Thanks for the quick replies! I have learned so much here and can't wait to try, especially the high shutter speed shot by randy below. A few more questions:
I actually have two soft box and umbrella and two flash guns that goes with the soft box and umbrella. They are optically triggered so I have to use my camera's built in flash to trigger them, which I think creates shadows.
What is the best way to set them up? Do I need them all or just one will do?
How do I avoid shadows in the picture?
What does flash through mean?
And umbrella bounce?
What is bracketing?
Start with a one light setup. Pag comfortable ka na sa isa then add the second flash for fills or rim lighting.
Diffused light creates less shadow, shoot through or softbox at 45 degree angle will do.
You can hold a piece of paper or cardboard infront of the popup flash to eliminate shadows on your subject. It should still trigger the off camera flash.
You have to understand that flash photography is quite different from available light photography. STAY AWAY FROM TTL! Learn to use the flash in manual mode. Try this
- Place softbox in a 45 degree angle about one meter or arms length away from your guitar or object.
- TURN OFF FLASH
- Set camera setting to MANUAL mode
- When shooting indoors, set ISO to 400, shutter speed to 1/60 and aperture to F/4.0 or F/5.6. For outdoor situations, set ISO to 100
- Take a test shot, review the image. This is your AMBIENT EXPOSURE. This is how your BACKGROUND will look like after you add the flash.
If you want a dark background, you can move the guitar away from the wall OR you can increase the shutter speed OR decrease the ISO OR combinations of these settings.
For a lighter background, do the opposite. Increase ISO, decrease shutter speed for move the subject closer to a white wall.
- Take a few more test shots and tweak the settings until you are satisfied with the background of your photo. NEVER EXCEED 1/200 (or 1/250) for your shutter speed or you'll have flash sync issues
- Turn the POWER ON the flash (and set to MANUAL mode) and set to 1/128 or 1/64 power
- Take a shot then review the image. Increase or decrease the flash power until you get the desired result. Check the histogram as well on your camera, ensure you are not clipping the shadows or highlights.
You do not need bracketing for this. Bracketing is more used for HDR, film photography or as an insurance shot for a super special event (e.g. wedding)
You can use the same technique above to shoot portraits.
Head out to a public library and look for the book "Light" by Michael Freeman. It's an old book but full of information about use of light in photography.