Calling the shots

What might you find on your hip? Why, a hip flask, of course.

And what does a hip flask contain? Shots!

So this month's subject matter, Shots from the Hip (flask) becomes rather easy. Less easy was finding a hip flask - I don't own one - and setting up the shot.

What I've ended up with is two different techniques on the same subject. Both involve a dark wood table, dark background wall, and reflections in the shiny table. So the decision boils down to this: To flash or not to flash? That is the question.

Nikon D300s
Sigma NiftiFifti
F/3
1/15
ISO 200
Tripod

I like the dark, moody lighting. The lamp provides all the illumination, but despite most of the subject being dark, the bulb holder and top of the lamp have blown out to white. All detail is lost and no amount of burning it in will produce detail that's simply not there.


Nikon D300s
Sigma NiftiFifti
F/4.8
1/60
ISO 200
Camera-mounted flash
Tripod

The flash brings some life to the picture, with all those shiny reflective surfaces. But the lamp is flat. However, the texture on the lamp has not been lost, and the bulb holder is visible.

So I'm torn. Which is the better, or at least the preferred, photograph?

Basil ! <-- Warning Off Camera Strobe Content -->

Hi All,

Following Paul's TYME I mentioned I'd have a go, well here it is.




I wasn't actually working on the compostition to much, more wanted to illustrate the effect of off camera light, strobe power, aperture and shutter speed balance.

Single strobe, off camera left, no soft box or other modifier. Would be better with a soft box and a second strobe off camera right to soften and balance the shadows a bit.


(Click to enlarge)

This is a typical Shutter / Aperture matrix, however now LIGHT is thrown into the mix with an off camera strobe.

Appeture in Rows f2.8 top to f45 bottom.
Shutter speed in Coloumns 5 sec left to 1/50th right.


Then flash power (manual, not eTTL) on the diagonal.


You will note that the range of correctly exposed images greatly increases.
- Shutter speed controls the amount of ambient light.
- Aperture controls the amount of flash light (at same given power).
- Flash power and shutter speed can be balanced to control front / back light.


I'm going to try and refine this further to show and explain the effects better, maybe use eTTL. I keep posting the results.

As always any comments, questions, abuse always welcome.

Cheers,
Richard B.