Hong Kong Fish Market

[rpcrowe]

I shot this Hong Kong fish market using a Canon 30D with a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens at 21mm. I provided bounce flash with an on-camera Canon 270EX modified with a Joe Demb Mini Flip-It which is now called a "Photojournalist Flip-It ( Demb Flash Products - Flash Modifiers - Flash Reflectors Diffusers and Brackets - Flip-it! - Flip-it! 400 - Demb Flash Diffusers - Demb Flash Bracket ).

I shot the image at AV using ISO 400 with an exposure of 1/60 second @ f/4. I chose f/4 to obtain a bit more DOF than I would have at f/2.8.

The Flip-It improves the lighting from the tiny 270EX drastically. I usually have a 270EX mounted on my camera when I am doing walk-around photography. It is light enough that I scarcely notice the weight and the camera/lens is not thrown off balance by the weight of a big flash while I am walking around.

I will use the 270EX straight on for fill-flash outdoors and will bounce it, modified by the flip-it, in venues like this. Using f/4 aperture with a relatively slow shutter speed of 1/60 second opened up the background. Bouncing the flash prevented burnout of subjects close to the flash and also reduced or prevented reflections from shiny surfaces like the fish tanks.

Although I don't consider the 270EX as a fully capable all-around flash for a DSLR since it is under-powered and only tilts but, doesn't swivel, it is very handy for the uses to which I put it.

The 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and the 70-200mm f/4 IS are my go-to pair of lenses for travel photography. I seldom use any other lens. I will shoot with two cameras (Canon 30D and 40D) and will bring two flashes - the 550EX when I need power and the 270EX for general shooting. However, I will most often only carry the 270EX during the day and reserve the 550EX for night shooting trips when the extra power may come in handy.