Digital SLR sales continue to increase, and the first accessory consumers want for these cameras is an equally capable flash. Lighting is also the most important aspect for a Photographer to learn when understanding what aspect of lighting can make a good photo or make a bad one. The booklets that come with these Speedlites only hint at the creative effects you can achieve. That’s where the Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide, Third Edition comes in. It gives detailed, real-world information on using these Speedlites illustrated by full-color examples and demystifies the complexities of using multiple Speedlites. Using this information, readers can create an inexpensive, wireless, studio lighting system that is portable enough to fit in a camera bag. This field guide also covers other Canon lighting system components such as the ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter, Macro Ring Lite and Macro Twin Lites.
Introduction xiv
QT
Quick Tour 1
Getting Up and Running Quickly 2
Taking Your First Photos with the Speedlite 3
CHAPTER 1 Exploring the Canon Speedlite System 9
Features of the Canon Speedlite System 10
600EX/600EX-RT 11
600EX/600EX-RT specifications and features 11
Main components 14
Function buttons, dedicated buttons, and Select dial 17
600EX/600EX-RT accessories 19
580EX II 20
580EX II specifications and features 20
Main components 22
Control buttons and Select dial 26
580EX II accessories 27
430EX II 28
430EX II specifications and features 28
Main components 29
Control buttons 32
430EX II accessories 33
Other Components of the Speedlite System 34
270EX 34
270EX II 35
320EX 35
OC-E3 Off-Camera Shoe Cord 36
Speedlite transmitter ST-E3-RT 38
ST-E2 wireless transmitter 41
Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX 43
Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX 44
CHAPTER 2 Setting Up Your Speedlites 47
Power Requirements 48
Non-rechargeable 48
Rechargeable 48
Flash Modes 50
E-TTL II 50
E-TTL 51
Manual 51
Multi-stroboscopic flash 52
Zoom position 54
Auto Zoom Adjustment for APS-C Sensors 56
Adjusting Flash Exposure Compensation 56
600EX/600EX-RT 57
580EX II 57
430EX II 57
AF-Assist Beam 58
600EX/600EX-RT 59
580EX II 59
430EX II 60
LCD Panel Illumination 60
Custom Functions 60
Setting Custom Functions on the flash 61
Setting Custom Functions via the camera 68
Auto Off mode 69
CHAPTER 3 Flash Photography Basics 71
Studio Strobes or Speedlites? 72
Color Temperature and White Balance 77
What is Kelvin temperature? 77
Choosing the white balance 77
White balance presets 80
Balancing for the ambient light 84
Using Bounce Flash 85
Why and when to use bounce flash 86
Camera and Speedlite settings 88
Explaining Flash Exposure and Specifications 89
Guide number 89
Aperture 92
Distance 93
Guide number ÷ Distance = Aperture 93
Sync speed 93
Second-curtain sync 94
Fill flash 94
CHAPTER 4 Using Your Flash Off Your Camera 99
How the Speedlite System Works Wirelessly with Your Camera 100
Overview of Wireless Flash Setup with the Canon Speedlite System 101
Step 1: Choose a fl ash mode 101
Step 2: Choose a wireless mode 101
Step 3: Choose a channel 102
Step 4: Set up groups or slave IDs 103
Step 5: Adjust the fl ash ratio levels 103
Setting Up Master and Slave Flashes 104
Masters 104
Slaves 116
Setting Up a Wireless Manual Flash 120
600EX/600EX-RT in Manual mode 121
580EX II in Manual mode 123
Setting slaves for manual flash 124
Using Wireless Multi-Stroboscopic Flash 127
Setting Up Channels and Groups or Slave IDs 127
Channels 127
Groups 128
600EX/600EX-RT 128
580EX II 130
430EX II 131
Setting Flash Exposure Compensation 131
Setting FEC with the 600EX/600EX-RT set to Master 132
Setting FEC with the 580EX II set to Master 132
Setting FEC slave fl ashes 133
Testing and Modeling Flash from a Slave Unit 134
Remote Release from a Slave Unit 134
Linked Shooting with Radio Transmission 135
Using Your Speedlites with Radio Triggers 137
Using your Speedlites with PocketWizards 137
Using your Speedlites with RadioPoppers 139
CHAPTER 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 141
Introduction to the Portable Studio 142
Cables, Cords, and Triggers 143
Extra-long E-TTL cords 143
Custom cables 145
Cable releases 145
Tethered shooting 145
Radio triggers 146
White Balance and Filters 146
White balance and the ExpoDisc 146
Neutral density fi lters for wider apertures 148
Light Modifiers 148
Reflectors 150
Gels 152
Grids and snoots 154
Diffusers, small flags, and bounce cards 155
Umbrellas 157
Softboxes 161
Beauty dishes 166
Ring fl ash 167
Specialty brackets 168
Backgrounds and Background Stands 168
Seamless paper backdrops 169
Collapsible backdrops 170
Muslin backdrops 171
Canvas backdrops 172
Contemporary backdrops 173
Backdrop stands 173
Motorized backdrop support systems 173
Space Considerations 174
Setting up for indoor shoots 174
Setting up for outdoor shoots 177
Traveling with Your Wireless Studio 179
Camera cases and bags 179
Portable light stands 180
CHAPTER 6 Lighting Concepts and Patterns 183
Concepts of Lighting 184
Studio lighting 184
Portrait lighting types 186
Mood and drama 195
Lighting patterns 196
Using Speedlites for Outdoor Locations 205
The preflight 208
Remembering light theory 208
Setting power output 208
Modifi ers and Their Qualities of Light 209
One Light, Two Lights, Three Lights! 213
One light 214
Two lights 221
Three lights 227
APPENDIX A Posing Basics 231
Developing Your Style 234
Positioning the body 234
Positioning the hands and arms 236
Paying attention to the details 238
Positions to Avoid 240
Planning Poses 241
Traditional posing 242
Editorial posing 243
Glamour style 245
APPENDIX B Rules of Composition 247
Keep It Simple 247
Silhouettes 249
Limiting focus 251
The Rule of Thirds 252
Field of View 254
Leading Lines and S-Curves 256
Symmetry 257
APPENDIX C Resources 259
Websites and Online Learning 259
DVDs and Video Downloads 260
iPad Apps 262
Books 263
Workshops 263
Trade Shows 264
Magazines 264
Associations 264
Light Modifiers 265
Light Stands 265
Reflectors 265
Brackets 266
Lenses 266
Radio Triggers and Remotes 266
Backdrops and Support Systems 266
Cords and Cables 267
Equipment for Tethered Shooting 267
Filters 267
Bags and Cases 267
APPENDIX D How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker 268
The Gray Card 268
The Color Checker 269
Glossary 270
Index 279