On Camera Lighting
Entry level, starter kit, beginner. The words evoke the idea of something inexpensive that you start with and grow out of quickly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. When I’m looking at an accessory, I look for what I need now, and what I may need a couple of years from now. I’m looking for room to grow, because what is the point of getting something now, if I’m going to have to pay more to buy a new version next year?
Audio
A good mic is important, especially when you are doing everything yourself without a sound recordist. The
If you are a photographer who shoots on the go and prefers to travel light, artificial lighting is probably not a part of your daily carry. However, there are countless situations where a shot requires more than available light—whether as a primary source or to add fill. Luckily, there are many compact lighting solutions to keep you prepared for these scenarios without weighing you down.
Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight
On
Congratulations! You have just acquired your very first flash. Now comes the fun part: figuring out what all those buttons do in order to get the most out of your new speedlight.
Shutter Speed (Almost) Doesn’t Matter
One thing that will trip many flash beginners up is that shutter speed gets weird. If the flash is too strong, no amount of shutter speed adjustment is going to change how it appears in your final image. A flash will provide a
Great customer service reigns supreme at B&H as our knowledgeable product specialists help you navigate a vast sea of available options to pick the right gear for your needs. Their product knowledge and passion for practical solutions shine through in every interaction, whether it’s via online chat, by phone, or in person, at our midtown Manhattan store. We recently asked some of our photo, video, lighting, mobile, and surveillance experts for top product suggestions. Here are a few of their favorites.
Above Photograph: Portraits of B
One of the best upgrades anyone can make to their photography gear is in the lighting department. Getting your first or, even, extra lights can transform your images in countless ways. It is also a great way to learn more about photography and expand your capabilities. Here is a quick list of seven lighting kits with options, for absolute beginners to seasoned professionals.
Bolt VD-410 Manual Flash, Times Two!
Absolute beginners don’t need much more than a speedlight to start experimenting with light. One of the most practical for them is one
The only thing better than one A1 Studio Light is two A1 Studio Lights. Profoto seems to think so, because the company has just announced A1 Duo Kits for Canon and Nikon cameras. This combo does exactly what you would expect: it bundles two A1s into a single package, along with two batteries, two Dome Diffusers, two Flash Stands, two A1 Bags,
Flash lighting sources fire for a fraction of a second, just enough time to freeze, illuminate, and capture a subject. There are three main types of flash lighting sources: speedlights, monolights, and power pack lights. Which type you choose for your home studio will depend on how portable you need your lights to be, as well as your budget.
Four-monolight setup
Model: Mao Hanada
Benefits of Flash Photography
Flash photography offers several benefits. Flash can be used creatively to freeze motion because of its fraction-of-a-
AI flash is finally here! Though in this case it refers to Auto Intelligent instead of the simultaneously exciting and scary thought of artificial intelligence that has caused the fall of humanity in more than one fictional universe. Anyway… today we are referring to Canon’s latest flash, the Speedlite 470EX-AI, which becomes the first on-camera option to have a fully automatic bounce function. Beyond being a fun party trick, the creating of
In locations like New York where rental space comes at a premium, it is not uncommon to find photographers working out of makeshift studios in their apartments. With a little creativity, even the smallest apartments can be used to create quality photographs. Nevertheless, building a usable studio while maintaining a livable space can be a tricky endeavor. Nobody wants to live in an apartment that looks like the set of a reality television show. Reaching a productive compromise starts with knowing what options are available to you.
Whether you just picked up your first mirrorless camera or you've been partying with your Canon DSLR for years, there are always a few toys you haven't managed to add to your collection and a couple you haven't even thought of yet. Here are a few I would recommend to anyone who is looking to fill out their wish list for the coming holidays, for nearly any type of photographer.
Protective Cloths/Lens Wraps
Okay, this is definitely my favorite item on the list and I can tell you that if you don't already have a
When you start getting extremely close to your subject, you may run into some difficulty with lighting. This could be because your large lights can't get into position easily, you can't get the type of lighting you want, or you are so close that you are casting a shadow. There are solutions to these problems, and each has its own unique capabilities and look that will help you bring your macro photography up a notch.
Let's start things off with something you probably already have in your bag, an
Youngnuo simplifies choosing between a daylight-balanced or variable color temperature with a pair of on-camera lights. With either the daylight-balanced YOYN300IIIW, or the tungsten/daylight variable YOYN300III, you get a powerful light with surprising capabilities. The daylight fixture’s 300 LEDs draw only 18 watts, while
In this B&H Photo Event Space video, photographer and Nikon tech guru Alex Podstawski demonstrates how to use Nikon Speedlights in several lighting situations. Topics Podstawski discusses are color-balance issues when mixing flash and ambient light, controlling light direction, and the importance of proper positioning of lights, using fill flash with backlit sunlight, hard light versus soft light, light-to-subject distances, and how to improve your lighting technique through the use of Speedlight modifiers.
The Luxli Viola 5" Multi-Color On-Camera LED light is a compact but powerful creative tool. How does Luxli illustrate its versatility and usefulness? How about a video? Even better, how about a video about making the video?
When commercial director and writer Shawn Collins came up with the idea for the illustrative video, he also knew, from the beginning, that filming a behind-the-scenes video would be a part of the process.