Reflections

Ok I have to admit this to one to you all before I continue with this blog.  This is to say that I have to admit that I am still quite new to working with "Flash".  Yep, you have read that correctly, basically what it is that I am saying, is that I am still learning how to "control" flash.  I am making progress quicker that I expected but there is still some things, that I am struggling to master.



For example there is one Photographer that I do look up to with regards to his work.  Now allot of his work does contain 'reflections'.  So it was only just the other day that I decided to give 'reflections' a go myself. 

At present it appears to me that this is an area of photography which I feel that I don't have full 'control' of the flash yet.  Thus making 'reflections' more of a 'Hit and Miss' thing to me.

But hey here is my first attempt at trying to control flash with regards to making 'reflections' in my images.

Gaz
www.ulstertower.tk

The Super Moon

Ok so the moon does orbit with an eliptical path around our earth.  And on Saturday 18th March 20011, the moon was at it's closest point to the earth aka the 'perigee' which is about 264,000km (226,179 miles) from earth.

Now this means that on this occasion the moon will appear bigger and brighter than any of it's other orbits of the earth.  So what this does mean for photographers like me, is that I get to do a bit of astrophotography on the "Cheap" side.  This is to say, that I get to use only a 6 mega pixel camera (NB:  Nikon D40) in addition to only a Sigma 70 - 300mm telezoom lens and hey presto I get a cracking shot of the moon, with out having to buy that expensive astrophtography equipment.  I'm sure that you will all agree that this is a very interesting / impressive shot of our moon.

Moving on I have seen some photographers work on the internet with regards to getting artisic with this Super Moon and I have to say their work has been mind blowing.  All I can say is that I was pretty unhappy to of been busy, other wise I too could of got more "creative" with this Super Moon (NB:  Best shot around the Moon Rise time).  But hey that's life i.e. we don't get everything we want.

Hope you all like my pic of the Super Moon

Thanks

Gaz

My SB900 with it’s Repeat Flash Mode.

When I first invested in my SB900, then I was not to sure if I was doing the right thing or not at the time?  I mean spending £329.00 on just one mobile Speedlight felt like a really BIG RISK for me to take …. NB:  back then at the time anyway. 

After all for the same amount of money, I could of bought ‘4’ Jessops 360AFD Flash Guns, yes people again that’s ‘4’ Jessops 360AFD Flash Guns.  But when crunch came to crunch, I just went for my SB900.

Now this is the thing people and I am NOT ashamed, to admit to this either, but the simple fact is that my SB900 is at present a little bit to ‘Advanced’ for my skills and experience as a photographer.

What is that I hear you say ?   How can a simple flash be to ‘advanced’ for any one ?   Well let me please just explain this then, it is when that flash gun can be programmed to shoot ‘90’ flash’s  per  frame.  Hmmm I can make a photograph with 90 flash’s per frame then….  Hmmm.... really can I….?

What I am talking about here people is the ‘Repeat Flash Mode’ that is built into the SB900.  Personally I don’t think that I will ever be making a photograph that will see 90 flash’s go off before the shutter curtain does close.  Yes, I may just use 3 or 4 flash's or perhaps even 10 but again I don’t think that I will ever use 90. 

Now,  I have never shot with ‘Repeat Flash’ before, as I am totally new to it.  But… I do feel that I am starting to get a little grasp as to what this whole ’Repeat Flash’ business thing is all about with regards to making images with them. 

In my images shown below I wanted to put emphasis on ‘Movement’.  So in order for me to of achieved, just that,  I then had to photograph

1)  Hamster (NB:  My pet hamster, her name is Nikole taken from my camera Nikon)
2)  Table Top Spinner
3)  2p Coin
4)  Yo Yo

So to sign off this blog posting with……  Was my investment in the SB900 really worth it…….?  Let’s put it this way then folk, I personally would not swap my SB900 for even TEN of Jessops 360AFD Flash Guns.    My investment in my SB900 has got to be one of the best investments that I made from last year.   So I hope you have now all learnt a little bit more about the ‘Repeat Flash Mode’ on my SB900.

Thanks


Gaz
www.ulstertower.tk