reducing flash intensity

powell7

powell7

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chris
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hi all,
iv got 2 jessops flash guns and i`m finding they are too strong for what i`m using them for (water drop shots).
i`v turned them down to 1/16th but there still too much.
has anyone got any tips for me to try ???
thanks chris
 
If you want the light a bit softer, or more diffused, put something over the flash head. A stofen diffuser is a posh way to do it, I bought a cheap ebay version for a couple of quid. Failing that, tracing/greaseproof paper and a rubber band?
 
powell7 said:
hi all,
iv got 2 jessops flash guns and i`m finding they are too strong for what i`m using them for (water drop shots).
i`v turned them down to 1/16th but there still too much.
has anyone got any tips for me to try ???
thanks chris
Click to expand...

Can't you turn them down even more? Or perhaps just use one of them.... Or as suggested move them further away.
 
What aperture are you shooting at? I was shooting at f/10 on a 105mm macro with the Jessops flash (off camera) at 1/16 and a yongnuo slave at very low power. I was getting shutter speeds of 1/250 at ISO 100.
 
whiteflyer said:
move them further away ?
Click to expand...

This only makes sense if you know about light falloff due to the inverse square law, but yes this is exactly what you should do.

Basically any subject at any given distance will recieve two stops less light (1/4 of the light) when it is placed at double that distance. So three times the distance is three stops less (1/9th) of the light.

You can use this to get very fine control of the amount of light you are casting on a subject, much finer control than that available on the back of any flashgun in any case!
 
Jamtea said:
This only makes sense if you know about light falloff due to the inverse square law, but yes this is exactly what you should do.

Basically any subject at any given distance will recieve two stops less light (1/4 of the light) when it is placed at double that distance. So three times the distance is three stops less (1/9th) of the light.

You can use this to get very fine control of the amount of light you are casting on a subject, much finer control than that available on the back of any flashgun in any case!
Click to expand...


Forum Boffin :D
 
Haha, thanks I think!

I think the term inverse square law sounds more complicated than it is though. I think the explanation I put there makes it a bit easier to use if not understand at any rate!
 
Jamtea said:
Haha, thanks I think!

I think the term inverse square law sounds more complicated than it is though. I think the explanation I put there makes it a bit easier to use if not understand at any rate!
Click to expand...

Nope, that's about as simple a name as they come! And yes, totally correct :)
 
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