Photography Lighting Tips You Must Know: What is High Speed Sync (HSS)? How to Use?

Photography Lighting Tips You Must Know: What is High Speed Sync (HSS)? How to Use?

What are The Best Lenses for Studio Photography? Reading Photography Lighting Tips You Must Know: What is High Speed Sync (HSS)? How to Use? 6 minutes Next 5 SIMPLE Steps to Photographing Classic Studio Portraits

The New Year has come! Start to prepare for your 2021 photoshoot! For perfect photoshoot in the future, there are always questions about lighting techniques. How to do professional work by some lighting techniques? Knowing How to Use High Speed Sync Off Camera can be your starting point.

Want to level up your portrait lighting RIGHT NOW? This video will give you the High Speed Sync setting solutions you’ve been looking for! Follow the step-by-step guide, use the trigger which’s capable of high speed sync and try this perticular technique, you will find how this can be so easy to achieve a beautiful, professional fine art portrait photoshoot in just Seconds, with such a simple setup!

Jiggie Alejandrino, the portrait & wedding photographer we introduced before, brings about new lighting tutorial this week. He’s the Sony Ph Brand Ambassador, the Zeiss Camera Lens Ambassador, and regarded as one of the most reputable lighting specialists.

Today Jiggie’s going to explain high speed sync and flash sync speed to you in a practical way, in terms of how to use it, why use it, and basically all the principles behind it.

By figuring out the above questions, you will finallly know: If you want to blur out the background, you need to go beyond the flash sync speed, and that can be the only reason why you want to use high speed sync.

So what is the difference or how does it work?

Basically your flash sync speed syncs with your shutter, and it is also dependent on basically your trigger. Your flash sync speed is dependent on your trigger and your flash. So, to figure out the above questions, you will need:

  • Flash+Trigger Unit A

Phottix odin light + Photix juno: which is not capable of high-speed sync;

  • Flash+Trigger Unit B

Sony Wireless Radio Commander (FA-WRC1M) + Sony F60RM: which is capable of high-speed sync.

Next, do what Jiggie dose in the video step by step, and he will show you what exactly each flash is doing.

  1. Start off with this one the photix odin light with the photix juno. Put it to 1/320 which is now beyond the flash sync speed. We are in the realms of high speed sync, and this is what happens when you take a photo. See how the second curtain is actually in frame while the flash is still popping, that is what we call bending.

  1. Change thetrigger to one that's capable of high speed sync. It's triggering a flash that's capable of capable of high speed sync my setting is still at 1/320 and my shutter speed is still at 1/320 f 1.4 iso 100. If i take a shot, you have no bending.

  1. Change triggers againand trigger the flash that's not capable of high speed sync, and the trigger that's not capable of high speed sync also. And there you go exact same settings and this time you are actually capturing the second curtain.

    So how does high speed sync work then?

    Basically what the flash does is that: It sinks within the first curtain and the second curtain, and basically once the first curtain is still opening, and the second curtain is already closing. It actually gives multiple pops of light in that strip of area that is actually exposed strip of the sensor, that is actually exposed to light. So instead of just giving one big pop of flash, it will give multiple pops of flash and that's how high speed sync works.

    To try this particular technique, you also need the following Basic Settings:

    1. A Hand-Painted Backdrop: Click here 
    2. The Lighting Pattern:Aclam shaped lighting. Normally called a beauty light. The main light is a magmod mac box with a diffuser in front, with a standard reflector to be able to fill in the shadows.
    3. Shooting Mode:Continuous shooting mode
    4. White Balance: 5600 Kelvin. These lights are actually rated for 5600 kelvin, which is daylight.
    5. Shutter Speed:1/320
    6. Lens: Sony zeiss 50 millimeter F/4
    7. ISO: 100
    8. Turn off Your HDMI Info Display: So that your screen behind the camera will be activated.
    9. Everything's just standard.

      With this particular technoloy, you will see, knowing how to use high speed sync can definitely help you do professional work. ND filters were needed to shoot with large apertures and high shutter speeds. Use a couple os Sony F60RMs and some MagMod Gear, with correct settings, you can also try this & create some really nice fine art portrait photos. 

      Regarding the backdrops, Jiggie chose a 5x7ft Kate Abstract Texture Cold Tones of Green and Grey Hand-painted Canvas Backdrop, which is completely well qualified for the job.

      For More Inspirations: 

      Kate Hand-Painted Collections

      Kate 2021 Easter Backdrops Collection

      Kate 2021 Valentine’s Day Backdrops Collection

      If you want to know more about continuous led lights use, please check:  Continuous Lighting vs. Strobes: 2 Portrait Lighting Choice You Should Know

      Read More Resources: Handbook of Photography Backdrop

      This is an exercise that you can do with basic equipments & studio space, and of course, you also need a fantastic Fine Art Photography Backdrop. Hope you can enjoy this video, and get some inspirations on lighting your own portrait photography.

       

      Equipment used:

      Backdrop: https://www.katebackdrop.com/collections/global-rts-hand-painted-canvas

      Floordrop:

      https://www.katebackdrop.com/collections/wood-rubber-floor

      Camera: Sony A7R MarkIV - https://amzn.to/2TXhv78

      Lens: Sony Zeiss 50mm 1.4 - https://amzn.to/3clvI3S

      Flash: Sony F60RM - https://amzn.to/36VsaUW

      Trigger: Sony Wireless Radio Commander (FA-WRC1M)

       - https://amzn.to/3do6dAb

      MagMod MagBox - https://amzn.to/2zMSkwU

      DesView Monitor - https://amzn.to/3iQL58z

      Hollyland MarsX - https://amzn.to/2GeexXG

       

      About The Photographer: Jiggie Alejandrino is a portrait and wedding photographer from the Philippines. He’s the Sony Ph Brand Ambassador, the Zeiss Camera Lens Ambassador, the International Phottix Pro Teamer, and the MagMod Philippines Brand Ambassador. He's and considered to be one of the most reputable lighting specialists in the Philippines, conducting workshops nationwide and have been featured in various photography magazines. I was also a multi-awarded portrait and advertising photographer.

      Learn More:Youtube Channel  ;  jiggiealejandrino.com

       

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