article on Ring Flash technique

[ellis_vener_photography]

I had posted this earlier in the week but wanted to repost it due to the server

crash.

 

http://prophoto.typepad.com/bonus/2007/06/ringflash_techn.html

 

It has some portrait samples. I am working on some "product" or still life

samples to post here but am a little busy with real work so will get those up

when I am able.

[david_altmann]

how important is camera the position as a lightning technique with ring flash ? is it a hindrance ?

 

D.

[ellis_vener_photography]

I'm sorry I don't under stand your question. Can you rephrase it?

[david_altmann]

i?ll try... the character of the ringlight on the subject changes with the camera position. is it difficult to find a good camera position and still get a good light ?

 

for example if you want to shoot a person from below, it might look strange if the light gets inside the nose.

 

D.

[ellis_vener_photography]

like from right below or slightly below? In the first case the photo looks strange anyway. The camera position for the portrait of the Marine was shot from slightly below his head height.

[david_altmann]

thats a point. id have to use one myself someday and test all this. if its fashion again :-)

 

the marine is quite an untypical ringflash image.

 

D.

[ellis_vener_photography]

"the marine is quite an untypical ringflash image."

 

 

Not a bad thing in my opinion.

[david_altmann]

no, of course not. i didnt intend to say this. i even like that you didnt show the typical "in your face" ringflash image.

 

D.

[ellis_vener_photography]

David,

I'm glad we are in agreement. The "in your face" look is such a trite cliche, but I think we both know that most people who buy or rent any ring flash will never get beyond that very obvious use. I think Paul Buff has tried to go beyond that with the modifiers (Moon Units, grids) he has introduced, unfortunately you'd never know that from the images heuses in his ads. You should see the variations that Balcar has devised. One way I like to use the ABR800 + Moonunit is to create what I call "invisible fill".

[beauh44]

Nicely done, Ellis! I also like the Marine shot - you did a great job on that!

 

I've not played with my ABR800 much lately due to personal stuff hitting the fan but the last time I did use it, I tried it with a softbox, using it much less subtlely than you, but still appreciating it more in terms of incorporating it with other lights as opposed to the "deer in the headlights" look it can give when used alone.

 

Here's a link to a model shot (warning: she's nude but covering up the "naughty bits") where I used the ringflash with an AB800 in a relatively large (octagon) softbox just off camera right:

 

http://www.photo.net/photo/5812501

 

It was getting late and I didn't even mess with ratios; I pretty much just nuked her! ;-)

 

If you look closely you can see I picked up a bit of red-eye - which isn't hard to do sometimes since the ringlight literally envelopes the lens.

 

Funny thing - I've bought the modifiers and have yet to try them! One of these days...

[stacy]

Ellis- do you have the battery system for this ringlight? I'm thinking about buying one, but wonder if any other battery would work...have you tried anything? Thanks!