purchase prints and licenses
Subscribe | Log in

flash on the street

L1001687 flash on the street

sometimes the use of fill flash can help you out tremendously in harsh lighting conditions, or just provide the extra kick for the look of your pics… I started out using an off-camera cord, but hated every second the logistics of it, so…

L1009550 flash on the street

option #1 off-camera flash cord, which is a pain in the ass to use, I always I feel like I’m trapped and can’t move around freely ($74.95 for the canon model one I use). there are cheaper alternatives, but I happen to shoot Canon when I’m not using the M9…

L1009552 flash on the street

option #2 Pocket Wizards, fairly expensive at $169 for the Plus II and $295 for the Multimax, but granted, they can do wonders for commercial and studio work, but just don’t fly in the street (matter of fact, they will go flying out of your hands, as the receiver needs a hotshoe adapter/cord and some creative rigging with rubber bands, velcro or whatnot). besides, they are ridiculously big on a… you will also poke your eye out with the antenna. the newer, smaller versions are supposedly just as good though.

L1009553 flash on the street

option #3 is pretty kick-ass: Cowboy Studio radio trigger, basically a radio trigger without the frills, or the size of Pocket Wizards, small, cheap and it works like a charm, opposed to the wireless triggers one can find on ebay. ack.

I’m using a Canon 430EX in manual mode, mostly @1/32 or so, but I also have a bunch of old school Vivitar 283′s ($30, tops) with the additional Varipower module, which allows to dial the power down to 1/32 for fill. the newer Vivitar 285 has variable power built in.

another really cool thing about the Vivitars – there is an accessory to plug them into the wall, which is awesome for on-location shoots. and a battery pack, which I never bothered to get… at low power the 4AA batteries will last a long time.

and yes, I pointed the flash towards the ceiling for effective fill and to avoid flare shooting into the mirror. in the streets that thing is in your face and works like a charm…

purchase the gear on amazon:
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
PocketWizard 801-130 Plus III Transceiver
CowboyStudio NPT-04 4 Channel Wireless Trigger
PocketWizard MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver for Canon DSLR Bundle
Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
PocketWizard PW-MMAX 802-450 MultiMAX Transceiver

Related Posts:

  • http://markushartel.com hrtl

    Get the poster mounted too

  • http://www.wide-angle-macro-lens.com wide angle macro photography

    nice test you have there.. agreed with you on #3, got that cowboy running well for me.. lol

  • Ewanglee

    Great review. Can you also show more flash photos? I am inclined to think it’s cumbersome but the idea intrugues me. Some how the flash photos look like Weegee photos. Z

    • http://www.spycameras.com Camera Specialist

      I’d also like to see more flash photos.

  • Ewanglee

    One more thing. If you do show some flash shots. Can you explain alittle how you would approach the subject? It’s pretty intimidating to achieve because if feels so intrusive. Thanks.

  • J7CK

    L1001687..a classic from the archive. Still gives me the impression of the cast of an new TV series.

  • http://FotoFace.eu Foto Face

    Nice article.I`m shooting with my Canon 550D for a year now and still wondering what flash to buy for it :)

  • Sean

    “Can you explain a little how you would approach the subject?”

    I can’t speak for Markus but he’s as street photographer, as one myself, it’s gotta be that old mantra that it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

    Bruce Gilden Style

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRBARi09je8

  • http://kristnorsworthy.com Krist

    I have a Nikkormat FTN and a Vivitar 283 – they connect via PC chord… can the Pocket Wizard function with a PC chord?

    Did you mod your Vivitar with Varipower module yourself?

    Thanks!

    • mhartel

      The Varipower VP-1 is an original accessory for the 283 made by Vivitar. You can use PC cords with almost any lighting equipment.

  • http://www.baluskt.blogspot.com Balu Thomas

    good work….

  • http://dickpitini.com Dick Pitini

    How do you manage to focus the rangefinder while holding the flash in your left hand?

    • Dick Pitini

      After giving this more thought, you must use zone focusing. I will need to work more on this.

    • Markus Hartel

      zone focus

  • Wangsek

    I’ve also tried the off camera flash with a trigger and holding the flash with radio on my left. Coordinating among holding, changing setting, pressing shutter take practice, but the shot will come out more richer than the on-board flash.

    Markus, I saw your setting with speedlite is @1/32. Can you let me know what your settings(speed, aperture , iso)? During day I find 1/16 wasn’t enough for fill and my settings typically are 160, 8, 100-200 iso. Thanks

    • mhartel

      I normally shoot at higher ISOs and underexpose slightly -2/3EV…

      my working distance is somewhere around 5ft to 8ft (1.5m to 2.5m), the low flash (1/32nd or 1/16th) at that distance helps quite a bit.

      what’s your working distance?