I feel Canadian!!! I photographed a Huskie like HBG did!!!

[theantiquetiger]

Not really. I am playing around with my studio slave flashes and he volunteered to be my subject. I still have some bugs to work out. They fire when my built it blinks while focusing.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/Snapbucket/2A763ABF.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/12592766243_87a23ebc3d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12592766243/)
huskie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12592766243/) by Theantiquetiger (http://www.flickr.com/people/theantiquetiger/), on Flickr

[theantiquetiger]

In this second image, I used my speedlite in manual turned way down and directed off the subject. It worked a lot easier.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/12593752215_ab41f6af58_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12593752215/)
huskie2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12593752215/) by Theantiquetiger (http://www.flickr.com/people/theantiquetiger/), on Flickr

[Marko]

worked easier but look at the difference between 1 and 2.
The light on the subject is superior in shot 1. Shot 2 looks flat.

[theantiquetiger]

worked easier but look at the difference between 1 and 2.
The light on the subject is superior in shot 1. Shot 2 looks flat.

That may just be me, the setting for #1 was 1/200 f/5.6 and #2 was 1/250 f/7.1 (both ISO 100 200mm FL)

I wasn't too worries about setting too much, mostly just figuring out the slave flashes.

Now I need to figure out optimal settings, etc.

[Marko]

you will quickly learn that the position of the lights is just as important as the settings.

IMO there are no optimal settings unless you are doing the same thing over and over with the identical lighting setup. (ie catalog photography with the same lighting pattern and d.o.f. that never changes)

Keep in mind the aperture helps control depth of field, the shutter helps control the existing light. The ISO can also change of course.
Given that the existing lighting will be changing from shoot to shoot, the settings are fairly meaningless unless you want the same look with the same subject for every shoot.

More important than the settings imo is the ratio of main light to fill light(s) to background AND the quality (hard light - soft light) of those lights.

A good starting place to play begins with one light. Make it harsh then make it soft. keep doing this while changing the position of the light relative to your subject.
Don't add that second light till u feel comfortable with 1 light. Loads of extremely cool portraits and shooting can be done with 1 light.

Then add the second light - usually a fill light. Start with the fill at the identical power as the main light from position A. Then lower it one stop, then 2 stops, then 3 stops. A classic portrait starting setup might be the main light 45 degrees to your subject and the fill light at camera position.

Hope that may help.

Maybe I should do a podcast on this... :)

[theantiquetiger]

My first human testing with my slave flashes, I am quite pleased (just used the same settings as #1 from above)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/12600268933_7b26879199_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12600268933/)
morgan burrito (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquetiger/12600268933/) by Theantiquetiger (http://www.flickr.com/people/theantiquetiger/), on Flickr