This is a flash shot taken at f/11 with a Nikon D70 with a 24mm lens and a Speedlight SB-800. Obviously it was shot with aperture priority. It is untouched in post processing. I increased the flash output by 1 ev because the scene has a lot of black. This tells me I can shoot at f/16 with a 2 ev bump on the flash, and f/22 with a 3 ev bump. Am I correct?
Pete: I sure the flash photography will work on certain photo's, but you'll still get better and more consistant results without the flash. Stay cool and run steam......
Bob, I'm experimenting! Flash on aperture priority (here f/11) doesn't always work. But multiple flashes can give me contrast, color balance, and brightness that long time exposures may not. So I'll keep trying. I want to get to f/22 and see what happens. With close-ups, I agree. No way to light them with a flash. And I do have the multi-deck problem of no vertical height, and limited lighting angles. So I'm experimenting with ways to throw light into dark corners without spending 5 hours setting up. Flash can do that, I think.
Pete, You are correct on the ev compensation. Do be aware that it will decrease the flash's range though. Another thing you can try inexpensively is use a reflective umbrella and put the SB-800 in wireless mode. I get amazing lighting with that setup. I too have the D70 and SB-800. Bob, Not necessarily. It's amazing what the SB-800 can do! I was a doubting thomas until I bought one.
I was thinking of picking up an SB-600 for fill flash, perhaps with an umbrella. I'm pretty amazed at the SB-800, too. It's hard to make a mistake with fill-flash outdoors. I tried various set-ups today, and found f/11 at 1 ev was by far the best for even lighting. That's with no diffuser, which surprised me. I tried stuff like f/11 with 2 ev with a diffuser--not as good as f/11 with 1 ev and no diffuser. I also found if I pointed the flash up a bit--toward the deck above--I could avoid the close-in burn-out. I can only bounce-flash on the upper deck. While rummaging around under my layout--to finish the turntable wiring--I found my three cheap incadescent reflectors. To think I used to stick 500W photofloods in those cheap things! However, they are perfect for 100w (32w) fluorescents, of which I now have three. I'm going to rip out the halogen lighting in the trainroom sometime soon and put in quality fluorescents. There's 1500W of halogens--I thought using tracks and moving the heads around would make photography easy. Hah! Too hot--the A/C is working overtime. I think I'll start with 160W of fluorescence and double it if needed.
Pete, try the umbrella. Very even light! You may to look into one of these. Just released and meant as fill-in flash. It's wireless too, designed to work with the SB-800. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...488&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Bob, I've realized fluorescents are the way to go. Any advice on what to use to light my 11 x 23 space? I'm thinking four 8-foot fixtures. But T-12. T-8? Webisites have been no help. I know daylight, but what temperature daylight? Any advise would be very appreciated.
Take a look at the Vita Lite by Durotest. I used these bulbs in my office to refract true color. Stay cool and run steam......
Bob, I went with the newer T-8 lamps. They are a smaller diameter than the T-12s, but more efficient. 5000K T-8 lamps were much more cost-effective than the T-12 5500K Vitalites--about one-eighth of the cost. I think I can adjust for the 500K difference. In any case I'm really pleased with the new lighting. Not as focusable as the old halogens, but very pleasant light.
