High speed synch and off camera flash portraits..using the Sony A7R and Sony flash

Of course, this will work with any brand, Canon, Nikon, or any system that allows high speed synch.The goal is to use flash outdoors in bright light, and set the aperture as wide as possible. This creates a painterly, beautiful soft background with separation and bokeh. Controlling the light is also a benefit by adding reflectors and and over head scrim to “subtract” the light.

ABOVE: Using my Sony A7R, 85MM Batis 1.8 lens, the HVL-F60M Sony flash with small soft box and onboard the camera is the much smaller, but used as commander, Sony HVL- F32 flash, all set to high speed synch.

Shutter speed at 1250th of second. ISO 100 at 2.2

I added  a “canopy” over top. This is inspired by the Fuzzy Duenkel “subtractive” lighting strategy.

And one small reflector, as noted above, on the ground to kick in a little more specular highlights in the eyes.

I talk more in depth on this lighting scenario, and many others, in all my monthly lighting mastermind meetings.

Go here for members access.

Yours in success in photography,

Robert Provencher

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”