Nikon 978-0-470-04527-5

Nikon®Creative

Lighting System

Digital Field Guide

J. Dennis Thomas

01_045275 ffirs.qxp 11/28/06 8:26 PM Page iii

Contents

Main Page Page Page About the Author Page Credits Page Page Page Contents at a Glance Page Contents Introduction xix Quick Tour 1 Part I: Using the Creative Lighting System 7 Chapter 1: Exploring the CLS 9 Chapter 2: Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 29 Part II: Creating Great Photos with the Creative Lighting System 47 Chapter 3: Flash Photography Basics 49 Chapter 4: Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS 75 Chapter 5: Setting Up a Wireless Studio 87 Chapter 6: Real World Applications 107 Chapter 7: Simple Posing for Great Portraits 163 Page Introduction W The Evolution of the Nikon CLS xx Whats in This Book for You? QT M Quick Tour Getting up and running quickly Taking your rst photos with the Speedlight Getting Up and Running Quickly 1. 2. 3. 4. Page Taking Your First Photos with the Speedlight 4 Quick Tour 5 6 I Page Exploring the CLS T Features of the Nikon Creative Lighting System SB-800 10 SB-800 specs and features Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 11 Understanding the Guide Number Main parts 12 Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 13 14 Control buttons Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 15 16 SB-800 accessories SB-600 SB-600 feature overview Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 17 Main parts 18 Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 19 20 Control buttons Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 21 22 SB-600 accessories Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 23 Other Components of the Creative Lighting System Camera compatibility 24 Table 1.1 Nikon CLS Camera Compatibility D50 D70/D70s Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 25 D200 26 SU-800 Commander SBR-200 Speedlight Chapter 1 Exploring the CLS 27 Page Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 T Power Requirements Power requirements Flash modes Setting up for the Creative Lighting System Non-rechargeable 30 Rechargeable Flash Modes Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 31 i-TTL DTTL TTL 32 Balanced ll ash Manual Auto Aperture Non-TTL Auto ash Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 33 1. 2. 3. Setting Up for the Creative Lighting System 34 Commander Wireless remote ash Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 35 1. 2. 3. 4. Sound 36 1. 2. 3. Channels Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 37 Setting groups Adjusting output compensation on camera 38 Adjusting output compensation wireless mode D70/D70s Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 39 D200 SU-800 40 Locking controls Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 41 Red-eye reduction 42 Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 43 AF Assist 1. 2. 3. 44 LCD panel illumination Standby mode Chapter 2 Setting Up the SB-600 and SB-800 45 Page II Page Flash Photography Basics T Speedlights versus Studio Strobes 50 Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 51 52 Basics of Lighting Studio lighting Placement Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 53 54 Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 55 Basic Portrait lighting types 56 Page Page Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 59 Lighting Ratios 60 Using Speedlights outdoors Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 61 Color Temperature and White Balance 62 What is Kelvin? Preset white balance Page 64 Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 65 Using Bounce Flash 66 Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 67 When to use bounce ash Page Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 69 Camera and Speedlight settings 1. 2. 3. 4. Explaining Flash Exposure and Specications Guide number Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 71 Aperture Distance Table 3.1 SB-600 Guide Numbers (at ISO 100) 72 Table 3.2 SB-800 Guide Numbers (at ISO 100) Chapter 3 Flash Photography Basics 73 GN Distance = Aperture Sync Speed Fill ash 1. 74 Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS Y How CLS works with your camera Flash setup in the CLS How CLS Works with Your Camera 76 Overview of Flash Setup in the CLS Step 1: Choose a Flash mode Chapter 4 Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS 77 Step 2: Choose a channel Step 3: Set up groups Step 4: Adjust output levels Setting Up Masters and Remotes D70/D70s as a master 2. 3. 4. D200 as a master 2. 3. 0 4. Setting Up Flash Modes SB-800 in Master mode Chapter 4 Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS 81 Setting Channels 82 SB-800 in Master mode 1. 3. Setting Up Groups Chapter 4 Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS 83 SB-600 84 SB-800 Setting Output Level Compensation With the SB-800 set to Master Chapter 4 Wireless Flash Photography with the CLS 85 86 2. 3. 4. 5. A Introduction to the Portable Studio Choosing Umbrellas 88 Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 89 Using a Softbox 90 Flash-mount softboxes Stand-mounted softboxes Softbox alternatives Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 91 Backgrounds and Background Stands Seamless paper backdrops 92 Muslin backdrops Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 93 Canvas backdrops 94 Background stands Space Requirements Setting up indoors Portraits Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 95 96 Page Page Page Page Page Small products 102 Setting up outdoors Traveling with Your Wireless Studio Camera cases and bags Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 103 Backgrounds and light stands 104 Chapter 5 Setting Up a Wireless Studio 105 Page Real World Applications N Action and Sports 108 Chapter 6 Real World Applications 109 Obtaining Permission Page Chapter 6 Real World Applications 111 Action and sports photography practice Table 6.1 Taking Action and Sports Pictures 112 Table 6.1 (continued) Action and sports Chapter 6 Real World Applications 113 Animal and Pet Page Chapter 6 Real World Applications 115 Animal and pet photography practice Table 6.2 Taking Animal and Pet Pictures Animal and pet 116 Table 6.2 (continued) Chapter 6 Real World Applications 117 Concert 118 Page 120 Table 6.3 Taking Concert Pictures Concert photography tips Chapter 6 Real World Applications 121 Event and Wedding 122 Chapter 6 Real World Applications 123 Page Chapter 6 Real World Applications 125 Table 6.4 Taking Event and Wedding Pictures Event and wedding 126 Environmental Portrait Photography Page 128 Page 130 Table 6.5 Taking Environmental Portrait Pictures Group Photography Chapter 6 Real World Applications 131 Environmental portrait tips 132 Page 134 Table 6.6 Taking Group Portrait Pictures Macro and Close-up Chapter 6 Real World Applications 135 Group portrait 136 Chapter 6 Real World Applications 137 Page Chapter 6 Real World Applications 139 Table 6.7 Taking Macro and Close-up Pictures Nature and Wildlife 140 Macro and close-up True Macro Chapter 6 Real World Applications 141 142 Page Nature and wildlife 144 Table 6.8 Taking Nature and Wildlife Pictures Night Portrait Chapter 6 Real World Applications 145 146 Page Night portrait 148 Table 6.9 Taking Night Portraits Outdoor Portrait Chapter 6 Real World Applications 149 150 Page Outdoor portrait 152 Table 6.10 Taking Outdoor Portrait Pictures Still Life and Product Chapter 6 Real World Applications 153 154 Still life and product photography practice Still life and product 156 Table 6.11 (continued) Studio Portrait Chapter 6 Real World Applications 157 158 Chapter 6 Real World Applications 159 Page Chapter 6 Real World Applications 161 Table 6.12 Taking Studio Portrait Pictures Studio portrait 162 Simple Posing for Great Portraits O Posing Basics Individual posing techniques Planning your posing Posing basics Positioning parts of the body 164 Rened Posing Techniques Positioning the midsection Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 165 Positioning the arms and hands 166 Positioning the head and neck. Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 167 168 Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 169 170 Positions to Avoid Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 171 Planning Poses Casual portrait posing 172 Traditional poses Photojournalistic poses Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 173 Glamour style 174 Chapter 7 Simple Posing for Great Portraits 175 176 Page Page GL A Glossary 180 Glossary 181 182 Glossary 183 184 A T Resources Informational Web Sites Nikon Nikonians.org Workshops Online Photography Magazines and Other Resources Page Page Index Symbols & Numbers A B 190 C Index CD 191 D E 192 F G Index FI 193 H I K 194 L M N Index MO 195 O P 196 Q Index PR 197 R S 198 Index S199 T 200 U V W Y Index WZ 201 Z Page Page 18_045275 bob.qxp 11/28/06 8:30 PM Page 204 Also available Pack the essentia1s. Available wherever books are sold