CalevPhoto

Using flash above 1/200

Recently while taking some drop photos, I wondered whether I could increase the shutter speed past 1/200.  With high speed sync, I often took pictures at 1/250 and 1/300 – but I wanted to see if I could exceed it.

I had thought a bit about using a PocketWizard MultiMAX, but after reading through the manual and reading about others’ experiences, it doesn’t seem that it can get me much past 1/300.  Therefore I came up with a rather simple idea that amazingly worked.

I setup my MT-24EX on my 180L and used it to trigger to 580EX flashes.  The MT-24EX was set as the master and both 580EX flashes (actually one 580EX and one 580EX II) were set as slaves.  I placed both 580EX flashes on the end of Wimberley macro brackets – which held the weight fine.  I then set the MT-24EX to high speed sync.

The entire camera loaded thus was quite heavy and large.  I suspect in the field it wouldn’t be too practical – though a monopod may help things.  My goal was basically to blast the subject with light.  Since I was watching the kids at home that day, I couldn’t go outside to try with a live drop so I hooked up the hose on the faucet with a rubber band.

Continue Reading…

Playing with drips and drops

While all of the snow we recently got was melting, I took the opportunity to take a number of drop pictures.  I’m happy with this latest attempt.  Sure, there are faults such as the reflection in the drop itself being blurry – but that is mainly because I found these shots in nature rather than setting something up.

In the future I may try different setups and studio water drop pictures, but for now I do like the lighting effects and I think my technique has improved – though there is still a ways to go.

Continue Reading…