Quick Tip — Get an off-camera strobe cord
An off-camera strobe cord will do wonders for your portable strobe photography. (Copyright 2009/Andrew Boyd)
This is one piece of equipment I would never shoot flash without-a working off-camera strobe cord. By off-camera cord, I’m talking about one made by your strobe manufacturer which allows all of the electronic communication between your camera and strobe to still work.
Getting your strobe off camera axis–away from being directly over your lens-will dramatically improve the quality of most of your strobe photography. This is one of the most important things you can do, for a very reasonable price, to improve your shooting. If you don’t have one of these cords, get one! Try it and see how much better your strobe work looks!
Straight strobe. Note harsh shadow under chin, flat light, shadow behind head. (Copyright 2009/Andrew Boyd)
Off-camera strobe. This is still direct flash, but from off camera to the left. Note more interesting, modeled light across face now, with no heavy shadow under chin or behind head. (Copyright 2009/Andrew Boyd)
- [Editor's Note: This is the first article in a new feature called "Quick Tips" which will focus on a small thing you can do to improve your photography. Let me know if you think this new series is helpful. -DiscerningPhotog]
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Great tip! I have one of these and it makes all of the difference in the world.
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Greetings,
Stumbled your site and loved it! I’m gonna keep coming back now! Keep the ‘quick tips’ running dude. Loved the finger fill flash and hope to see more tips like it. See ya mate!
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DiscerningPhotog Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Thanks Zack! Yeah, my two-fingered technique works with all flash units…no adapters needed!
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Off camera cord – most valuable flash accessory decades ago in my 35mm days and bought one with recent purchase of canon 430ex ii
also prchased bounce kit, but the cord stays with the flash at all times – it’s that important & useful!
Bounce kit is a ‘sometimes’ accessory , except for the two-finger bounce – that stays with the flash also : )
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I think that was a great flash of canon. I like the result when you put the flash on it. Thank you for the idea that you share to me.
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Looking forward to buy a flash for my canon 1100 and yes for a nicer lens on November. Looking forward to nicer shots with this next time.
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