More strobe testing.

Another strobe test. This time outside as the strobe in question is built to overpower outdoor light we went outside. I put it through its paces and even tested out the high speed sync. Keep in mind if you do get a speed light or a strobe and it doesn’t have a high speed sync mode you will be limited to a shutter speed to over 1/250. Otherwise, you will get light sync issues which means half or all of your picture will be a wall of black. You don’t need high speed sync in order to use strobes, I have two really strobes that lack this feature, but this is why I recommend you understand what type of photography you want to do before investing in strobes. If you know you what you are trying to do then you will have a better idea what strobe to get for the work you want to do.

Anyway, these photos were done on a cloudy day. Cloudy days are great because they act as a giant softbox, distributing the light even everywhere. As previously mentioned, I used a strobe but I attached a softbox so this would be a two light set up. I started by adjusting for the daylight and then zeroing in the strobe. All these shots were taken with whatever we found walking up a short road and back. It helps to have access to some amazing locations but you can still do decent photography out in the neighborhood.

New strobe test.

I got my hands on a new strobe and I was testing it out in a two light studio set up on myself. I really like how this worked out and can’t wait until I can bring it out to the next outdoor event I shoot because I have some ideas. Anyway, this also required me to use my dreaded tripod. Don’t get me wrong, I understand what tripods do for photography and how to use them, I can even understand why other photographers love them, but I dislike using them. I feel like I am fighting the cursed thing the entire time I am using it. But if I want to test out a light on myself, I must bite the bullet and use the tripod.

I went on to test it further, but I am holding those photos back just in case I run out of time this week for other projects I want to share and have something to fall back on.

As previously stated, this was a two-light test. One strobe with a softbox as the key light and a speedlight with no modifier as back light. Use what gear you have to make your photography work, but I can honestly say the sweet spot feels like two lights. Sure, you can do great stuff with 3 lights or even 4 or 5 lights, I’ve done several projects with 3, 4 or 5 lights, but that’s extra time you have to spend setting up those lights. 2 lights still feels quick while still offering various lighting techniques.

But that’s just my 2 cents. Your mileage and organization skills may take you in a different direction.