What first attracted me to strobist theology was the idea of using small speedlights to shoot on location. I’m still not too keen on the idea of a traditional studio setup. But a studio you can carry in a backpack? Yeah, I can dig that.

I think the great epiphanies in photography - when it clicks and you “get it;” when your abilities take a great leap forward - include understanding principals of composition, going full manual mode, mastering white balance, and getting off camera lighting.

As several photographers have said, on camera flash turns your camera into a Xerox machine. Off camera light gives you a canvas and paint brush. I think off camera lighting is really what separates the point-and-shooters from the professionals.

The internet age has made it easy to learn new skills on your on. Blogs and YouTube tutorials are free and plentiful. I’ll be posting some of my favorites on this blog and hopefully, if you are learning photography, they will help you as well.

First off, I’d recommend reading the entire Lighting 101 and On Assignment sections on the Strobist blog. These are some of the best tutorials and examples you will find on any blog.

Your homework assignment today, young photogs, is to watch this video.

Photo: Christina Brooke of ElisaRay performing live at Area Fifteen on New Year’s Day. Shot using an SB-600 at 1/4 power hand held by assistant, camera right.

The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, held the first weekend in December, is always a big time of the year for me and my quest to learn photography.

I attended a session lead by Zack Aries titled One Light Workshop. Up to this point, I’d always said “I prefer to shoot in available light.” To be honest, I always feared trying to use flashes /strobes, and I always figured them to be out of my price range and too difficult to learn.

Aries is a straight shooting guy. He’s not one of those photographers who think you have to have this gear or that. In fact, he teaches “One Light” workshops – explaining how to shoot with just one flash or strobe. To paraphrase an Aries quote, “I prefer to shoot with available light – I look in my camera bag and see what lights I have available.” 

This workshop was one of the biggest “ah ha” photography moments I can remember. His workshop clicked in my head and I realized, “THIS is what I need to be doing! THIS is what I want.” I thought of recent photo projects I had worked on. How could I improve on them? With better lighting, either on or off camera. Buying a D7000 wouldn’t help in this area.

When I returned home I canceled my D7000 order, instead opting to purchase a refurbished Nikon D90. Not nearly as advanced as the D7000, but it is a nice step up from my little D40. With the money I saved I purchased some lighting equipment. Since then I’ve been reading “strobist” theology on blogs and watching YouTube videos. I’m excited about learning new techniques. Do not fear the flash!

Technical stuff: My new set up is as follows: Nikon D90 camera body, Nikon 18-200mm VR lens, 50mm f/1.8 lens, Nikon SB-600 speedlight, Vivitar 285VH flash, two convertible 43” umbrellas with stands, CowboyStudio wireless triggers.

In part two, I’ll talk more about learning strobist off camera lighting on your own using internet tutorials.