Nikon SB-600 : Learn How To Use It
When I first posted about my attempts to learn how to use my Nikon SB-600 I sought out answers on Flickr and on the Strobist Blog. I got some great feedback and tips on how to use it but the bottom line is that these tips and settings do not work in every situation. I, like many others was looking for the simple answer on how to conquer the use of the flash in all situations.
As time has passed, the best tip that I was given was to simply use the thing. Try it out. See what works. Over the past few months (and lots of AA batteries) I have used the SB-600 in various settings with wonderful results. I have abandoned using the Automatic function on the flash and I only use it in Manual Mode. Here are the steps that I take when using my SB-600:
- Set your aperture to your desired setting to get the DOF that you are looking for in the photograph
- Set the power of your flash as a starting point. This will vary based on how far away you are from your subject
- Review the photograph and the histogram on the rear LCD screen of the camera
- Adjust the power up or down depending on what you see
- Keep photographing, checking the LCD, and re-adjusting the power of the flash
This may seem like common sense to some, but for those of us who have bought the SB-600 and have felt totally lost, it is the best place to start. You will find that the flash will be on your camera a lot more and that you will be more comfortable using it.
Applications To Help You Get More From Your iPhone Camera
How many times have you been without your camera and you passed on a photo opportunity because you do not like the way the camera in your iPhone captures photographs? For me, this used to happen a lot. I have recently been getting over this reluctance through the use of a few iPhone Applications
that I think are too good to pass up. Here are my 4 new favorites:
- 1. Mill Colour
This application is amazing because it delivers a considerable amount of control on how you edit your photographs. There are ten different ‘looks’ that you can choose from that include Golden and Noir as well as a fine level of control on four secondary settings (Lift, Gamma, Gain, and Saturation). Each of these four setting can be adjusted in all RGB channels simultaneously or on an individual R, G, or B basis through the use of a slider bar that seems to go on forever. The level of control is amazing and gives you a lot of power in getting you photographs to look exactly how you would like.
- 2. Flickr
Finally there is a native application for Flickr. With this application you get all the functionality of your Flickr homepage that you get on the web, but on your iPhone. What I think is particularly great about this application is that not only you can add your title, description, and tags to your photograph but you can also choose the set, image size, and the level of privacy you want for the photograph that is to be uploaded. Again, all the functionality you would have if you were working on your desktop or laptop.
- 3. Best Camera
This one has it all! Not only can you edit your new or existing photographs with a variety of effects and filters, you can also apply vignetting, crops, and a frame to the photograph that you are working on. The fun doesn’t stop there. Once you are done you can share your work on the community of other Best Camera as well as your Facebook and Twitter. I cannot wait to dive deeper into this one!
- 4. Polarize
This easily is my favorite because it is the most fun. Polarize converts your photographs to a representation of what they would look like had they been shot with a Polaroid Instant Camera. The application also gives you the option to “tag” the photograph with text on the bottom as if you had written on the photograph yourself with a Sharpie®. If you follow my Posterous, you will see that I have been using this one quite a bit over the past two weeks.
Having and using all of these applications may seem like overkill, but keep in mind they can all be used in combination with each other for a greater level of control on your inal product. For example, you can make some edits in Mill Colour, crop in Best Camera, and then Polarize before uploading the image to your various sites with either the Best Camera or Flickr applications. Don’t just take my word for it. Download them all and give them a try!
* At the time of this post, Best Camera was the only application that is not free. Even at $2.99, I think that it is a steal!
Day 12 of Project 50
Earlier in the day @joshbobbitt on Twitter seemed perplexed as to what to shoot for his daily image. I suggested that he do some self portrait work, possibly working from different points of view.
I partially took my own advice. However, instead of working from different points of view, I got out my Nikon SB-600 and umbrella stand so that I could practice more with the Strobist lighting technique.
In doing take self portraits I have learned that you have to have a sense of humor about yourself. Clearly, I do. I may take a few barbs for this but I really like how it came out. Your feedback is always welcome.
Be sure to view other photographers’ progress in Project 50 over in the Flickr Group.
Day 11 of Project 50
I’l be honest, I was going to slack and not take an image for Project 50 tonight. That was, until I saw a tweet from @shutterbugcel on Twitter. She said, “… but better to take something than nothing at all”. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
With that in mind I took a look a walk around the house and noticed a collection of candles that I had pooled together from all over the house to facilitate the upcoming move (yes, some of them are a bit dusty but I like the texture). I like how this photograph came out. What do you think?
Be sure to view other photographers’ progress in Project 50 over in the Flickr Group.
Day 10 of Project 50
Ok, I know. It has been three days since my last Project 50 update.
I have a had a few irons in the fire over the weekend coordinating events to enable my wife and I to make a move in a few weeks so that we can adopt a puppy. Yes, there is a very good chance that this blog may be overrun with photographs of said puppy in the near future. I will do my best to control myself.
With several of the details sorted and items of furniture sold, I took a drive to Huntington Beach Pier this afternoon to spend some well overdue time with my D90. I took a bunch of great shots of a street performance group who call themselves the One Love Crew that I will posting tomorrow evening. But, for today, I was sure to not neglect my “nifty fifty” so that I could recommence with Project 50. Here is a shot of a wind vane that was for sale from a merchant on the pier.
Be sure to view other photographers’ progress in Project 50 over in the Flickr Group.
Day 9 of Project 50
I know, I know. This should be Day 10 of Project 50 and not Day 9. In all the excitement of last night, learning that I won the photo contest, I did not leave myself time to to work on the Project. I did, however, jump on the Project early this evening by clicking several shots of the agave plants that are in front of our house.
While skimming through the shots I felt like I wanted to do something a little different in my editing workflow. Once I selected the shot for Day 9, I desaturated the image and played around a bit with the contrast to transform the image to black and white. I really like the result. Hopefully you do as well.
Be sure to view other photographers’ progress in Project 50 over in the Flickr Group.
