Diffusion and Specularity

Soft Light – Diffusion and Specularity Understanding Diffused Light and Specularity in Photography In the world of photography, mastering the art of lighting is essential for capturing captivating images. Two fundamental concepts that photographers often grapple with are diffused light and specularity, both of which significantly influence the quality and mood of a photograph. Let’s…

Using a Gray Card for Exposure

Using a Gray Card and Histogram for Perfect Exposure: A Tremendous Tool for Photographers Achieving perfect exposure is a fundamental goal in photography. While many photographers rely on light meters, there’s a simpler, more intuitive tool that can be just as effective: the gray card combined with the histogram. This blog post will dive into…

Outdoor Flash – Simplified

Using OCF outdoors isn’t as complicated as you might think. It’s also tremendously more beneficial than most newcomers believe. I use OCF for just about everything I shoot. If you’re intimidated by using it outside start with this simple guidance: You want to look at your images as though they are two images combined into…

The Magic of Using Flash Outside

**Unlock the Magic of Outdoor Flash Photography!** Hey everyone! Ever struggled to get perfect outdoor shots no matter the time of day? The secret is using FLASH outside! **Why Use Flash Outdoors?** – **Master the Light:** Flash helps you manage tricky lighting conditions. Too sunny or too shady? Flash gives you control over the light…

Loop Lighting

Mastering Loop Lighting in Photography: A Comprehensive Guide What is Loop Lighting? Loop lighting is a popular portrait lighting pattern in photography, known for its simplicity and effectiveness. It creates a small, loop-shaped shadow of the subject’s nose on their cheek, giving the face dimension and depth while maintaining a flattering and natural appearances How…

What is HSS?

Understanding High-Speed Sync in Flash Photography What is High-Speed Sync? High-speed sync (HSS) is a feature in modern flash units that allows you to use a flash at shutter speeds faster than your camera’s maximum sync speed. The maximum sync speed is typically around 1/200 to 1/250 of a second. HSS enables you to use…

Color Correction Gels

**Using Color Correction Gels in Flash Photography: CTO, CTB, and CTG** Today, we’re diving into the colorful world of color correction gels for flash photography. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, understanding how these gels work can take your photos to the next level. We’ll be focusing on three main types of…

Flash Power – Simplified

Quite often, I get messages from people asking me about how to understand flash power. There’s a disconnect, occasionally, when it comes to understanding the fractions of the flash output. When I talk about the fractional flash power readouts, I like to compare it to a pie. The number on top, which is always a…

Butterfly and Clamshell Lighting

I get asked about light position and lighting patterns regularly. I’ve been working on several articles to cover all the different lighting patterns etc. Here’s one of them.. ### Butterfly Lighting in Photography **Definition and Characteristics:** Butterfly lighting, also known as Paramount lighting, is a popular lighting technique in portrait photography. It creates a distinct…

The Basics of Getting Started

Just about every day I am asked how do I get started? What should I do? How do I learn? Off camera lighting might feel intimidating. Especially if you’re new to it. However, don’t worry—it’s not as intimidating as it might seem. The key is to have the right equipment (FlashGear is here to help…