costs about $650

Seems the Sigma is recognised as the best lens. However the cheaper Canon does get good review for sharpness on non full frame DSLR cameras.

Remote control

Only the Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter gives TTL contol of the flash. ie the flash intensity controlled by the camera.

Available 3rd party items will trigger the flash, but not control the intensity

There is a limit of about 10m between the camera and the flash

In addition to the Sigma 50mm lens (available for other brands than Nikon, eg Canon), David was also demonstrating using a Nikon D5000 (shows you don’t need the expensive camera to get great results) and was triggering the external flashes with a Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander.

Both the Canon ST-E2 and Nikon SU-800 use infrared light which is what limits their range. Recently E-TTL compatible radio based remote triggers have become available, however they are quite pricey and are a significant investment (as much or more as your camera).

If you were also inspired and want to learn more, then you should be coming along to the Portrait & Flash Photography group at its second meeting next Wednesday. The site Ross found, Strobist, was also mentioned by David Gilliver at the first meeting and I expect it to be an essential resource for the group.