What’s Your Preference?

jdepould · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 04:01 AM

Click for full-res/EXIF

I've been keeping this empty Pellegrino bottle in my room for no discernable reason, but I found a use for it. I was wandering Digital Photography School and one of the posters on there got me thinking about self-portraits. I never do them, mostly because I hate being on the wrong side of the camera. But I got to thinking about how I could light this and such, came up with several different looks, but this one I liked the best. Had my speedlight on a cable and put it under the bottle. The camera was pre-focused and set to self timer, so I could get all set up. Hardest part was not moving. That and being blinded every time I took a picture because the flash was like six inches from my eye.

mysticeyesx · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 05:06 AM

great idea! although the blinding part isn't fun

aadam_21 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 11:50 AM

Really cool idea! I really like the shadows cast by the flash - they're opposite what you expect to see from "normal" overhead lighting and quite interesting. I also like that the glass gave everything in the shot a green color cast. Very nice shot indeed - you're blinding was well worth it from my perspective!

clockdoc · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 05:31 PM

Very creative thinking "outside the box." What flash were you using for this shot?

jdepould · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Very creative thinking "outside the box." What flash were you useing for this shot?

Old Vivitar 2600 . . . I should really get an SB600.

clockdoc · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 06:12 PM

Thanks for the info. I would encourage you to save a little longer and go for the SB800 as your first one. I think you will be gald to have spent a little more and gotten more features. Here is a side-by-side comparison from Ken Rockwll's site. Note that he recommends the SB600 but you have to take into consideration his vast resources as a start.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600vs800.htm

jdepould · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Thanks for the info. I would encourage you to save a little longer and go for the SB800 as your first one. I think you will be gald to have spent a little more and gotten more features. Here is a side-by-side comparison from Ken Rockwll's site. Note that he recommends the SB600 but you have to take into consideration his vast resources as a start.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600vs800.htm

I actually just picked up the 600. The 800 doesn't really have anything I'd use. As long as it works as a wireless slave and has iTTL and M I'm good. Besides, 2.5 recycle time is a lot better than 4.