Off-Camera Lighting / Strobe and Flash Techniques

Above photographs by Daniel W. Coburn – copyright 2008

Learning By Experience

Through experience I’ve learned that an on-camera strobe/flash has the tendency to make your subject look flat and artificial. Getting your strobe or light source away from the camera allows you to model your subject more 3-dimensionally. This type of lighting is much more flattering. I shoot with a Canon Digital SLR camera and a Canon 240EX Flash but Nikon makes comparable equipment.

Using A Cord

Perhaps the easiest and least expensive way to get your strobe off camera is to buy a cord. For Canon users, you can buy a TTL cord which will preserve all of the automatic communication between your camera and strobe. Basically the flash will function as if it were on-camera. The cord mounts to your hot-shoe on one end and your strobe on the other. The downfall to using a cord is the hassle. Cords get tangled and in the way. You are also limited to about 2 or 3 feet.

Infra-Red Triggers.

Infra-Red Triggers allow for wireless communication between your camera and flash. For Canon users the ST-E2 transmitter mounts to your cameras hot-shoe and also preserves TTL communication so the automatic flash features still function. The ST-E2 is compatible with a wide range of Canon flashes and controls all of the functions of it’s slave units. You can trigger more than one flash with this unit. The ST-E2 has an Auto-Focus assist beam which can come in handy for focusing in low-light situations regardless if your using a flash or not. The downfall of the infra-red trigger is that it only functions in line-of-sight. The manufacturer claims it has a range of about 40ft indoors and about 20ft outdoors. It works great indoors since the signal bounces easily off walls, but I’ve really struggled using this trigger outdoors on a sunny day.

Radio Triggers

These triggers function similarly to infra-red but have a much greater reliability and manufacturers boast a 1600 ft range. You will lose TTL functioning so taking manual control of your flash/strobe unit is a necessity. The “Pocket Wizard” is probably the most popular transmitter/receiver. Radio technology is generally more expensive than infrared since the process requires a unit on camera and a unit on or near the strobe. These type of transmitters will probably get more affordable as there are a couple of competitors that are developing similar units.

My Flash is Off Camera… So now what?

So now your flash is off the camera… It’s time to get creative. You will need a light stand… or you can use a bungee cord to attach your flash to any number of random objects in the room. There are an infinite number of doodads and gadgets you can attach to your strobe to diffuse, intensify, tint, and bounce light over your subject. My personal favorites so far are a small soft-box or a shoot through umbrella. I like these options because they increase the size of the light source to provide a nice soft/diffused light that is great for portraits. Both of these options are also very portable.

A great online resource for off-camera lighting tips and tricks is strobist.

I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on off-camera lighting so if you have an addition, correction or any other type helpful hint please leave those remarks in the comments section

Happy Shooting!

You are visiting the blog of fine-art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For more information and additional photographs visit his official website.

New Black and White Images

Above photographs by Daniel W. Coburn copyright 2008

These are a couple of samples from a new series of images that I am collecting/creating. Please leave your remarks and critique in the comments section. I am looking for some feedback. Enjoy!

You are visiting the blog of fine art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For more information and additional photographs visit his official website.

Monday Quote 8/21/08

“Vortograph of Ezra Pound” by Alvin Langdon Coburn 1917

“It is my hope that photography may fall in line with all the other arts and with her infinite possibilities, do things strange and more fascinating than the most fantastic dreams.”

- Alvin Langdon Coburn

You are visiting the blog of fine-art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For additional information and to see more photographs visit his official website.

Super-Sized Print

Above: Dan Coburn (yours truly) stands in front of a recent installation of his photograph “Angry Skies”

Last week I delivered and installed this print for an out-of-state client. The staff at this business is comprised of designers and artists. They were very pleased! I’ve made a handful of prints this size and it’s great to see my work on this scale. This particular piece measures 66″ x 100″ (that’s over 5 x 8 feet) I placed myself in the picture to provide a sense of scale. I’m just over 6 feet tall.

You are visiting the blog of fine art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For more information and more images visit his official website.

Where do I go from here? Rekindling a passion

All Photographs Copyright 2008 – Daniel W. Coburn

Art For All the Wrong Reasons

I love being recognized for my hard work, just about as much as I love making photographs. For some reason I have something to prove.

So lately I’ve been stuck. Where to do I go from here? I have enjoyed a lot of success with my landscape images. These images pay the bills for me. I believe I have a unique approach to the landscape. These photos are regional in focus, but I think they have the potential for sale on a national and international level. However, It’s been difficult to make my break from Kansas. Galleries in other states haven’t been receptive. Some of my gallerists have encouraged me to travel to the southwest and apply my style to the landscape there. I don’t give two-shits about the SouthWest. In fact, my creative impulses are pulling me away from landscapes altogther.

I’ve been stirring for the last couple of months. What’s next? How do I funnel my passions and creativity into the type of images that will take my career to the next level.

I’ve come to a single conclusion: Follow your passion and success will follow. I can’t predict what people will buy or what the critics will like this week or the next.

A Possible Solution: Get Back to the Basics

My goal over the next month is to carry my camera everywhere I go and take a photo whenever I have the urge. I want to keep things very simple. I’m not going to think about sales or competitions. I’m going back to photography for the love of it and see where it takes me. I’m leaving all of my angles and propaganda at the door.

Over the past week I’ve been filtering through old material looking for different trends. I’ve been looking for the overlooked_ Searching out different images that didn’t make the initial cut, but hold potential. I’ve reworked some of my flagship images in an effort to seek out a new vision. I’ve had fun approaching some of these images with fresh eyes. I am interested in tying images together based on mood and intensity instead of subject matter. I’ve always enjoyed the work of Keith Carter, Susan Burnstine and Ken Rosenthal. I think some of these images share the quality of their work. Maybe I will continue in this direction… Maybe not.

Monday Quote 8/4/08 – The Color Purple

Above photograph “Jughandle State Park – Mendocino County – N. California Coast” by Daniel W. Coburn.

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it…. People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back. ~Alice Walker, The Color Purple, 1982

You are visiting the blog of fine-art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For more information and additional photographs visit his official website.

Images from Northern California

Hi Everyone. Many of you know that I got married last weekend. Haley and I spent a majority of the week in northern California near Mendocino. Of Course, I took my camera along to capture one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We flew into San Francisco and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway through Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties. We stayed a night in Point Reyes and spent the rest of our time near the coastal village of Mendocino. We enjoyed a winery tour and tasted at some of the best wineries in Anderson Valley.

Enjoy the photographs and please leave your remarks and feedback in the comments section.

All photographs: copyright – Daniel W. Coburn 2008

You are visiting the blog of fine art photographer Daniel W. Coburn. For more information and additional photos please visit his official website.