Chris demonstrating my "quick & dirty" off camera flash method - f/11 ISO 200 1/320th SB-600 held off camera just like pictured!I have recently mentioned my "quick & dirty" off camera flash technique several times, but had no photo to demonstrate it until now. During our second DSLR Photography Lesson, I started to teach Chris the "quick & dirty" technique at John's Pass Village. For the shot above I asked him to take the position, but we both forgot that his Nikon SB-600 Speedlight was still on and set to the same channel my Nikon D300's commander mode was, so it was a nice bit of luck that his SB-600 went off to help with the demonstration. When you do not have a light stand or tripod with you, the "quick and dirty" off camera flash technique can still produce good results. It just takes a bit of practice to balance a DSLR in just your right hand and maintain the strobe in your left hand pointing at your subject.
During our lesson I was the model allowing me to instruct Chris to point his strobe a little more this, a little more up, etc. With practice, one can get a feel for pointing the strobe directly at the subject without having to even look at your left hand.
Another accidental firing of Chris' SB-600! Cool effect or just a fail shot? Make your comment below.
For our next lesson we may try out the street portrait act that Kelley and I have done before and see who we can get to be models for us, as Chris' skills continue to improve and before he gets tired of only having me as a model for our lessons!