Off-camera flash online course

PaulieC

http://www.steeletraining.com/portraits-fb.php

Has anyone done this ? Looking at the description, would anyone recommend it ? (I know he seems to go a bit overboard, but it seems genuine enough)

Thecageyone

To be honest, you'll learn as much , if not more, on this site:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

Take it in steps until each step sinks in. It can be a little daunting when you start using off-cam flash, as it changes everything. It opens up a whole new world of light to your photography. But don't get overwhelmed, you don't need to know it all at once.

I only have the one flash unit so have been concentrating on the one-light side of things, keeping it real simple. just getting to know a little on bouncing/diffusing/positioning etc to begin with.

I can tell you that I watched both One Light Dvds by Zack Arias, and I'm glad I didn't fork out the $250 for it. It was helpful, but he repeats the simple stuff over and over way too much, like you don't have a rewind button. Much more info and tips'n'tricks needed for that money.

Check out that site and see what you think before spending any money on a course that may or may not be any good.

Borderfox

Borderfox recommended me a V-Book in another thread, called lightenupandshoot. I'ts brilliant.

They use soft boxes and stuff and are more of a beginner's guide, but they're excellent and worth taking a look at. They also give a run-down of what gear they use. I've been through it once and I'm loving their 'Genius Square' idea. Will definitely take another look at it. Worked out at about €11.50.

Borderfox wrote: »

have a look here, only costs €9 but so easy to understand.

http://lightenupandshoot.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=17

TinyExplosions

Deleted User wrote: »

Borderfox recommended me a V-Book in another thread, called lightenupandshoot. I'ts brilliant.

They use soft boxes and stuff and are more of a beginner's guide, but they're excellent and worth taking a look at. They also give a run-down of what gear they use. I've been through it once and I'm loving their 'Genius Square' idea. Will definitely take another look at it. Worked out at about €11.50.

+1 to that -it's very suitable for beginners (ie me) and the run down of gear shows you that you don't have to spend a fortune -180 quid will get you everything you need to get started (flash, batteries, wireless triggers, umbrella, stand)

Thecageyone

might get myself a copy of that.

The irony of the likes of 'One light' is that it claims to show you how to do it on the very cheap, yet the dvd costs $250 + p&p!!

gloobag

Deleted User wrote: »

Borderfox recommended me a V-Book in another thread, called lightenupandshoot. I'ts brilliant.

They use soft boxes and stuff and are more of a beginner's guide, but they're excellent and worth taking a look at. They also give a run-down of what gear they use. I've been through it once and I'm loving their 'Genius Square' idea. Will definitely take another look at it. Worked out at about €11.50.

Was at their workshop in Dublin last weekend. Great craic so it was.

gloobag

gloobag wrote: »

Was at their workshop in Dublin last weekend. Great craic so it was.

Aw, I would've went to that. They look like a good laugh.

Borderfox

The V-book only cost €9 and has seven hours of video, something for everybody in it from begineers to pros

PaulieC

is it Canon specific ?

MartMax

cambo_gueno wrote: »

is it Canon specific ?

It is not. It has a lot of good basic info on flash and ambient exposure, etc.

oshead

I'd say if you only learned 1 thing of value from it for €9 then you can't go wrong. I havn't seen it yet, but most likely it's not vendor specific.

I am fairly sure the lads use Nikon gear in the VBook, but they don't really mention the brand that much. They don't really talk you through settings or anything like that on the flash guns or cameras themselves. It's more presented in a "Generally Speaking" kinda way, i'd say, to best describe it.

I think it is just assumed that you'll either know how to change the settings, or will have a manual and can pick it up from there.

Which is fair enough, really. If you don't know how to change aperture on your camera, then you're probably better off with Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide.

Buceph

This is the book I'm reading at the moment. It's really interesting, it goes into the principles of proper lighting, and a bit of science as to why they are that way. The idea being that once you can deconstruct a particular scene, you'll know how to light it. Rather than relying on case specific tools where you only know something because you read about that specific situation.

It's a good book, I'd recommend it.

Borderfox

Borderfox wrote: »

The V-book only cost €9 and has seven hours of video, something for everybody in it from begineers to pros

Just to clarify on your post though, it's only about 2 hours of footage.

I'd say you're getting a cut of the profit, with those exaggerations! :pac:

Carrigman

cambo_gueno wrote: »

http://www.steeletraining.com/portraits-fb.php

Has anyone done this ? Looking at the description, would anyone recommend it ? (I know he seems to go a bit overboard, but it seems genuine enough)

Yeah, I downloaded it. It's very good and well worth the €37 odd. It's streaming video - very high quality - and there is no time limit to the course so you can go back to it again and again.

He uses Canon flash equipment - 580EX11 and 430EX - so if, like me, you are a Canon user it will be an advantage although the basic principles apply to any manufacturer.

There are pleny of very good tips (such as how to disable the sleep mode in the flashes when using two in master/slave combination).

His presentation style is low key and very effective.

Highly recommended.