Tag Archives: Flash

Cool colour

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Michael Willems

I shot some demo product shots with my student Merav today, and I thought I would share them here to underline the importance of colour. Here’s one, a simple one. Lit by a softbox on the leeft, an umbrella on the right, … Continue reading →

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The WIllems 4-4-4 Rule – redux

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Michael Willems

A readers asked, the other day: Recently in some event shooting that I did, I followed the famous Willems 4-4-4 rule with my 430-EXII set to ETTL metering. The pictures that resulted were a bit overexposed and with the ambient … Continue reading →

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Why aim back?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Michael Willems

You remember the Willems 400-40-4 rule (the “444 rule”)? If not, check under “ARTICLES” above. Part of that rule: indoors, aim the flash 45 degrees behind you. Behind? Why? Of course the main reason is that this way, the light … Continue reading →

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The Gost of Parties Past

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Michael Willems

A persistent question I hear: “what about the unsharpness that occurs when you shoot using your famous recommend 400-40-4 rule“? As said before. Yes – you may get some unsharpness, especially in the shape of ghosting, like in this shot … Continue reading →

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TTL Flash and Batteries

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Michael Willems

A couple of days ago, a reader asked me this: I did your flash course about a month ago and enjoyed it so much, I actually bought a flash   I got the 430EX II.  I do have a question … Continue reading →

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Manual, again

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Michael Willems

Another skill you may want to practice when using flash is to set the flash power to manual (instead of TTL), and see how you do. Push the “Mode” button on the back of the flash to “M”, and try … Continue reading →

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Michael’s Top Ten Dicta

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Michael Willems

Legally speaking, a Dictum is “a statement of opinion or belief considered authoritative though not binding, because of the authority of the person making it”. More generally, it is “a noteworthy statement: as (a) : a formal pronouncement of a … Continue reading →

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Effective shutter speed

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Michael Willems

When you are using flash, your shutter speed is not necessarily really what you think it is. A flash, you see, fires at 1/1000th second or faster. So if the only light falling onto your subject is the flash (an … Continue reading →

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Consider a splash…

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Michael Willems

…of colour for visual interest? Take this off-camera flash picture, for example (taken with speedlites, of course): Good, because it is using off-camera flash. But you might try to add some colour by using gels. I use the excellent HonlPhoto gels, part … Continue reading →

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TTL magic

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Michael Willems

When you use an automatic, TTL (“Through The Lens”) metered flash, how does your flash know how much power to emit? I.e. when I set my camera to , say, 1/200th second, f/5.6, and 400 ISO, now the camera needs … Continue reading →

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