Using Flash at night and outdoor

David Bergman's videos from Adorama are a great resource for learning photography. In this video, he explains how to use flash when shooting at night and outdoors.

 

Desert Rose

Desert Rose (Adenium obesum). This plant is known for its thick, succulent stem and vibrant, often bicolored flowers, typically featuring shades of pink, red, and white. It thrives in arid environments and is popular as an ornamental plant due to its striking appearance.

We had one of these plants at our old place, and as soon as we saw this one, we knew it had to come home with us.

Another favorite from last weekend

I knew this would happen—after a long weekend and 300 photos later, picking a favorite feels impossible!
But hey, here’s another one I really like. Who says you can’t have more than one favorite, right?

Using On-Camera Flash at Events

 Here is a video illustrating how is done. 

The only thing I do differently is that before shooting with flash, I adjust the camera settings—specifically ISO and shutter speed—to get the background looking the way I want. Once that’s set, I let the flash, using E-TTL, take care of the rest.

At events, I usually use a modifier, unless I’m shooting in a living room with a low ceiling or walls painted white or a similar light color.

Here’s one of my photos taken using flash.

This guy is my favorite model. He knows how to work with the camera. Is not it?

Here is a bonus tip:

 

Weekend Continuation: Bald Eagle.

Memorial Day. I decided to skip my usual park and head to Bay Port, one of the oldest places in Hernando County with a rich history. But for me, it’s just a spot to snap some pics of all sorts of sea birds, including the majestic Bald Eagles. Lately, I haven’t been as lucky with them, and I thought I’d be home empty-handed again. But guess what? As I was about to leave, I spotted a huge bird in the distance. And right away, I knew it was a Bald Eagle! 

Most Americans think these birds only live north, but they actually also live in Florida, even as far south as South Florida. I’ve even seen them nesting there! 

Taking pictures of these birds is always a pleasure. 

Special Mention: Flowers.

Flowers deserve a special mention. In Florida, many wild flowers bloom in May, and some even during the summer. This weekend, I took some pictures of these beautiful flowers. Here are a few of them.

Water lily (genus Nymphaea). It is characterized by its large, fragrant white petals and bright yellow center, floating on the surface of the water alongside round green lily pads.

Spiderwort (genus Tradescantia). Spiderworts are commonly found in gardens and wild areas across North America.

Lantanas are known for their vibrant clusters of small flowers, often featuring multiple colors like orange, yellow, pink, and red. 

Morning Glory (genus Ipomoea). It is characterized by its trumpet-shaped bloom, with a white exterior and a pinkish-purple center, which is typical of certain Morning Glory varieties. These flowers are known for opening in the morning and closing by the afternoon.

My favorites from this weekend

This is a long weekend, Memorial Day weekend, so we may have another post like this one to talk about pictures taken during these 3 days. 

The first one is this anhinga in flight. I did not like the blue sky behind it, so I edited it to make it more interesting. I did not replace it; I just edited it, changing the light a little bit. 

The second one is this close up of the alligator's eyes from the top. The skin texture looks amazing. 

My last pick has to be this turtle that I found laying eggs in the middle of the trail. I do not know why, but turtles in that lake do not have a sense of where the best place to lay their eggs is. This is not the first time I have found one of them doing it in the middle of a busy hiking trail. 

Tomorrow’s Memorial Day, and I’m still figuring out where I’ll be with my camera. But one thing’s for sure - I’ll be snapping tons of pics and sharing them here, no doubt!