Christian Photographers Community

I think I finally achieved a good balance of natural light from the window and backlighting from a Vivitar 2800D.

I know nothing about "balance", but I love the photo. 

Is not God the Great Artist?

Yes, Al - right down to the tiniest detail, without missing the great overall scene.

Nice balance, for certain!

Thanks, everyone.  I was very please with the way this one came out.  Amen, Al. 

I can't add to what anyone else has said...Beautiful!

Quote from: JudyB on June 04, 2010, 08:03:43 PM
I can't add to what anyone else has said...Beautiful!

Thanks, Judy!  Glad ya like it. 

Love the shot - gorgeous color saturation.  God truly is THE greatest artist.  Wish I could take a shot like this.

If I may add my ABSOLUTELY beginner opinion...
... it maybe looks a little flat?  Almost like maybe the backlight is muting some of the shadow I would expect to see in between pedal to pedal?  What do you think?

Obviously a great capture you should be proud of, I know I would.  Congrats.

Quote from: mfarley on June 05, 2010, 01:57:13 AM
Love the shot - gorgeous color saturation.  God truly is THE greatest artist.  Wish I could take a shot like this.

If I may add my ABSOLUTELY beginner opinion...
... it maybe looks a little flat?  Almost like maybe the backlight is muting some of the shadow I would expect to see in between pedal to pedal?  What do you think?

Obviously a great capture you should be proud of, I know I would.  Congrats.

I think I got just effect I was looking for with this particular blossom.  Everyone has their likes & dislikes.  Someone on another forum to pump up the lighting to eliminate the shadow more.  Go figure.

You CAN take a shot like this.  Here's the set-up I used for this shot.  The gizmo on top of the camera is a transmitter for the flash units.  Just behind the flower is the backlight - a cheapie Vivitar 2800D with the receiving unit.  You can pick these up all day on eBay for around $15.  I have this set for it's lowest setting and a diffuser (the white cap - a cut down plastic milk container - over the flash).



This the the front flash unit.  It is a Vivitar 3700 (another $17 eBay unit!).  I like it because  1.  It was dirt cheap  2.  I can do a set of burst shots with it.   I had this in back of me to the right.  I have a diffuser over the flash and it, too is turned down to it's lowest setting.  Note the receiving unit on it.  When I make the shot, both flashes fire simultaneously.
 


The name of the game for me is to get a nice effect as cheaply as possible.  Some stuff, like the remote flash transmitter & receivers, you just have to bite the bullet.  But, they are something like $40.  Not bad.  Tripods are mandatory.  I get the cheapest ones I can find and use them for lightstands.  If I find one at Goodwill for like $3-5, it's mine.  They become good light stands.

WHEW!   

LOL, that's much more professional then my shot - I got diffused lighting by hanging up a shower curtain in the window.   

Quote from: mfarley on June 05, 2010, 03:10:05 PM
LOL, that's much more professional then my shot - I got diffused lighting by hanging up a shower curtain in the window.   

Nothing wrong with that.  Whatever works to get the results you want.  It's just that sometimes you won't have a nice light coming from that window.  Or, you may want to shoot at night.  I prefer natural light over flash any day.  It's just some days, there isn't any. 

Yeahhh, baby! Give this guy an A.

Quote from: LaughingPeppers on June 08, 2010, 09:42:49 AM
Yeahhh, baby! Give this guy an A.

Thanks, Mario.  And, thanks for looking.

 Really excellent Gary! I don't know if your skills have all to do with Kelby or not but you are certainly doing a great job. I really appreciate the setup information also. That info would make for a good "sticky" for setups. The problem is, you may now have some competition on ebay for those flash units. 

Quote from: jimiam on June 09, 2010, 10:36:01 AM
Really excellent Gary! I don't know if your skills have all to do with Kelby or not but you are certainly doing a great job. I really appreciate the setup information also. That info would make for a good "sticky" for setups. The problem is, you may now have some competition on ebay for those flash units. 

Thanks very much, Jim.  I'm not too concerned about the competition.  I have aaaallllll the flashes I need or want.  And, folks are always putting up more.  The trick is not to overpay for 'em!