Flash problems

It's so crazy and still unbelievable that the man that shot this image is my instructor right now. Ralph Clevenger. This image is actually a combination of three. So cool! He's made loads of money off of this image... crazy.

Anyway, I've been having troubles with my flash... the TTL hasn't been working properly... so after class today, Majesta and I went to his office and we spent about an hour or so trying to figure out what wrong... it honestly was making me mad because I spent $400 on the darn flash and it isn't even functioning correctly. We tested Majesta's flash on my camera and didn't have the problem.

In the end, we figured out that my flash was +1/3 off... so in order for me to shoot 'normal' using the TTL setting, I have to add 1/3. Awesome. Well, at least we figured it out. It was actually really fun hanging out with Ralph. He was very helpful and I'm soo grateful I have him as my teacher.

Did Work Today

PHT 200 LT- Assignment #7- Specular/Diffused

The purpose of this assignment was to learn how to light a subject indoors and match the exterior lighting environment. My roommate Shawna stood in front of a window at Jefferson Campus. In shot one, there is a P22 Diffusion panel in front of a flash. Shot two, I took the panel out. Shot 3- expose for the exterior. Shot 4- expose for the model. I really liked this assignment... the first shot looks so good!

PHT 200 LT- Assignment #6- Rim Ambience

We stimulated a specular rim light from the sun and to do this, the subject was placed in an open shade. I placed my flash 14 feet away from her on a light stand and connected it to my camera with a PC cord. (This was a pain) But they turned out good.
PHT 200 LT- Assignment #3- TTL Flash Portrait

I finished shooting the first half of this assignment today (Shawna on the left). Photographed her using my flash off- camera on TTL mode, +1 setting, 5 feet away from her... used as the key light. The second shot (Majesta on the right), I photographed with my flash on- camera TTL mode, +1 setting, about 3 feet away.... using the sun as the key light and the flash as fill.

PHT 200 LT- Assignment #2- TTL and Power Ratios

These are my reshoots... I hope they pass ugh... the purpose of this was to demonstrate the control of flash TTL (through the lens) and the flash power adjustments to control flash exposure in an outdoor setting.
and this... we did in lab... creative layers. Blah

I DID THIS ALL TODAY. Ridiculous. I'm tired and I need a break.

Blue Spheres

PHT 200 LT- Assignment #5- Blue Spheres

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate different lighting environments on specular/diffused surfaces 'on location'. We have to photograph under a variety of lighting qualities, color and direction. 

Shawna, Majesta and I went to Shoreline Park today and started shooting Blue Spheres. I thought that Ralph was actually going to be demonstrating to us, but it ended up being us setting up and him checking it out, making sure everything was okay. In some ways, it was better, because we were actually doing stuff instead of just watching. 

Both Majesta and I were not in the mood today but after the shoot, I am really happy that we finished all the overcast shots (7 out of 20). We bracketed all the shots, by under and overexposing them up to 1 stop. In addition, we also bracketed the flash, moving it one stop closer and farther away. It was definitely to our advantage that Ralph was there answering any questions we had.

I really enjoy having Ralph as an instructor. He is a really down- to- earth, friendly guy and was happy to answer any questions we had. Plus, he actually seems to care when we ask questions and goes into depth so that we understand what he's saying when answering our questions.

Today took a lot out of me however.

Colors

I was looking through some photos I took during my visit home to Washington in October... The second one is overlooking I-5 and Capital Lake. The colors of the leaves changing is amazing. Coming back to this made me realize how blessed I was to have lived in Washington.