Speedliters Handbook Learning To Craft Light With Canon Speedlites

For anyone new to flash photography–or who has had a frustrating start with it–Speedliter's Handbook is a fantastic in-depth resource. Packed with information presented in a clear and approachable how-to format, this book walks readers through everything from the basics of light to advanced setups using Canon Speedlites.

In this second edition, Syl updates the book to include all the newest Canon gear–such as flashes in the 90, 270, and 600 series, as well as the ST-E3 transmitter–to bring the book completely up to date. Syl also revises the book to include his newest best practices and workflows that have evolved and changed since the first edition of the book.

The book begins by familiarizing the reader with how light works and covers all the key concepts, terminology, and equipment that will serve as a foundation before jumping in. Syl then moves into all the ways Speedlites can be used both on and off camera to create the best light for any given situation, whether that be portraits, wedding, sports, or macro-photography. Speedliter's Handbook covers both manual and E-TTL flash; high-speed sync; stroboscopic flash; set-ups that use from one to a dozen flashes; and much more. Page after page of the book features great photography that illustrates all the techniques discussed. By the end of the book, the reader will have a newfound knowledge of light and will be confident with her ability to craft that light with Canon Speedlites. Syl's blog, pixsylated.com, has become a popular go-to resource for Canon users seeking credible information that will help them improve their photography using Speedlites. 

For those new to flash photography or for anyone who has previously given up out of frustration Speedliter s Handbook, Second Edition, is a revelation. Follow along as photographer Syl Arena takes you on a journey that begins with an exploration of light and color, moves through a comprehensive discussion of the Canon Speedlite family and all of the accessories and equipment available to the Speedliter, and finally, explores crafting great light in one photo shoot after another. Whether you want to make a classic portrait, photograph a group, capture an important event, or create dramatic color effects in your images, Speedliter s Handbook shows you how.

In this fully updated second edition, Syl includes all of the newest Canon gear including the radio-enabled 600EX-RT Speedlite and ST-E3 Transmitter to ensure that you are completely up to date on all of the components in the Speedlite system. He also includes a downloadable online supplement on the brand-new 430EX III-RT Speedlite. Plus, he covers his newest best practices and workflows so you can make the most of your Canon gear.

In this new edition, you ll learn how to:

• see the various properties of light itself, as well as the differences between how your camera sees versus how you see
• use all the buttons and dials of the entire Canon Speedlite family from the flagship 600EX-RT and the new 430EX III-RT to vintage models like the 550EX
• understand the basics of on-camera flash . . . and the benefits of getting your Speedlite off the camera
• beautifully balance flash with the existing ambient light
• get amazing shots with just one Speedlite, all the way up to a dozen Speedlites
• use the right Speedlite mode for the job: E-TTL, Manual, Multi, and more
• use color gels to balance color, as well as create dramatic effects
• tame the sun or any really bright light with high-speed sync
• use Speedlites when photographing groups and events
• choose your camera s exposure settings to capture the shot that you truly want
• and much, much more

"

Back in the dark ages of view cameras and enlargers, Syl Arena studied commercial photography at Brooks Institute and fine art photography at the University of Arizona. An early indication of Syl's willingness to explore the boundaries of photography was his construction of a pinhole camera into which he loaded 20 x 24 litho film. Over the years, Syl has shot commercially for newspapers, magazines and catalogs. He has been recognized for his expertise on color-critical workflow and his ability to turn noon to night by firing off a dozen Speedlites simultaneously. Today, Syl covers the world of photography on his blog PixSylated.com, is a full-time art teacher, and leads workshops around the world including at the popular Maine Media Workshops. He is the author of the best-selling first edition of Speedliter’s Handbook, as well as Lighting for Digital Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots. He lives in San Luis Obispo, CA, and can be found at pixsylated.com and sylarena.com.

0. Quick Start Guide to Speedliting

Part 1: Before Speedlites, There Was Light

1. Learn to See Light

2. Exposure Exposed

3. Mechanics of Light

4. Light of the World

5. Think Globally, Light Locally

Part 2: Speedlites Fundamentally

6. Meet the Speedlites

7. Control Your Speedlites

8. Flashing Manually

9. E Is for Evaluative

10. Move Your Speedlite Off-Camera

11. Wireless Speedliting, the Canon Way

12. Mixing Canon Speelites with Other Lights

Part 3: Gear for Speedliting

13. Go Ahead, Mod Your Speedlite

14. Those Big Modifiers Always Get in the Way

15. Get a Grip

16. Keeping the Energy Up

Part 4: Speedlting in Action

17. Lighting Portraits Classically

18. Portraits with One Speedlite

19. Portraits with Two and three Speedlites

20. Gelling for Effects

21. Slicing Time with High-Speed Sync

22. Dimming the Sun

23. Smashing Pumpkins with Gang Light

24. Speedliting Events

25. Strobo, Strobo, Strobo

Part 5: Appendixes

1. Gang Slang for Speedliters

2. Web Resources for Speedliters

3. Custom Functions

4. Six-Point Checklist for Speedliting