Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide

Create the images you′ve always wanted by becoming a Speedlite master

Ready to start down the road to creating really cool images? This guide shows you what′s possible when taking full advantage of your Speedlites′ capabilities with your Canon dSLR camera. Packed with lighting diagrams, full–color examples, tips, and tricks, this guide demystifies their technical aspects, buttons, and menus. It covers the latest technology, including the 600EX/600EX–RT and the Speedlite transmitter ST–E3–RT. You′ll learn how to harness the amazing power of your Speedlites, take control in any situation, and create the flash photographs that you′ve always wanted.

Explore the components and features of your Speedlite System Understand exposure, concepts of lighting, and color temperature Learn to control groups, ratios, and flash modes Set up wireless studios complete with modifiers and softboxes Follow diagrams for split lighting, paramount, loop, and more

Introduction xiv

QT

Quick Tour 1

Getting Up and Running Quickly  2

Taking Your First Photos with the Speedlite  3

CHAPTER 1 Exploring the Canon Speedlite System 9

Features of the Canon Speedlite System  10

600EX/600EX–RT  11

600EX/600EX–RT specifications and features  11

Main components  14

Function buttons, dedicated buttons, and Select dial  17

600EX/600EX–RT accessories  19

580EX II  20

580EX II specifications and features  20

Main components  22

Control buttons and Select dial  26

580EX II accessories  27

430EX II  28

430EX II specifications and features  28

Main components  29

Control buttons  32

430EX II accessories  33

Other Components of the Speedlite System  34

270EX  34

270EX II  35

320EX  35

OC–E3 Off–Camera Shoe Cord  36

Speedlite transmitter ST–E3–RT  38

ST–E2 wireless transmitter  41

Macro Twin Lite MT–24EX  43

Macro Ring Lite MR–14EX  44

CHAPTER 2 Setting Up Your Speedlites 47

Power Requirements  48

Non–rechargeable  48

Rechargeable  48

Flash Modes  50

E–TTL II  50

E–TTL  51

Manual  51

Multi–stroboscopic flash  52

Zoom position  54

Auto Zoom Adjustment for APS–C Sensors 56

Adjusting Flash Exposure Compensation  56

600EX/600EX–RT  57

580EX II  57

430EX II  57

AF–Assist Beam  58

600EX/600EX–RT  59

580EX II  59

430EX II  60

LCD Panel Illumination  60

Custom Functions  60

Setting Custom Functions on the flash  61

Setting Custom Functions via the camera  68

Auto Off mode  69

CHAPTER 3 Flash Photography Basics 71

Studio Strobes or Speedlites?  72

Color Temperature and White Balance  77

What is Kelvin temperature?  77

Choosing the white balance  77

White balance presets  80

Balancing for the ambient light  84

Using Bounce Flash  85

Why and when to use bounce flash  86

Camera and Speedlite settings  88

Explaining Flash Exposure and Specifications  89

Guide number  89

Aperture  92

Distance  93

Guide number ÷ Distance = Aperture  93

Sync speed  93

Second–curtain sync  94

Fill flash  94

CHAPTER 4 Using Your Flash Off Your Camera 99

How the Speedlite System Works Wirelessly with Your Camera  100

Overview of Wireless Flash Setup with the Canon Speedlite System  101

Step 1: Choose a fl ash mode  101

Step 2: Choose a wireless mode 101

Step 3: Choose a channel  102

Step 4: Set up groups or slave IDs  103

Step 5: Adjust the fl ash ratio levels  103

Setting Up Master and Slave Flashes  104

Masters  104

Slaves  116

Setting Up a Wireless Manual Flash  120

600EX/600EX–RT in Manual mode  121

580EX II in Manual mode  123

Setting slaves for manual flash  124

Using Wireless Multi–Stroboscopic Flash  127

Setting Up Channels and Groups or Slave IDs 127

Channels  127

Groups  128

600EX/600EX–RT  128

580EX II  130

430EX II  131

Setting Flash Exposure Compensation  131

Setting FEC with the 600EX/600EX–RT set to Master 132

Setting FEC with the 580EX II set to Master 132

Setting FEC slave fl ashes 133

Testing and Modeling Flash from a Slave Unit 134

Remote Release from a Slave Unit  134

Linked Shooting with Radio Transmission 135

Using Your Speedlites with Radio Triggers  137

Using your Speedlites with PocketWizards  137

Using your Speedlites with RadioPoppers  139

CHAPTER 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 141

Introduction to the Portable Studio  142

Cables, Cords, and Triggers  143

Extra–long E–TTL cords  143

Custom cables 145

Cable releases  145

Tethered shooting  145

Radio triggers  146

White Balance and Filters  146

White balance and the ExpoDisc 146

Neutral density fi lters for wider apertures  148

Light Modifiers  148

Reflectors  150

Gels  152

Grids and snoots  154

Diffusers, small flags, and bounce cards  155

Umbrellas  157

Softboxes  161

Beauty dishes  166

Ring fl ash 167

Specialty brackets  168

Backgrounds and Background Stands  168

Seamless paper backdrops  169

Collapsible backdrops  170

Muslin backdrops  171

Canvas backdrops 172

Contemporary backdrops  173

Backdrop stands  173

Motorized backdrop support systems  173

Space Considerations  174

Setting up for indoor shoots  174

Setting up for outdoor shoots  177

Traveling with Your Wireless Studio  179

Camera cases and bags  179

Portable light stands 180

CHAPTER 6 Lighting Concepts and Patterns 183

Concepts of Lighting 184

Studio lighting  184

Portrait lighting types  186

Mood and drama  195

Lighting patterns 196

Using Speedlites for Outdoor Locations  205

The preflight  208

Remembering light theory 208

Setting power output  208

Modifi ers and Their Qualities of Light  209

One Light, Two Lights, Three Lights!  213

One light  214

Two lights  221

Three lights  227

APPENDIX A Posing Basics 231

Developing Your Style  234

Positioning the body  234

Positioning the hands and arms 236

Paying attention to the details  238

Positions to Avoid  240

Planning Poses  241

Traditional posing 242

Editorial posing  243

Glamour style  245

APPENDIX B Rules of Composition 247

Keep It Simple  247

Silhouettes  249

Limiting focus 251

The Rule of Thirds  252

Field of View  254

Leading Lines and S–Curves  256

Symmetry  257

APPENDIX C Resources 259

Websites and Online Learning  259

DVDs and Video Downloads 260

iPad Apps  262

Books  263

Workshops  263

Trade Shows  264

Magazines  264

Associations  264

Light Modifiers  265

Light Stands  265

Reflectors  265

Brackets  266

Lenses  266

Radio Triggers and Remotes  266

Backdrops and Support Systems  266

Cords and Cables  267

Equipment for Tethered Shooting  267

Filters  267

Bags and Cases 267

APPENDIX D How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker 268

The Gray Card 268

The Color Checker 269

Glossary 270

Index 279

Michael Corsentino is an award–winning photographer, Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Lightroom expert, author, national speaker, and workshop leader based in Northern California. His blend of photojournalism, fashion, and editorial styles have made him an in–demand portrait and destination–wedding photographer.