The first thing you notice about the Neewer Z3 Flash is its sheer size and weight. There’s no easing into it. At just over 600g with the battery, this is a chunky speedlite, and for someone like me with cranky hands, it’s not my favourite thing to have sitting on
Selecting the appropriate artificial lighting for your photography project is crucial in achieving the desired look and feel. Two primary lighting options are available: strobes (or speedlights) and constant light. Each has its unique advantages and limitations, making them suitable for different types of photography. Strobes (or Speedlights) Strobes, characterized
Some time back, I did this fabulous Winter Wonderland creative portrait session after being inspired by fellow writer and photographer Jason Hahn’s Snow Scene. We wanted to shoot in the studio and not outdoors, but I still wanted that ‘blanketed in soft snow look.’ Behind the scenes Shot in the studio,
Caution! If you take up creating images of water droplets you might become addicted. Last time I set up a droplet session I spent three days making images. With that health warning out of the way, let’s take a look at making some very cool imagery. Gear There are many
I love nighttime photography. There is such a sense of magic in capturing a scene despite the lack of visible light. In this walk-through, I will show you how I created this photo with a long exposure and flash. It’s really pretty simple, and a lot of fun, so give
Speedlights are a great lighting solution for portability. Much less power than studio strobes and no modeling lamp to see where the light is falling on your subject can make them difficult to use especially for a new photographer. In this video, “Lighting a Portrait with a Speedlight” from the
Rock star, guitarist, singer, and photographer Ken Susi of the band, “Unearth,” dropped by the Photographic Test Kitchen, for a portrait session. Our goal is how to create a different look by using colors. Creating the first image In the first image, I used 2 Dynalite Baja B6 strobes, one
Do you have a speedlight or flash that sits in the cupboard or bottom of your camera bag because you’re not really sure HOW to use it, and are too embarrassed to ask for help? Well, have no fear. Learn how to quickly turn your flash from zero to hero
A few years ago when I picked up my first speedlight, I was confused and daunted. I couldn’t seem to get things to work as I wanted to — so much so I didn’t really use it very much. Jump ahead a few years and I finally sort of worked
When you’re just starting out using a flash can seem daunting and confusing. There are so many confusing settings and it seems like there is so much to learn and navigate. So let’s break it down. The different types of flashes There are three main types of flashes: The flash
In this episode: Photojournalist Rick Friedman talks about how he uses the Rogue Lighting System–along with speedlights–to create a portable lighting studio. He also shares how he uses gels to add a special look to his lighting. Total time 22m:10s starting at 1m:50s In the second half of the
You can double the unique pictures you make during every shoot by utilizing the No-Look portrait. Most portraits include the subjects looking at the camera smiling. But every pose you set up and each location should also include shots with the subject looking someplace other than into the camera. Don’t
