Off Camera Flash during the Golden Hour

This is my favorite time of year to take photographs. The perfect light comes right before most kids get super cranky so it makes some of the best pictures. Today add to it, I got some new equipment and it was the perfect time to take pictures of the boys.

Ever since I took a class on studio and outdoor lighting I have been obsessed with portable lighting and off camera flash. I am in love with the outdoor flash look and the depth it brings to a photograph. I edit for it in natural light, but its not the same. I went to a seminar recently that taught me how to do this off camera flash manually, but I found the more I had to think during my sessions the bigger the challenge. I just need my flash to figure it out for me, for now.

So I bought some pocket wizards that could do ETTL through my umbrella and I was curious. How the heck could the flash be read through my umbrella? I had some serious doubts. It was and it and it shot the proper exposure through an umbrella. So today, with my two favorite subjects who were playing with golf clubs, we explored the power of this flash.

Here are the first two pictures. I was stopping from F11 to F2.8 to see how the flash worked, how it did with sun flare, and how dark I really wanted my background with the subject exposed right. I came to a happy medium in my head, know what I like, and here are my two favorite pictures of that day.

 

Then since my boys were game today we went for it, whole session with goofy boys who didn't really want to cooperate but who wanted their pictures taken. Here is some full sun, flash photos in the golden hour. I like it and its the same as the shade settings, my flash just magically compensated. I LOVE that. I didn't have to think once.

Then the boys made a spot suggestion, and who was I to argue, my subjects get testy when bored. It was full shade, with no sun flare and I like the flash at the same exact camera setting. Three spots, my sweet spot was the same settings. I feel like I have so much control now.

 

Just to show you the difference I did have to let my flash recycle which I am not sure how that is going to work during a session. The recycle time is a little too long right now and it took me a while to realize that sometimes. But here are some of my misfires with a natural light during the golden hour. Definite difference and I am seriously LOVING off camera flash and controlling the light right now.