Flash Diffuser Softbox
People often ask me ‘How do you do it? How do you get them to stand still/all look at the camera at the same time/pose just the way you want them to? The answer is, I don’t!
The idea behind taking a photograph is to capture a moment in time, to freeze it so that it becomes a record we can share and recollect for years to come. And it is the nature of childhood to be exuberant, joyous, exploring, belligerent at times, and yes….disagreeable when you point a camera at them. It is these moments you want to capture, full of life, of the essence that makes you children who they are, not static head shots and cheesy smiles. The cheeky exchanges between siblings, the wild abandon of nakedness under a sprinkler, the muddy fingers and streaked faces from making mud pies, these are the memories you will cherish long after the shutter has clicked. So, as a first rule of thumb, don’t try to mold your children into a likeness you will not recognise down the track as being true to the moment.
Having said that, there is a knack to capturing the moment in a way that renders it a work of art rather than a snapshot. You do not need fancy camera equipment to achieve this, but you do need an eye for composition, and above all, an awareness of the lighting, where it is falling, what it is emphasizing and how your camera will respond to it.
Most automatic point and shoot cameras come with shooting modes that you can set according to the image you wish to capture. These cameras work on a series of presets so that you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects. In my experience most people leave it on automatic and hope for the best. Take the time to read the manual. It’s as simple as understanding that in night mode, the camera will slow the shutter speed to allow as much light as possible; in portrait mode, it will open the aperture to blur the background a little. These basic understandings will begin to make a vast improvement to your images.
The next important factor is the light, and how to work with it. If you have the capability, turn off the camera’s automatic flash and look for natural light where possible. Be aware that the camera’s in built exposure meter will be working to accommodate the ambient light. If you stand your children in front of the light source and point the camera to them, the light streaming in from behind will ‘trick’ the camera into believing there is a lot of light, and it will adjust accordingly by dimming the exposure. There will be too much variation between the brightness behind the subject, and the light on the subject, resulting in a dark subject against a bright background.
The obvious fix to this is to turn the children around, in that time honored tradition of keeping the light behind the photographer, shining onto the subject. This does address the problem of exposure, but the result is often deep shadows in eye sockets and squinting expressions.
So, a catch 22? Yes, in some ways, but there are things you can do to minimise these issues. For a start, choose the time of day carefully. Early morning or late afternoon will provide a much softer light source and avoid harsh shadows. On cloudy days, the clouds act as a huge softbox, diffusing the harshness of the light and providing for optimum shooting conditions. Also seek ways to diffuse the light, bring children up to windows indoors to put light on them without direct sun, or look for open shady areas under verandahs or trees.
Next, think about the posing and composition. Achieving natural unposed shots is not about guesswork and pot luck. Snapping children randomly at play is likely to result in half turned faces, or limbs in the way of the shot. But snapping children blowing bubbles, eating strawberries, holding a kite or umbrella…all of these things provide a focus, keep the children busy and give you time to really set up the shot you want.
Finally, have fun!
About the Author:
Janine Guidera is a photographer based in Perth, Western Australia, specialising in photography of pregnancy, newborns, children and families. Janine also runs educational classes for parents in photographing their babies and children. Her work can be seen at www.figmentsphotography.com.au
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Photographing Your Children – Strategies for Results
LumiQuest Softbox III flash diffuser review @ PHOTO-TIPS-ONLINE.com
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Yongnuo YN-560 Speedlight Flash for Canon and Nikon $59.70 *Guide number:58 at ISO100, 105MM. *Super speed of charging recycle:It only takes 3 seconds in charging after full power output. Even without new batteries, you can get the super charging speed that it only needs 4-5 seconds, you can completely get rid of the nightmare of anxious waiting for charging,. In addition, you can use the external power pack to accelerate the charging speed once more. *… |
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Fotodiox 6×8 Softbox for Nikon Flash, Canon Speedlight, for Nikon SB-600, SB-800, SB-900 Flash, Canon Speedlite 380EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Vivita Flash, Sunpack, Nissin,Sigma, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Panasonica Lumix Flashes $11.95 This is NOT Plastic, or Paper. It is real fabric softbox for Professional use. It has a Professional appearance, NOT a toy like light modifier…. |
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Micro Apollo Flash Diffuser 2200 $39.99 Fits easily over your on-camera flash for eliminating red-eye and softening harsh light. Requires no brackets and works with manual or auto flash; fits any battery powered strobe regardless of manufacturer or design.No adapter ring necessaryUmbrella base opens and closes quickly- used with standard umbrella receptacleRecessed front gives directional control and allows for easy feathering of the lightSilver interior provides maximum light output |
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The PocketBox: Flash Softbox Kit w/ Educational DVD – Westcott’s New Flash Softbox Kit – You Supply the Flash, Wescott Has Everything Else in the Kit $49.9 PocketBox Flash Softbox Kit w/Educational DVD.Flash Unit not included.Incredible Pictures! Incredibly Easy! Erin Manning takes you along on multiple photo shoots to explain the basics about on-camera and off-camera flash. Each lesson guides you step-by-step through camera operation, flash settings, posing and capturing candid shots of your subjects. You’ll also see what can go wrong on a photo shoot and how to remedy the problem.Ultra-reflective silver interior maximizes light outputRemovable inner diffusion panel helps spread the light for a soft, even outputDurable black backing prevents light spillSoft grip panels helps safely secure the PocketBox to a flashFlexible elastic strap secures the PocketBox to virtually any style flashFrames are built with a heavy-duty, flexible wire framework (no plastic to break)DVD FeaturesCamera Operation: Take your camera off automatic and learn how to use the manual settingsComposition: Understand how to compose more interesting photos through the rule of thirds, lens options and moreLighting: Understand why and how to utilize the various PocketBox sizes and shapes to improve your photosOff-Camera: Take your photography to the next level by understanding why and how to take the flash off your cameraFlash Overview: Learn the terminology, settings, and how to get around limitations when you are shootingBreak the Rules: Once Erin teach you the rules, she shows you when and how to break them in order to get around difficult situations |
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Puffer Pop-up On-Camera Flash Diffuser – Change Flash Pictures from Harsh to Pleasing with this Handy Attachment – Dramatically Improve the quality of your Buil $19.99 Give your camera’s harsh pop-up flash a makeover! The Puffer flash diffuser gives you the same flattering lighting style used by professionals. The Puffer simply slides into your camera’s flash shoe and places the diffuser in front of your pop-up flash. The diffuser softens the light which gives you much better color and softer shadows, an all together better shot in a flash! Provides professional-style diffused lighting from your camera’s pop-up flash Softens camera’s harsh direct flash Reduces harsh shadows Ingeniously mounts via the camera’s flash shoe Adjustable for center positioning of any pop-up flash regardless of size Works in any camera mode (ex: Program, Aperture priority, etc.) The Puffer Pop-up Flash Diffuser from Gary Fong |
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