flash

These Are iPhone Studio Portraits Shot Using the Godox A1 Flash System

Last month, the Chinese lighting brand Godox teased an innovative new product called the A1 that serves as both a wireless, off-camera flash/light for smartphones as well as a transmitter for triggering other off-camera flashes. Now new sample photos have emerged to show what this smartphone flash system can actually do.

Godox Quietly Launched Cross-Brand TTL and HSS On All Lights

Chinese lighting manufacturer Godox has already released a few products in 2017 that have helped a lot of strobists build lighting kits with a modest investment. Most notably the Godox AD-200 (also sold as the Flashpoint eVolv) has become a crowd favorite for a portable and powerhouse flash.

A Review of the Olympus STF-8 Macro Twin Flash

Last year, Olympus Singapore loaned me a pre-launch unit of their new STF-8 Macro Twin Flash, together with their OM-D E-M1 and M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro for a test-run in the field. I've had the set for about a week -- it was easy to use and the results were pretty good, although it took some time for me to get used to focusing using the LCD.

The Bright Flashes During NBA Games You May Never Have Noticed

Here's something you might not be able to "unsee" if you've never noticed it before: during an NBA basketball game, whenever there's some exciting action around the rim, there's a good chance you'll also see a bright flash of light illuminate your screen for a split second. These are the powerful strobes installed high overhead by photographers.

The New Profoto B1X Improves on the B1 with Power, Power, and More Power

Profoto isn't being shy about their new B1X monolight. They're calling it the "new benchmark for on-location lighting." A significant improvement on the Profoto B1, "This isn’t an update," explains Profoto. "This is a significant replacement with improvements in three important areas: power, power and power."

Photographer Flips Off Musician After Being Called Out for Using Flash

Musician Ryan Adams got into another very public scuffle with a photographer this week. Midway through his set at the 2017 Gasparilla Music Festival, Adams, who suffers from Meniere’s disease, called out photographer Joe Sale for using flash photography and potentially putting the musician's health at risk.

Hands On with The New Godox AD200 Pocket Flash

In late 2015, I stumbled upon a strobe called the Godox TT685: a fully-featured speedlight that has radio master and transmitter capabilities built right in. Being a Nikon user, I had never experienced that type of wireless connectivity, and I bought 3 despite being leery of the price.

A Review of the Fujifilm EF-X500 Flash

In 2016, I joined team Fuji after being extremely impressed with the X-T2 body. I had been watching mirrorless technology for a while, but this was the first time a system had everything I wanted in a camera body.

How to Combine Flash and Ambient Light for Better Outdoor Portraits

Moving from using only natural light to flash photography is a big step for an outdoor photographer, but before you ditch ambient light entirely, give this video a look. As photographer Francisco Hernandez explains, you'll often get more pleasing results by pulling some ambient light back in.

Quick Tip: Use a Balloon for Better Pop-Up Flash Portraits

We've seen some interesting DIY flash diffusers, but I can't remember ever seeing someone use a blown up balloon. Which is a shame, really, because it's a cheap and effective way to soften your pop-up flash, or even a small speedlight.

You Don’t Get What You Pay For: $700 Godox AD600 vs $2,100 Profoto B1

Back in December 2015 I saw a rumor report online about a 600w/s Chinese monolight with onboard battery, TTL, and built-in radio. After doing some research I found they had a TTL speedlight that worked within the same system, and I became very excited.

Optical Slaves and Why They Belong in Your Camera Bag

There are unfortunately times when technology just lets us down. It’s not always because it inevitably breaks either: sometimes it is simply because every piece of gear has its strengths and weaknesses, and flash triggers are no exception.

Speedlights vs Studio Strobes: Which is Better and Why?

As beginner's guides go, this is one of the best we've stumbled across. In 10 minutes, Joe Edelman does a fantastic job comparing the standard speedlight to the standard monolight or "studio strobe," explaining some of the confusing terminology, and helping break down which is better when and why.

Portrait Tip: Flash and Shade Don’t Mix, Here’s How You Fix That

Nearly every photographer has spent a portion of a session bouncing from tree to tree, placing their subjects in the patches of shade that these saviors provide. After all, it tends to be one of the easiest settings to work in. Your subject’s eyes are relaxed, your camera’s meter is calm, and if you’re lucky you get to cool off too.

Quick Tip: How to Get Four Different Looks with One Photo Umbrella

Daniel Norton, the same photographer who showed you how to capture three distinct looks simultaneously when you're pressed for time on a shoot, is back for another useful quick tip. This time, he's showing you how to capture four distinct portrait looks with a single umbrella.

This Simple Example Shows the Power of High Speed Sync

High speed sync is a big deal when you're capturing portraits on-location. As photographer Manuel Ortiz shows in this informative video, it can mean the difference between a captivating shot and something full of background distraction.

Natural Light vs Off-Camera Flash: An Eye-Opening Demonstration

Even a single off-camera flash can make a massive difference in an outdoor portrait shoot, giving you a look that is simply impossible to capture with natural light alone. Photographer Manuel Ortiz demonstrates this beautifully in a quick, eye-opening comparison video.

Canon Unveils EF-M 28mm f/3.5 STM Macro Lens with Built-In Ring Light

After leaked photos of Canon's first EF-M macro lens appeared online yesterday, we told you to "stay tuned" because we'd likely see an official announcement before long. Less than 24 hours later, we have the official announcement!

Say hello to the EF-M 28mm f/3.5 STM macro lens with built-in "Micro Lites."

Useful Tips for Combining Flash and Ambient Light

You may swear by natural light, but sometimes available light just doesn't cooperate. So for those times when you're faced with an overcast sky but need a sunset, or the ambient light is harsh and direct, these tips from photographer Adam Angelides will help you capture natural looking images by combining ambient light with flash.

Shooting Action at 1/4000th of a Second… with Flash!

Recently I had the opportunity to shoot a young up-and-coming golfer named Taylor Pendrith for SCOREGolf magazine’s 2016 ‘Power’ issue. The creative team at SCOREGolf wanted to show Taylor in his swing, hitting the ball, displaying the incredible power this young man is becoming known for.