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How to get catch lights on a very overcast day???


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<p>Love doing senior portraits, both in my home studio and on location. Had a very over cast situation a few days ago and the reflector was not going to help put any catch lights in the eyes. Tried my 580 flash, had it powered way down but it just still seemed to blow out the highlights and generally overexpose the picture. Any suggestions??????</p>
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<p>One of the few times that I would agree that an on camera flash would be helpful. Be aware that the eye is incredibly more reflective than skin. That's in your favor, because you do not want any effect on the face, just the eyes. Since the eyes are wet and reflect very efficiently, all you need is the tiniest of flashes and almost no power in order to achieve a catch light. Years ago we used a very tiny flash, about the size of a Zippo lighter, called a wink light. its was perfect for 160 speed film. It did the needed catch light, but the power was so low that it did not record as any effect on the face. It probably had no more than about a 10 WS output.</p>

<p>I don't know if anyone still makes that small a flash, but with whatever you had put it at the absolute minimum power. If that isn't low enough to avoid the burn out. If not block half of the flash lens with electrical tape and diffuse the rest with a piece of plastic cut from a milk jug. Add a second layer if needed until you get the effect you want.</p>

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<p>Dave, I'm sure you are right. I couldn't think of who made this way back when, but that was it. </p>

<p>Help me out on this one, Dave. Do I remember correctly that the original electronic flashes that Polaroid made for the Land series, was also called a wink light? Either that was it's name or my Dad just called it that.</p>

<p>Also, The high key version of the Lindhal shades had a flash shoe under the front to hold a very small electronic flash that was aimed upward at the white vignetter. I think the flash may have been supplied with it. Anyway, some of those may still be around and they were about the size of a bloated Tic Tac container. Capable of very low power since they were about an inch from the white surface.</p>

<p>Guess we're on a memory lane trip.</p>

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<p>Morning Tim, sorry I don't know the Polaroid answer. Yes I definitely remember the Lindhall with the instant high-key hahahaha, great stuff. And there were a few different tiny flashes as you mention, I think they all fired at one power though, not sure. The flash I'm thinking of was a larger bracket mount proto-type with a glass flashtube and Norman style reflector that fit a Lumedyne pack. I thought it was Wein, maybe it was Armatron, or some other custom shop. It was actually made to promote at a WPI event long ago, late 70s early1980s maybe. Either Monte Zucker or Rocky Gunn was involved and my friend's father used to set up some of those seminars and he got a pair of these "bad boys". Then they were supposd to be released for the public market, whatever happened IDK, but they had a big dial and control on the back to adjust various "wink" settings. You put the big knob on W and adjusted the small knob to fine tune. You know the drill, Monte uses this, Rocky uses that, blah, blah, everybody buys one.</p>
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<p>Just to clear up some of the "wink light" info. Lindahl catalouge 1995 p. 13 advertizes "Wink Light Strobe" 2 AA batteries, mounts on either high key vignetter or regular Bell-O-Shade. GN 46/14 @ ISO 100 operates manual with built in slave. *note says: Actual make and model of strobe may vary due to manufacturer availability. Which is what I thought, they were made by several companies. Tim I believe this is exactly what you were referring to.</p>
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