Subject:	Some ideas (+)
Author:	drdread
Date:	5/19/2002 9:49:16 PM
Message:

Please do post an example, but my first guess would be "you're too close to the subject." The Auto35 strobe is known to be "hot" i.e. extra strong. Ikelite confesses that this is intentional on their part because most novice u/w photographers underestimate the distance to the subject (or don't bother thinking about it at all!) and as a result shoot from too far away. The strobe should expose subjects properly from 4-6 feet away, but IMO it's too powerful for subjects less than 4 feet from the strobe.

There's not much you can do to fix the problem short of hand-holding the strobe waaaaay out to the side so as to increase the strobe-to-subject distance. But then the problem will be strobe aim and getting the slave sensor pointed in the right direction.

Another thing you can do (in addition to using the diffuser) is to use the old homebrew diffuser method, in other words "milk jug plastic." I'd try cutting a couple of sheets of it and slipping it inside the diffuser so it sits between the strobe head and the diffuser.

One more option is to mis-aim the strobe intentionally. If you aim it behind (or "outside") the subject, you'll kiss the subject with the outer cone of light rather than the bright inner spot. This is a tried-and-true technique, BTW, because it also has the side-effect of reducing backscatter. It will take some practice, however...I definitely recommend obtaining some sort of aiming light setup so you can see where the strobe is pointed with some accuracy. If your strobe is on the left side of the camera, you will want to aim it to hit above and to the left of your subject...

Good luck,
D

Subject

Author

Date

ikelite auto 35 wstrobe (1)

bobbates

5/14/2002 2:57:19 PM

Some ideas (+) (0)

drdread

5/19/2002 9:49:16 PM

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