Got my SB-600 today!

[iaoish]

This is my first experience with a flash on a dslr (other then the one on the body). I've never even once used one before.
There are so many things I don't know about this thing yet (come to think of it I don't know anything about it, really). But I have a feeling this gives you a lot more room to be creative.

I made a few test shots with it, I only had time to edit one. I choose this one quickly to share.

Click on the photo to see the original size (too bad I didn't see those fingerprints in time).

In this photo I bounced the flash from the ceiling. That's why there is practically no shadow on the wall. Which I am very happy to have this option added to my abilities now.

I also edited the photo in CameraRaw CS4.
Made a crop and added one curves layer with a reversed layer mask to bring out the subject a bit more.

Here is the original photo, which as you can see was quite dark still to begin with. Meaning I need to step up.

I am very happy with the SB-600 even though now I'm broke and still unemployed.
Looking at these photos there is so many room for improvement on so many fields..
I tried to be a bit creative in a few shots as well, At times I didn't have anything to bounce the light from. So I tried a computer monitor and the back of my keyboard which is a bit glossy.
There is much room for improvement and I hope to experiment a lot with it in these few days.

 

[Nevasoba]

I know you gotta be hella happy LOL! But you will notice a big difference in your portraits when you get the hang of it

 

[CHAPO GUZMAN]

Good shit! now to diffuse the light, you can get a mini softbox and/or a flash bounce/diffuser.

What camera do you have?

 

[iaoish]

I know you gotta be hella happy LOL! But you will notice a big difference in your portraits when you get the hang of it

Yeah man! I am!! I am going to play around with it tomorrow, and on real people this time! No more water bottles! lol

I hope I can get a few good ones in there.

 

[iaoish]

Good shit! now to diffuse the light, you can get a mini softbox and/or a flash bounce/diffuser.

What camera do you have?

Yeah I seen some DIY stuff on youtube, but first things first. I want to get atleast the basics down of this thing before I start experimenting with other things though.

I have one Nikon D40X , this photo was shot with a Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 DC HSM lens.

 

[CHAPO GUZMAN]

Ohh, the sole reason why i upgrade to the d70 from the d40, i can have the camera trigger the sb-600 off camera without need to buy the cactus/ebaytrigger/pocket wizard.

I love the sb-600 though, I wanna get a couple of sb-800's next.

I did the diy grid, saved me $30 from a Honl grid. Gives a spot flash/spot light effect.. i'll make another 2 later to perfect it and make it look much more professional and nicer.

sample pics:

 

[iaoish]

^ I know I would also like to use the sb-600 from not only the hotshoe but from different angles... but I'm broke as fuck right now and unemployed.
So I cannot upgrade anything at the moment and I have to get really creative with reflecting the lights that I have.

Maybe I buy a cable or a trigger if I run into some cheap ones.

Where did you find the instructions for this honey grid? looks good!

 

[CHAPO GUZMAN]

Cactus Trigger is like $40 USD. https://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17204&cat=0&page=1

Saves you a couple hundred from having to upgrade to a camera with built in commander.


grid instructions: http://lightingmods.blogspot.com/2007/06/diy-black-straws-snoot-grid-part-1.html

 

[iaoish]

Cardboard and plastic straws, now that's a budget I can work with!
Good looking out on the trigger, I'll see if I can find a cheap one around here.

Do you use the grid often?

 

[LadyTragik]

the sb 800 changed my career.

 

[CHAPO GUZMAN]

Cardboard and plastic straws, now that's a budget I can work with!
Good looking out on the trigger, I'll see if I can find a cheap one around here.

Do you use the grid often?

Only for portraits to give it that effect, that one i made is the 2 cm version, i wanna make the 5cm version which disperses softer light.

 

[iaoish]

I also saw a diy for a colored grid, good looking out!

@LT, is it the only flash you use if so you must use it almost never use it on the camera itself I think?