Dear Joel:
I suspect that many are put off by what appears to be complicated
mathematical calculations to use manual flash. Actually, it is quite easy
depending upon the scale you have on the flash unit. Just set the ASA for
film you are using, set the power of the strobe, focus and look at the
footage scale (or better yet, shoot at known distances all the time) and then
set the F-stop the scale calls for. If to wide, increase power, if too small,
decrease. It gives you much better control of fill and depth of field by
allowing you a full range of stops which are not affected by the reflectivity
of the subject. Distance is the only variable.
Try it, it will reduce the amount of wondering what will happen as you
will know exactly what the amount of light is at every distance in the image
by checking the scale on the strobe. As far as speed is concerned, don't
again let them fool you about the difficulty of looking at all of the "pesky"
numbers. Those numbers are the basis of virtually everything photographic and
to not know them and be able to use them is like entering a boxing ring with
one hand tied behind your back and your shoelaces knotted together. You can't
play an instrument if you have to constantly recall every move your body
makes to produce a tone. It's difficult to photograph if you don't know what
or approximately what the exposures should be and what you can get away with
to create individual effects. So much for my "rant."
At worst, Joel, knowing how to use manual will make you a much better
photographer when you do use TTL.
Happy Holidays
Roger Skully
robinsnestphotography.com
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