Recommend me a book please

I have no idea how to use flash photography. (Apart from hand triggered on bulb setting when i do underground stuff but thats another story)

I would like to learn to use flash (or indeed lighting) creatively, whether that is for portraits, still life, fill-in or whatever.

I have looked at countless books on amazon and read the reviews but havent made any decision. I need to know which flashes are compatible with Pentax as well as what types to buy and then how to use them.

Do any of you have any personal recommendations?

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K20d
DA 12-24 | DA* 16-50 | DA* 50-135 | Sigma 100-300 F4
Lightroom 2, CS3
My FlickR

For starters get a copy of "The Photographers Handbook" by John Hedgecoe.
O.k it`s pre- digital but don`t let that put you off! It will probably cost under a fiver second hand but worth it`s weight in gold!

Regards - Pete

Thanks Pete

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K20d
DA 12-24 | DA* 16-50 | DA* 50-135 | Sigma 100-300 F4
Lightroom 2, CS3
My FlickR

Steve, you may want to get hold of Matts (mattmatic) E-Book guide on Pentax DSLR flash. Very informative and easy to read. Just PM him, if he can't help you then no one can

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Camera:|K20D|K-7|MX|
Pentax Lenses:|DA*16-50|DA*50-135|DA10-17 FE|DA18-55|DA40Ltd|DA15Ltd|DA21Ltd|DA35Ltd Macro|DA70Ltd | FA43Ltd|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA24-90IF/AL |FA80-320|A35-70/4 |A200/4|A100/2.8|A50/1.7|A50Macro2.8 |A24/2.8|M28/3.5|K30/2.8|K55/1.8|1.7xAF adapter|Tamron1.4xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125mm f2.5 Macro|Vivitar Series 1|70-210 2.8-4|
Sigma Lenses:|180 EX f3.5 Macro|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|

Dear Steve
For Lighting in a studio I think this book will have all you need to get a good start (remember you can mount your flash on stands)

Lighting For Portrait Photography By Steve Bavister (revised edition)

all the best
James

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"To see in colour is a delight for the eye, But to see in black and white is a delight for the soul" ANDRI HERY

i think you can find it here link

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Regards
Barrie
K20D K200D DA*300 A50/1.7 FA50/1.4 FA135/2.8 FA35 DA70/2.4 DA18-55 DA17-70 DA55-300
Samsung12-24
Tamron 28-300XRDi 70-200/2.8
Sigma 50&105mm Macro 170-500 400/5.6MF 24/2.8

Just an example of what you can do with a speedlight and a softbox



The client was booked in and arrived on time (just as my cheep trigger from ebay stopped working) I did have this trigger for over two years.

So had to think fast

I decided to use my speedlight for the client and the studio strobes to light the b-ground as I had my flash trigger in my camera bag.

little under powered and had to wait for the speedlight to charge but I did get away with it.

James

Ps
This shoot, the boy was dancing to music

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"To see in colour is a delight for the eye, But to see in black and white is a delight for the soul" ANDRI HERY

I don't think you can learn creativity so give up on that to learn from a book

Just learn what influence the flash and experiment, here is a sort list.
Guide Number (GN, flashpower) = distance × f-number.
Since the guide number is know of the flash you can calculate what the distance needs to be at a F-number or the other way around.
Check the guide of the flash to see if the guidenumber is at ISO100 and if it's in feet or metres.
If the guide number is at ISO100 then it doubles if you use it at iso200 and it doubles again at iso400, etc.

Shutter speeds controls how much ambient light gets on the photo, the longer the speed the more ambient light you get

do we have more... I think we have it.
Distance flash
Guide number
F-number
ISO
Shutter speed

Use manual on the flash and camera so that you get constant results so that you can experiment.
If you use the flash at manual you power control in from of 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.
Every time you go down a step that is one stop of light.

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Stefan


K10D
DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

For flash got to www.strobist.com and read and sift through the mountains of information there. Not a book I know but it is very helpful.

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You can see some of my shots at my Flickr account.

Thanks all for all the ideas I shall try matts ebook and strbist first and then consider the books.

Stefan
Not sure as i agree you cant learn creativitity, sure it comes form yourself but Im sure one can learn 'creative ideas' to set you on your way.

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K20d
DA 12-24 | DA* 16-50 | DA* 50-135 | Sigma 100-300 F4
Lightroom 2, CS3
My FlickR

Strobist are also on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/

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Gareth

Samsung GX10 - Samsung 18-55mm - Pentax 16-45mm F4 -Tamron 70-300 Di LD - Pentax D-BG2 Grip
Pentax 50mm A f2 - Metz 48 AF1 - Cobra D650 - Cactus V2 triggers - Giotto GB4180 - Manfrotto 056 head - Extension tubes
and some mobile strobist studio stuff !

My Flickr

Where you can buy my work