Teach you the skills of controlling flash and multi-angle single light shooting

Introduction: The application of flash is diverse. It can not only illuminate images, but also match different light effects. However, it is not easy for users who are just starting to dabble in photography to master the skills of using many flashes at the same time. Purchasing multiple flashes also requires a certain amount of money. So this time, I will introduce to you the techniques of shooting with a single light. From the simplest to the deeper, I will teach all photography enthusiasts the basic skills of controlling flash. Teach you the skills of controlling flash and multi-angle single light shooting

To understand the application of flash, we may start with the different angles of lighting. Generally speaking, we can directly insert the flash on the top of the camera to illuminate the subject. Although it is possible to capture an accurately exposed subject in this way, generally speaking, the light at such a light angle is likely to be too strong, and may even cause the subject to turn completely white and look very dull. In order to make the light effect more flexible, this test is to let users understand the effects of different angles. Therefore, this time we also used a flash trigger to control the flash off-camera.

In the test, we used a soft umbrella to illuminate the model at about 0°, 45° and 90° respectively.

Case 1: 0? Direct

The effect is that the light on the face is flat, and the contours of the face are not prominent.

Case 2: 45? Side shot?

There will be a slight shadow near the model's cheek, increasing the contour lines.

Case 3: 90? Side shot?

There will be strong shadows on the model’s face, highlighting the bridge of the nose.

It can be seen that light from different angles will have different effects on the feeling of the picture. When shooting from the front at 0°, the lines of the model’s face are not prominent, while from the side at 90°, a stronger outline can be created. When the oblique light is at 45°, the effect is in the middle of the two. We only used one flash for this test. We feel that the light on the model's face is more natural when the 45° oblique light is used. However, photographers can flexibly use the angle of the flash according to their own creative style to capture the scene in their mind.

Light quality affects hardness

Light quality means different properties of light. We can also understand it as different textures of light. After choosing the appropriate lighting angle, the next step is to choose what form of light to use to illuminate the subject. In the above test, for the sake of fairness, we used a soft umbrella when shooting at different angles. In fact, in addition to soft light umbrellas, there are other light control devices on the market that can be used to adjust the properties of light. In this test, we used soft umbrellas, reflective umbrellas, reflectors, and used nothing to directly illuminate the model with flash to test different effects.

We placed the flash at about 45° from the model to see what the difference would be with different light qualities. For the first test, we used the flash to illuminate the subject directly. From the test photos, you can see that the light effect is very strong, even a bit harsh. If you don't deliberately pursue strong light, the effect may not be too ideal. Then, we added a soft umbrella in front of the flash at the same angle. This time the light came out very softly, and the shadows on the model's face were not so strong. The light distribution was more even, and the effect seemed to be better than using a flash directly. Shoot more naturally.

Case 1: Direct flash?

The light effect is very strong and will make the picture look unnatural.

Case 2: Soft light umbrella effect? ??

The light will be softer.

We then used a reflective umbrella to shoot the model in the same position. From the photo, we can see that the light intensity on the model’s face has increased, and the shadow of the bridge of the nose has become more obvious. But it’s not as tough as shooting directly with flash. Finally, we held the reflector normally used for fill light in front of the flash at the same position to let the light source reflect the subject for shooting. It was found that the effect of shooting with a reflector is almost the same as using a soft umbrella. They are both as soft, but the light of the reflector is a little weaker, but the light distribution is more even than that of direct and reflective umbrellas.

Case 3: Reflective umbrella illumination effect? ??

The effect is similar to direct illumination, but not too strong.

Case 4: Reflective board reflection effect? ??

The effect is as soft as using a soft umbrella, but the light is weaker.

According to the light quality test, if you want a stronger light contrast, you can directly use a flash to illuminate the subject, or you can use a reflective umbrella to shoot.

However, if it is directly irradiated, sometimes the effect of the light will be too strong, so if you want to create an atmosphere in this way, it is recommended to use a reflective umbrella to be more reliable. If you want to take a softer light effect, the effect of using a reflector and a soft light umbrella will be similar. However, generally speaking, if you place a soft light umbrella in front of the flash stand, you can shoot, and the shooting process will be relatively stable. Using a reflector may require an extra person to coordinate the shooting, but the effect may be relatively flexible.

Single lamp calender

Many photographers know that using flash photography can achieve a unique "calendar" effect. Calendering is to use the light of the flash to darken the scene environment while maintaining the correct exposure of the subject. We often see photographers using this method to shoot portraits under the sunset. But the specific execution method requires an understanding of the principle of "calendering".

When shooting with flash, we must pay special attention to the camera settings. The aperture controls the exposure of the subject, and the shutter is used to adjust the brightness of the background. We first use shutter priority or aperture priority mode, set different aperture shutter values ??and meter the sky until we capture the brightness that suits the background. We then use the aperture and shutter values ??of the photo we just took as a reference, then adjust the camera to manual mode to enter the values, and then start the flash shooting.

Calendering effect

For this photo, we placed the flash about 45° above and to the left of the model. After the photo came out, we adjusted it according to the effect. In the end, we concluded that the f/4 aperture shutter speed of 1/250 second was the most satisfactory. Different environments may require different shutter and aperture values ??to match. When shooting, we should match the position of the background light. You can see that this method can darken the background of the picture while maintaining the correct exposure of the subject. Next time you see the sunset, just follow this method and you will be able to shoot. to beautiful photos.

Low-angle shooting with a wide-angle lens

Now that we have learned the basic methods of using flash, it is time for practical creation! In fact, in addition to different angles on the left and right, we can also arrange them from different angles up and down. flash. This time we connected the flash to the soft umbrella and placed it about 45 degrees away from the model. What's different this time is that we shine the flash on the subject from a low angle and shoot with a wide-angle lens.

Use a wide-angle lens and low-angle flash to shoot the model, which can highlight the lines of the model’s feet and reduce the shadow cast by the flash on the ground.

Using this method of shooting, we can see the light coming from the bottom of the model’s body. The light not only highlights the lines of the model’s feet, but also reduces the shadow cast by the flash on the ground. The effect is the same as Normal flashes are different when illuminated from a high angle. Of course, if we want to highlight the model's facial contours, we can also adjust the flash to a higher angle, but this time it is purely creative, and I hope everyone can understand different methods and effects.