Wanting to learn more about the different effects that can be created by remote flash, I attended a flash photography workshop at Nikonian Academy. Here are some of the experimental shots taken during the practical session indoors and outdoors (at a construction site!).
Nice shots! Flash is hard to use, but it also provides many lights effects!
Bounce light and slave flash are great effects, I need to practice it too!
i like looking at your blog because … you have very different things all the time
if you know what i mean
interesting! did you use an external flash?
lightning is good! Ü
nice flash photography there! u must have enjoyed the workshop a lot
No bad, no bad…
But the construction site doesn’t look so good.
Great, great, great. Very interesting.
Why not share with us a little more about some technique used such as how to adjust, where to place the light. I mean back light/side light and front linght etc
Thank you very much.
Cheers..
Rafael: yes usually i find it quite cumbersome coz of the extra weight… i think with your high ISO 5D Mark II, you don’t really need to use flash for bright indoors right. but for posed portrait shots, yea flash especially multiple slaves can do great stuff.
neko-hime: thanks! it’s all mainly to do with photography… like to have a mix of travel leisure, portraiture, and any interesting events that come about!
chyng: yes most of the photos are using a remote flash on a stand.
henry: i did enjoy the workshop… it’s not often that i get to have multiple flash units to play with to try out different lighting effects!
khengsiong: my initial reaction when i reached the construction site was like…. ‘erm… here?’ but there was open blue sky and i sort of started to like the contrast of the models against such a backdrop. but yes there are certain objects that are quite distracting in the background, like lonngg high craness that i tried to avoid.
Photovigor: most of the photos are taken with a single remote flash on a stand positioned at about 5 feet from the model – the flash slightly higher than the model and pointing towards her face at an angle. Also tried the see-through umbrella to soften the flash light. I saw another group using a backlight to separate out the background but I didn’t play around with that.
Another interesting thing was using a fast shutter speed to create the dark mysterious effect like in photo 3, with just a single flash shining on the model.
wow…very nice….how much did u pay to attend the class?
via: it was RM390 for the course
The JCB shot is excellent!
Really dynamic.
Now, we can learn some new stuff from your blog here!
First, I need to find a volunteer to be my model! Ha ha…
Great work you got here Lechua! I’m impressed with what you’ve learned, money well-spent indeed.
Great shots! Look very professional! External Flash is something I would like to practice too!
Cool portraits! Wish I could do that too.
Syiok leh….hehe! This is what I learnt in TTDI also, just that we dun have lenglui model
And we also lazy to use “umbrella” 
All these model shots are magazine worthy! Good stuff LE
Gosh, i really love the shot where she was wearing shades looking downward. Excellent lighting and composition. I wonder if an entry-level camera could achieve this kinda close-up shot. Your post also shows that even a construction site could be a good photo shoot location
Woohoo! That’s really good for experimental shots, Lechua.
Wow this is really sharp especially the one with the truck..how did you manage it? I don’t seem to be able to get this type of shot using my D60…maybe still amateurish..
I’m not a big fan of flash photography. But the natural flash effects definitely ROCKS! LOVE Picture 3 and 6, excellent composition sexy posing
Lee Eng, what is your say after attending model shoot classes? Are the money worth the experience and knowledge gained from attending these classes? I wish to attend one of these but don’t know should i save money for something else rather than model shoot sessions…
londoncaller: hope u’ll find a model soon haha…
nomadicpinoy: cool.. yea i have no regrets spending on this course
micki: thanks to the set up of the remote flashes
horsoon: am sure u can.. some ppl learn from websites and all.. for me i wanted some hands on learning
uLi: cool.. looking forward to ur night photography photos!
Joyce: thanks for the compliment haha..
Kev: actually these shots can be achieved by entry level cameras like urs too… with flash photography, i find when there’s enough light, you don’t need such a powerful camera or prime lens.
ai shiang: tx a bunch!
Hong: it’s with the help of the remote flash that provides the additional light source. i was using the 18-200mm so it’s not a prime lens as such… the extra light helped.
mylo: thanks to the models for their brilliant poses… yea found the flash photography can be used to create a natural lighting effect – useful in indoor low light surroundings and taking photos against the sun.
Jimmy: this workshop was actually focusing on flash light techniques – so happens the practical session was with models. there are separate courses you can find on fashion/glamour photography – that would focus probably more on how to take model shoots. i would recommend this workshop if u’d like to learn about external flash and lighting. do check out the list of courses available from the nikonian academy website!
I am really a newbie at flash photography. Don’t know much about it. Must take some time to learn this.
Hie hie..thanx a lot for your reply..now i got it then..
now now this photos truly got me excited! lol!
Mei Teng: there’s so much to learn about flash and lighting in photography!
Hong: welcome
Big Boys Oven: haha…. btw saw the kids’ sesame street cake and light cheese cakes for dylan’s first b’day on via’s website. may i ask how much u charge for both those type of cakes?
oh that fondant sesame street cake by BBO starts from RM280. The light cheese cake on cupcakes is about RM3.00 each. The other oreo cake is about RM70/kg.
Are you based in KL? If you are in KL why not join us for food if you are free.
hello!! good to learn abt flash! it’s so impt to master this skill, something which I m lacking. The last shot with the blue sky is so cool! I hope my double chin won’t show up if I strike this pose XD
big boys oven: ah okie will keep in mind the price.. sometimes get asked about where to get good cakes for children’s parties. i’m based in kl, however i’m not too adventurous or critical with food – u guys are doing a great job though with the food blogging and reviewing!!
eunice: haha usu i wouldn’t try to shoot upwards coz it often doesn’t flatter one’s features… but i was trying to capture more of the blue sky and eliminate the construction cranes… moreover she’s a model, so should have no worries haha.
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Practice practice practice! Now that you have attended the class, time to keep using what you learn
Else you will forget
i can be your model when i am back home next year… hahaha
Hi. Nice blog you have here.Great pics. Those were the same models I had too but the class I attended was the B2I.
Nicholas: yuppp.. will try to!
fufu: waaa….
nrewq: i see … guess they’re from the modelling agency that Nikonian Academy usually engages the models from
Nice photo you got there …. I bet now you are saving some cash to get urself a second flash …. shoot from the back huh … *Wink Wink*
haha yeaaaahh.. but then again, i do more of kids photography or event photography rather than still portraits… so can’t really position another external flash… i had someone walking along with me with holding the flash – i wish!
In the month of august I will be organizing a night street photography lesson.wanna join the fun? Haven’t fix the time and date though. Free!
sure let me know when… sounds like fun… and night photography is sumthin i haven’t explored much coz usually it’s an effort to lug around the tripod
Flash photography is indeed a very challenging skill in photography. IT can either make your photos alive or die, very much depends on the skill. Lighting, be it natural or artificial, is always the most important factor in great photography, however, it’s also the most difficult thing to master in…
At least you had the initiative to learn from the expert which is better than me
Cecil: i agree it is a challenging skill but a powerful one at the same time !