Phottix Indra500 Quick Start

michael
My brand new Indra500 (with battery pack) arrived last weekend and I was eager to try it out. I did a quick photo shoot with Playboy Playmate Coxy Dominika here in Düsseldorf.

Quick Start – here’s how I have setup the Indra for this shooting:
 
  • Battery switch: High Speed (no worries, it lasts very long)
  • Menu 1 / Option 2, Modelling Light: 09 (I wish it would go up to 20…)
  • Menu 1 / Option 3, Mode TTL (I dial in manual settings on the Odin)
  • Menu 4 / Option 1, RX: Odin-C (because I use my Odin for Canon controller)
  • Menu 4 / Option 2, Quick flash mode: Activate (I want it to fire in any case)
  • Menu 4 / Option 3, Ready beeb: Deactivate (with a strong flash I don’t need it unless I shoot it on full power)
 
In case I figure out better options I am going to update you. Make sure you are on my list.
I found that the Indra500 blends in perfectly with the lighting gear that I’m using all the time, which is the Odin radio controller and a few Mitros+ speedlights.
I tried it out for a couple of photos inside my warm and cozy home studio and then took my tests outdoors at Düsseldorf’s Media Harbor, which was kissed by sunshine but blistering cold at the same time.  
 
Controlled by my Odin Radio Transmitter
I control the Indra with the Odin from on-camera exactly like I usually control and trigger my off-camera speedlights. Often we’re shooting with two cameras alternating in my photoshoots. Then we’re using a Mitros+ speedlight in parallel as the second controller on the other camera. The Indra can be controlled with that one as well. 
 
Performance
I shot a rapid fire series of Coxy of her shaking her head, her lovely curls flying in the air. The performance of the flash was solid, no misfires or outtages.
 
TTL
I also tried out shooting the Indra in TTL mode varying my flash to model distance between 3 feet and 15 feet. All exposures were perfect. In some situations, it’s really handy when a flash supports TTL. This is true at events, for example, where I have to switch apertures from f/2.8 for portraits to f/5.6 or f/8 for group shots, and I cannot control the distance of my subjects from the flash so well. 
 
Power: Portrait at f/40
On a side note, it’s always good when the flash has got a strong power reserve, and the Indra has got a powerful 500w/s. To test the limits, I tried to shoot a portrait at f/40. And it works beautifully. Usually, I will never shoot at f/40, but the power comes in handy. Especially, when you’ve got light-hungry light modifiers such as big softboxes and of course when shooting outdoors, using High Speed Sync. 
 
High Speed Sync
To test this out, I took Coxy outdoors by a canal in Media Harbor. We produced a portrait with shallow depth of field at f/2.8. On this bright day I had to go to 1/8000s with my shutter speed in order to darken the sky to a nice, solid blue. 
Stopping down to f/5.6 finally gave us a day to night portrait with a very dark ambient. 
 
Working with TTL Groups
I also added a hair light by placing a speedlight behind the model, added it to group B on my Odin controller, and disabled TTL for this group, since the camera cannot really measure a hairlight. I kept it on manual on ¼ power. The Mitros+ speedlights are also High Speed Sync capable and the Odin controller handles multiple groups very well.
And that’s what I mean when I say that Indra blends perfectly into my existing gear and that’s how I’m going to use this flash.
 
Look up the detailed Indra500 specs in the Adorama store. You can order the Indra there, but it won’t be shipped before February 26th because businesses in China are closed during Chinese New Year.
 
What would you like to see?
If you have any ideas what I should try out with the new Indra, then please drop me a comment!
 
I wish you good light!
Michael 
 

Setting Up Soft Light Shouldn’t Be Hard

michael

How do I get my light so soft in my photo shoots? It is perhaps the question which I am asked most frequently, with people asking about buying a bigger umbrella or some secret photography technique. I will share with you the exercise I do in order to get a feel for the softness of any new light modifier that I add to my box of lighting tools.

 
More tips on maternity photography in my eBook:
 
You may not always have access to modifiers in different sizes, but you will pretty much always be able to control the distance between your subject and your light source. That’s the reason why I suggest to exercise using your modifier at various, defined distances and compare the results. By practicing this, you will be able to master light and consciously shoot photographs with the right lighting attitude.
 
Here’s your exercise: When you are setting up your light source then measure the distance between the light source and the point of contact. Start the exercise by placing the soft box quite far out, about 8 feet from the subject. The light will be quite hard, but you will know what that looks like. Then move the light 2 feet closer, and shoot again. Take some time to note the difference between the two images. When I did this exercise shooting a baby belly, which is a comparably big object, I did not notice much of a difference until the light was just 4 feet away. 
 
This is also the distance you typically start noticing that you are getting the sort of light you are looking for. At 2 feet away, the attitude of the light is markedly different and will suit a great deal many purposes.
 
Finally, move the light source 1 foot away from your subject. It will do no harm to your model and it will help you become more confident with incorporating light choices into your shoots. When all of this is done, you now have a set of images which will inform future lighting choices, and will help you find the perfect distance you need to get the shot you are looking for.
 
I wish you good light!
Michael 
 

Mastering The Digital Workflow

alanatylerslutsky

Alana Tyler Slutsky shares with the readers of FashionPhotographyBlog.com, the processes →

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Win Kevin Tang’s Glamour Training

michael

Publishing his hot magazine Amped Asia Kevin Tang has done a countless number of successful glamour photo shoots. He shares his tips, tricks and recipes in

Glamour Training.

This week PhotoWhoa is giving away 10 copies of this training (value $49 each) to our awesome Good Light! Readers and viewers. 

=>  Click here to enter the giveaway on Facebook

With a bit of luck you will soon recreate Kevin’s light and poses and shoot your own magazine-quality glamour photos.

I wish you good light!
Michael

Mastering The Photographic Workflow

alanatylerslutsky

Alana Tyler Slutsky shares with the readers of FashionPhotographyBlog.com, the processes →

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  • Tips For Working with Agency ModelsTips For Working with Agency Models Alana Tyler Slutsky is back on Fashion Photography Blog, after sharing the steps to take when approaching a new modeling agency for the first time, to reveal some tips with our readers that are useful to remember when working with models from agencies in order to maintain a working relationship with both the models and the agencies they are from.…
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