Off-camera Flash

Using a portable flash like the Canon 580ex or the Nikon SB-800 off-camera is a great technique. It totally transforms an image. Side- or 3/4 lighting offers more texture, dimension, and depth than the flat, pasty look of on-camera flash. One of the mistakes that photographers make, though, when they move the flash off the camera is that they don't move it far enough away from the lens axis. For macro work, off-camera flash can be held at arm's length, but for shooting people who are more than three or feet away, the flash has to be several feet away from the camera. This requires the help of an assistant who can hold the portable flash per your direction.

The photo of the costumed carnival participant you see here was photographed against a huge door, and a friend of mine held the flash about six feet away from the camera. To trigger the flash wirelessly, I used the Canon ST-E2 mounted on the hot shoe of the camera. This works on line-of-sight, though, and if I wanted to backlight the model I couldn't use this particular wireless unit. In that case, I'd need to use the Pocket Wizard which works on an infra-red signal such that the flash can actually be placed behind the subject where the transceiver can't see it.

Make sure that you have fresh batteries loaded in your flash so the recycle time is held to a minimum. It's very frustrating waiting and waiting for the ready light to come because you risk losing the shot.

I demonstrate techniques like this on my photo tours and workshops. The next one to Venice for Carnival is Feb. 8-14, 2010 (http://www.jimzuckermanworkshops.com/carnival-in-venice-2010/)