Picture Perfect Flash
About this ebook
Whether you use small, portable strobes or hot shoe flash, flash photography has always been daunting for most photographers. Without a system and workflow for thinking about and working with flash, you can easily end up feeling stuck, or you end up flailing—randomly changing settings, positions, and modifiers—and hoping for the best. It’s not surprising that this leads to failure and frustration.
Enter bestselling author Roberto Valenzuela and the Picture Perfect Flash System, which he created to empower you to finally conquer your flash and create photographs that fulfill your intention and vision. There are two key components to this system, which Roberto calls FACES and NAME. The FACES component provides a framework for thinking about how you want or need to use flash in a particular scene:
• Fix the Light: Do you need to fix a low light problem, an unwanted color cast, or a situation with poor quality of light?
• Add Light: Do you need to add more light to boost or enhance the available light or create separation?
• Create a Mood: Are you using light to create a desired mood for a location or subject?
• Effects with Flash: Are you using flash for creative visual effect?
• Sculpt the Light: Do you need to sculpt the light to add drama, shape, and contouring?
Once you’ve found your purpose for the light, the NAME component provides an essential workflow for carrying out your flash photography in a methodical way so that you get consistent and predictable results:
• Number of Flashes: How many flashes do you need?
• Angle of Flashes: Where do the flashes need to be positioned?
• Modifiers for Flashes: How do you need to modify your flashes?
• Energy of Flashes: What power do the flashes need to be?
The Picture Perfect Flash System is covered in Part One: The Flash Advantage, which is the core framework of the book. In Part Two: Flash Basics Explained, Roberto covers the flash features you need to know: TTL, Manual, 1st and 2nd Curtain Sync, High Speed Sync, and Channels and Groups. Finally, in Part Three: Dynamic Flash Exercises, Roberto gives you a dozen lighting exercises that will substantially hone and advance your skills. With Picture Perfect Flash, you’ll finally be able to conquer your flash...and make the kind of portraits you’ve always wanted to create.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword by Miss Universe, R’Bonney Nola Gabriel
Introduction
PART ONE: The Flash Advantage
Chapter 1: The Picture Perfect Flash System
Chapter 2: Fix the Light
Chapter 3: Add Light
Chapter 4: Create a Mood
Chapter 5: Effects with Flash
Chapter 6: Sculpt the Light
Chapter 7: NAME: Your Game Plan
PART TWO: Flash Basics Explained
Chapter 8: TTL: Let the Flash Decide
Chapter 9: Manual Mode
Chapter 10: 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync, and High Speed Sync
Chapter 11: Channels and Groups
PART THREE: Dynamic Flash Exercises
Chapter 12: Lighting Exercises
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About the author
Roberto Valenzuela is a photographer, author, and educator based in Beverly Hills, CA. As a member of the prestigious Canon Explorers of Light group, Roberto is considered to be one of the most influential photographers in the world.
Roberto developed his unique teaching style by following the same rigorous regimen he developed as a professional concert classical guitarist and educator before becoming a photographer. Roberto believes that it is not talent but deliberate practice that is at the core of skill and achievement. He has traveled to every area of the world, motivating photographers to practice their craft as musicians practice their instruments before performing on stage.
Roberto Valenzuela is one of the most well-known photography authors globally. His book trilogy Picture Perfect Practice, Picture Perfect Posing, and Picture Perfect Lighting have become staples in the photography industry and in academic photography departments. The books have been translated into numerous languages, including German, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean.
His book series Wedding Storyteller, Volumes 1 and 2, are the top selling wedding photography books in history.
Roberto’s book The Successful Professional Photographer applies his college degree in Marketing and Consumer Behavior to help photographers be recognized, hired, and maximize potential sales.
Roberto serves as a chairman and judge for some of the largest photography competitions in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and South America.
Roberto is an avid educator and has been the keynote speaker at some of the largest photography conventions and events worldwide. He also teaches private workshops on posing, lighting, and wedding photography.
Roberto has been nominated by his peers as one of the ten most influential photographers and educators in the world. He photographed major campaigns for Canon USA for the 5D Mark IV. Recently, Roberto was commissioned by Canon to photograph the global campaign for Canon’s top mirrorless cameras, the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6.
Aside from photography, Roberto is a dedicated student of the culinary arts. The Food Network channel is always on at his house, and he is known to create a colossal mess when trying to replicate the dishes. So far, the only people who eat his food are his wife, Kim, and his sons, Lucas and Evan.
