It can be hard to know which way to light your images if you have not seen easy-to-follow demonstrations before, side by side in the same scene with similar settings. Derrel Ho-Shing Photography over on YouTube released this great side-by-side demonstration showing the differences between natural and available light, strobes and flashes, and strobes and flashes with high-speed sync (HSS). It is a quick and easy way to see for yourself some of the advantages and disadvantages of these three methods of lighting.
In his first example, we see Ho-Shing’s model leaning up against a wall holding a coffee. The first natural- light shot looks pretty standard from a lighting standpoint, but when he moves onto his first flash/strobe shot we run into his first issue. He can’t shoot wide open on his Sigma 85mm F/1.4 art lens because his sync speed is too low on the camera, which results in an overexposed and washed out image. To compensate, Ho-Shing has to drop his aperture value down to F/5.6, giving him a correct exposure but the downside is that his background is not as out of focus.
Then, with the high-speed sync technology Ho-Shing is able to sync his camera and strobe at a higher shutter speed, allowing him to be able to shoot his 85mm lens wide open at F/1.4.
All of the shots look good from a lighting perspective and whichever you prefer may help you decide how you want to light your own images going forward.
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