Creativity with flash...

[Aussie Dave]

These were taken @ 1/6sec. f4.5, kit lens with SB800 on TTL:







I thought they looked interesting so posted to get people's thoughts...

My aim was to have the cards flicked into the focal plane where I had the flash set on rear curtain (to go off as the card passed through focus). Great in theory but very hard to pull off. These are the one's that turned out the best.

Comments welcomed

[jethro]

smokin timing exceptional timing and execution well done aussie dave

[spartikus]

Sweet idea Dave! Really like that second one; kinda Matrix looking if you ask me! BTW, that's a really empty room your mate is sitting in! Keep up the good work.

[sirhc55]

Great idea well executed, especially #1

[gstark]

#1 does it for me too.

Great work Dave.

Are you saying you set these up for trap focus?

[Neeper]

Now that is creative and frickin COOL!!! Good stuff, I am so impressed.

[Catcha]

very creative

[kipper]

#1 is the best. Card face on, which card it is, is fully readable. With trailing/motion blur to boot.

#2, card is edge on so it loses impact.

#3, card is over exposed (too much flash) so it's getting washed out.


I think #1, is POTW material.

[Aussie Dave]

#1 does it for me too.

Great work Dave.

Are you saying you set these up for trap focus?

not sure what "trap focus" is, but I pre-focussed on where I thought the cards would be and then switched over to manual focus. Is this "trap focussing" ??

Basically, each time the cards were flicked, I hit the shutter just as the card was leaving the hand - it took roughly 1/6th of a sec to travel from hand to focal plane. With flash on rear curtain, I was able to pull in enough light during the exposure to light the background and the flash went off at the last minute, exposing the card.

Turned out OK, but not as good as I had hoped for. They still look pretty cool though.

Thanks everyone for your comments. With a little creativity and thought, you can have fun with just about anything.

I urge anyone that finds themselves feeling bored this weekend to think about something completely different to how they normally shoot and give it a go....

[kipper]

Just remember not to setup using items such as bricks, basketballs, etc. If you do, we don't want to hear about the story of how your D70 and SB800 are now in peices.

[gstark]

Dave,

Trap focus is the automatic equivalent of what you've done. You set the camera up, prefocused on a zone through which the subject will travel, and trip the shutter.

When the subject enters the prefocussed zone, the shutter actuates.

But you do need to alter your camera setings (it's in the manual, and I rarely read those) to do this.

[stubbsy]

Dave

The first one is great. I'd have kept this quiet and entered the first one in the comp as a Decisive Moment

[embi]

Number 1 does it for me. Awesome idea and well executed.

.....When the subject enters the prefocussed zone, the shutter actuates.

But you do need to alter your camera setings (it's in the manual, and I rarely read those) to do this.

Is this something the D70 can do without extra attachments????

[gstark]

Number 1 does it for me. Awesome idea and well executed.

.....When the subject enters the prefocussed zone, the shutter actuates.

But you do need to alter your camera setings (it's in the manual, and I rarely read those) to do this.

Is this something the D70 can do without extra attachments????

Yes.

[Glen]

Great idea and execution Dave, looks good

[Frankenstein]

Dave, number 1 is a beauty. Great idea and well executed, especially considering you timed the shutter release manually. Well done

Frank

[Heath Bennett]

I think each one is cool - even though the first is more 'technically' perfect. Experimentalism is where IT is at.

Well done - inspiring

[ozimax]

#1 definitely, cool subject matter indeed, Max

[shutterbug]

Very cool Dave

[waspo]

Awesome idea, Dave!! #1 is a clear winner! I'm amazed at how diverse photography can be. Just loving it!!

[embi]

I sense a POTW with #1

[Jamie]

Nicely done and great idea!

#1 is IMO the best of the 3.

Jamie

[PiroStitch]

That's some great thinking there Dave

The first one does it for me.

[Aussie Dave]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your generous comments. Knowing the calibre of fine photogs here, I take your praise very highly.

I did think about entering the 1st shot into the comp. but wasn't sure it was good enough (silly me, huh ?!?). By the sounds of it, most of you think it is. Perhaps I need to get my MIB memory neuralizer out and remove this thread

Just goes to show that often the harshest critic is yourself !

Gary, I had read the manual (admittedly it was back in early Jan when I bought the camera) but I did not know about the automated trap focus shooting. I'll have to read up on it and give it a go. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks again everyone