Use of flash for nature

[AB26]

Jeremy,

A stupid question: Why do you need that thing when you got a D4s to shoot with?

Does the D4s not give you what you need to shoot action in low light?

[Loose Canon]

Yes, I was referring to X-sync at f22. I used max flash shutter speed since most folks today don't use X, M or FP in references to flash.

I only ever use this as an alignment check after mounting the beamer. It isn't to create an image of a subject, just a bright spot on some background. Think of the circle of illumination of a flashlight (torch to be multilingual ) aimed at a bullseye target.

You want the beamer to be hitting the bullseye but the use of velcro as an attachment means that the frame or lens can be mounted such that the aim is off center. The beamer needs to be aligned with the center line of the lens to be effective. If the brightest circle on the alignment image isn't centered, the fresnel lens is not aimed correctly.

I quite often see folks using them in the bright Florida sunshine at the Venice Rookery for fill or eye highlights at quite long distances.

Flash output power relative to ambient light determines whether the light produced is main or fill.

It works fine with High Speed Sync and any other flash mode. All it does is modify the path of the light and has no effect on other flash or camera function.

Thanks Brian! I appreciate you taking my questions and putting up with them while I try to understand what you are telling me!

I guess I misunderstood for a minute! Guess I am also old school with the “x-sync” reference! I had no idea the term wasn't used anymore. Probably because I see it used quite often in my travels!

I understand the use of a flash and that the Beamer is just a modifier like any other modifier! I was just wondering what your personal experiences were.

I see what you are saying about sighting it in. Makes perfect sense now.

I think that since I don’t shoot at 300mm + to often I didn’t give the modifier a good chance to see what it can do. But I am definitely interested in lighting and mods so since I have the capability to shoot at those focal lengths I might as well put it through some testing again!

Andre, I can’t answer for Jeremy of course, but the answer to your question may lie in the desire to improve the lighting rather than needing it to get the shot with any given camera body. Huge difference.

[Saorsa]

I guess I misunderstood for a minute! Guess I am also old school with the “x-sync” reference! I had no idea the term wasn't used anymore. Probably because I see it used quite often in my travels!

It took me a few minutes to figure out what folks meant by Rear-Curtain Sync when I first heard it. Particularly since there wasn't a rear curtain.

[Mark von Kanel]

Jeremy,

A stupid question: Why do you need that thing when you got a D4s to shoot with?

Does the D4s not give you what you need to shoot action in low light?

Because he likes to play with his toys, just like the rest of us

On a more serious note, i guess it depends on the "look" that you want as well as getting the light out to where you need it, i can see a definite use for this where you want hard light on a subject, ive seen some really interesting sports stuff shot in this kind of light.

[JR1]

Jeremy,

A stupid question: Why do you need that thing when you got a D4s to shoot with?

Does the D4s not give you what you need to shoot action in low light?

Yes but as we all know flash freezes action

[mknittle]

It took me a few minutes to figure out what folks meant by Rear-Curtain Sync when I first heard it. Particularly since there wasn't a rear curtain.

[AB26]

Yes but as we all know flash freezes action

That is reason enough!

Now try dragging the shutter to "balance" ambient and flash light.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Yes but as we all know flash freezes action

Assuming it is the primary light source. If you are using natural light and a relatively slow shutter speed, you might get ghosting.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Would you not get better results by mounting the flash on a stand with a softbox closer to the birds and using radio triggers?

I just documented something similar in this thread How I shot my backyard bird images