External Flash for Canon EOS 6D

[jrp1588]

I'm an SLR newbie tasked wish fish and coral photography for a reef store. I have the coral figured out well enough, but I'm not happy with my fish photography. I think I could benefit from an external flash so I can use faster shutter speeds, but I'm not sure when to start. What would you recommend? Just for reference, we normally photo them in a specimen container in a photo box, so preferably something that would work well with that.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I'm an SLR newbie tasked wish fish and coral photography for a reef store. I have the coral figured out well enough, but I'm not happy with my fish photography. I think I could benefit from an external flash so I can use faster shutter speeds, but I'm not sure when to start. What would you recommend? Just for reference, we normally photo them in a specimen container in a photo box, so preferably something that would work well with that.

I wouldn't use a flash, but if you want to try, the Godox TT600 flash with external wireless trigger and an umbrella would be the go.

Strobist

strobist.blogspot.com

 

[jrp1588]

I wouldn't use a flash, but if you want to try, the Godox TT600 flash with external wireless trigger and an umbrella would be the go.

Strobist

strobist.blogspot.com

I can't seem to get a straight answer on the subject. Some guides say it's necessary for 'freezing' the motion, while others say not to bother.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I can't seem to get a straight answer on the subject. Some guides say it's necessary for 'freezing' the motion, while others say not to bother.

Well, when you use a flash, shutter speed is unimportant as long as it is below the sync speed of the camera. The flash duration is shorter than the shutter speed and it is the flash which freezes the motion.
You control exposure with flash power setting and aperture, with aperture primarily used for Depth of Field control.

If using flash, you'd normally use manual exposure.

I photograph coral and fish with flow turned off to minimise motion and detritus streaks in the water.
Auto ISO is your friend.

 

[jrp1588]

Well, when you use a flash, shutter speed is unimportant as long as it is below the sync speed of the camera. The flash duration is shorter than the shutter speed and it is the flash which freezes the motion.
You control exposure with flash power setting and aperture, with aperture primarily used for Depth of Field control.

If using flash, you'd normally use manual exposure.

I photograph coral and fish with flow turned off to minimise motion and detritus streaks in the water.
Auto ISO is your friend.

Clearly I need to read up more on how flash works. I didn't really follow a lot of that. As for ISO, I've got it turned up about as high as I can tolerate for noise.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Clearly I need to read up more on how flash works. I didn't really follow a lot of that. As for ISO, I've got it turned up about as high as I can tolerate for noise.

Yes, flash photography is an entirely different ball game.

The strobist link I sent above has some great tutorials - but it doesn't talk about reef tanks