I have a busy workshop schedule this summer–Paso Robles, Santa Fe, Maine, and Maine. Each has a slightly different focus in terms of gear. All have the same goal–to make you comfortable shooting flash on location. Click on the links below to read the details. Feel free to ask any questions via a comment below.
Strobes & Speedlights, Paso Robles, June 4-8, 2012
.
Crafting Dramatic Light on Location, Santa Fe, July 8-13, 2012
.
Creative Lighting on Location, Maine, July 31-August 4, 2012
.
My Buttons and Dials Tour of the new 600EX-RT Speedlite and the ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter has been published on the Canon Pro Network site. Click here to check it out. You’ll find the video clips interspersed with additional insights and pix from several shoots that I did with the new lighting gear.
As for availability of the new Speedlite and Wireless Transmitter, I’ve received reports from several PixSylarians that they recently received their new gear. You can check out more details about the 600EX-RT and ST-E3-RT on B&H.
Also, my Strobes and Speedlights workshop in Paso Robles will feature the new Canon system (although the workshop in non-denominational and covers big lights too.) The workshop is scheduled for June 4-8. You’ll find the details here.
In July 2009, I published an article titled ‘My Canon Speedlite Wishlist’ on PixSylated. Having just finished a two-week series of workshops with Nikon flashmaster Joe McNally, I brainstormed and daydreamed about the features that I wish I had on my Canon Speedlites.
In the Wishlist, I explained why I wanted features like:
• a wireless switch on the outside of the flash
• getting rid of ratios for multi-Speedlite control
• offering a digital control unit
• incorporating radio technology
• stretching out the zoom
• a gel holder.
The post went viral on the web. Over 500 photographers added their insights and desires. Some of the most-requested features included:
• a battery meter
• the ability to read custom functions on the flash LCD
• the ability to shut individual groups off
• a beep when a flash recycles.
Was Canon listening? It’s now obvious that they were. I’ll go through the details after the jump. Oh wait…that happened a week ago when Canon announced the 600EX-RT Speedlite and the ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter.
Here is the first of two videos that we shot this week while I was evaluating Canon’s new 600EX-RT Speedlite and the ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter. Go with me on location for a series of quick shoots where I put the new gear to the test indoors and outside. Later, in Part Two, I’ll take you on a detailed tour of all the buttons and menus. It took me about 30-seconds with this new gear to realize that Canon has re-defined the future os Speedliting. After watching this video, I think you’ll understand why!
Also, if you’ve not already read it, you’ll get a ton of questions answered in my First Impressions post.
For the past week, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to shoot a trio of Canon’s new 600-EX-RT Speedlites and the new ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter (shown above). The gear was provided to me by Canon-Europe for evaluation. Next week, you will see my expanded thoughts about putting the system to several tests on their Canon Pro Network site.
If you want the short version of my assessment, then I’ll say “Canonistas, hold your heads high. Again, we are on the cutting edge of technology. Welcome to the future of Speedliting!”
I have a ton of info to share about the new system. I also have a couple of videos coming very soon. In the first (here), I put the new Speedlite system through a number of shoots on location. The second (coming soon) is a detailed tour of all the buttons and dials.
Here are my first impressions and observations:
Two-Way Radio — Canon has broken into new territory by adding 2.4 Ghz radio to the system. For the first time ever, the slaves can send messages to the master. So, not only did I control slaves outside the building, they sent messages back to the master when they recycled. So now, we do not have to guess when remote Speedlites are ready to fire. This is a huge advantage over the previous generations of Speedlites.
Continue reading »
For all who have inquired over the past several months, I’ve just decided to hold a five-day lighting workshop, April 23-27 in my hometown (Paso Robles–halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco).
If you’ve ever wondered how to combine strobes and small flash, this workshop is for you. Over the course of five days, we’ll combine large strobes (think Profoto D1 Air on a battery pack) and small flash (think Canon Speedlites or Nikon Speedlights). We’ll shoot on a variety of locations–both indoors and outside.
In this workshop, I’ll combine everything I learned over 15 years of shooting large lights with all I know about using small flash. Both systems have their strengths and challenges. I’ve found, by using both, that there can be a great synergy between the two.
The week also promises to be a great one in terms of food and scenery. As the hub of California’s central coast wine district, Paso Robles is a town for foodies. So, each day, we’ll walk a few minutes from the studio and have lunch at some of my favorite cafes and restaurants.
For more details, click here.
Getting The Most Out Of Canon Speedlites, the third in my series of presentations in the Event Space at B&H Photo’s NYC superstore, is now on YouTube. In this video, I talk about how and when to use a single Speedlite on- and off-camera. For tips on shooting wireless, check out my December talk at B&H, Multi-Flash Speedliting (here on YouTube) .
Getting The Most Out Of Canon Speedlites: HD version.
Getting The Most Out Of Canon Speedlites: standard-def version.
In the presentation, I talk about:
- How To Set The Power in ETTL and Manual
- Speedlite Settings: Sync, Zoom, Pan, & Tilt
- Hard and Soft: Shaping Light To Match Your Vision
- My Favorite Modifiers For Speedlites
For a more detailed look at how I shoot with flash, including footage from a number of studio and location shoots, check out my two online courses at Kelby Training: Working With Speedlites: One Flash and Working With Speedlites: Multi-Flash.
I’m a sucker for great photographs of people doing things I don’t have the guts to do. As proof, I buy the photo annuals of mags like Snowboarder and Surfer. Yesterday, the March-April, 2012 issue of Sierra Magazine landed in my mailbox. In it, I found an insightful article by Jonathan Thesenga (former editor-in-chief of Climbing magazine) that surveys the work of five climbing photographers.
The good news is that you can read Jonathan’s article and see the pix right here on the Sierra mag site. Afterwards, use the links I’ve collected below to learn more about these amazing shooters.
• Jimmy Chin – Portfolio, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Nat. Geographic Bio
• Jonathan Griffith - Portfolio, Alpine Exposures Bio
• Dan Fidelman – Stone Nudes Project, Facebook, Bio on Climbing.com
• Keith Ladzinski - Portfolio, Vimeo, Adventure Photography Workshop
• Tom Evans – ElCap-Pics.com, Blog, Facebook
PixSylated + Speedliting = PixSylated
In 2008, when I started blogging, I created PixSylated as a platform to talk about the world of imagemaking at large. I covered digital photography, the birth of HDSLR cinematography, copyrights, lighting, and whatever else I found to be of interest.
In 2010, as I went deep into the world of small flash for my Speedliter’s Handbook project, I created Speedliting. The idea was that I would cover lighting on Speedliting and everything else on PixSylated. Try as I did, I never maintained the momentum to feed two blogs. Remember…blog rhymes with flog and slog.
So, now that it’s 2012, I’ve merged the content of Speedliting into PixSylated. Going forward, I will again cover the world of light and imagemaking from a larger perspective. You’ll soon see articles and videos on how I use large lights and how I shoot motion as well as my continuing work with Speedlites. You’ll also see coverage of anything in the realm of light and imagemaking that I find to be of interest.
Now for a bit of housekeeping—Subscriptions:
1. If you were an email or RSS subscriber of Speedliting, you are now subscribed to PixSylated and will continue to receive new posts automatically.
2. If you were an email or RSS subscriber of PixSylated (or would like to be), you need to (re)subscribe to PixSylated. For a free, email subscription to new posts, just enter your email address below and then look for an activation link in your mailbox. For an RSS subscription, follow the normal steps for your browser.
PixSylated is undergoing a re-model. So, please pardon the broken links and such. If you think that PixSylated now looks like my other blog, Speedliting.com, well, you’re right. In fact, when the re-model is complete, all of the Speedliting content will be over here. The plan is to have everything tidied up by March 1st.
Syl’s Portfolio
Long Off-Camera Flash Cords
Workshops with Syl Arena
Light & Lighting (coming mid-2012)
Speedliter’s Handbook
Syl Writes for Canon Pro Network
Syl Teaches Lighting Online at Kelby Training
Support PixSylated
When you use the following links to click through to your favorite vendors, a small percentage of your purchase will drop into the PixSylated Tip Jar. It doesn't cost you a penny more. So thanks!
.
