The CANONization of Joe McNally

Joe McNally's new book The Hot Shoe Diaries is one of the hottest books in photography right now, and with good reason. Whether you shoot Nikon or Canon this book is full of technique that will help you think differently about light, lighting, and what your small flash can do. I'm having a ball with it myself. I've had several "d'oh" moments myself where I'm making it WAY too hard to do things (no, really . . . I'm sure I would have thought to daisy chain OC3 cords together to trigger my 580's with the STE2 any day now. No, really - I would have . . . right.)

If you're a Nikon shooter this book is even more of a no-brainer. But, if you're a Nikon shooter you probably aren't reading the CanonWirelessFlash blog (but if you are - thanks).

So, for us Canon guys - I'm starting a series to convert the Nikon speak to Canonese.

The Canonization of Joe McNally series will begin July 28th.

So, buy your copy and start reading. When you have questions - send them in:

CanonWirelessFlash@gmail.com

RTFM - Read the *Fun* Manual

We all want to get the most out of our gear, but how many of us have actually sat down and read through our manuals?

Hummmm?

Yeah. Me either.

Let's start together. I'm going to focus on selected bits from the manuals for the 550 EX, 580EX II, 430EX and the ST-E2 - mostly, because that's what I own.

As soon as I find them.

-- Post From My iPhone

Syl Arena get his Rant On

Syl Arena over at the PixSylAted blog just posted an open letter to Canon about wireless flash.

His rant hits all the high points and is well worth the read - are you listening Canon?

I wholeheartedly agree with his first point: PUT BACK THE WIRELESS THUMB SWITCH!

And would like to suggest an additional point:
Let the flashes "daisychain" so one flash can detonate another without being in line of sight with the master.

Love/Hate Relationships

I love wireless flash.

I hate wireless flash.

You too huh?

Wireless ETTL flash is the slickest thing going when it comes to working fast and working light - when it's working well. When it's not working, you make other arrangements - mono-lights, manual flash, reflectors and bounces, fast glass and available light.

It's when wireless is "kinda" working that it is a total pain in the butt real challenge to work with.

I spent years thinking that wireless flash was powered by voodoo. That maybe of I sacrificed a chicken, under a full moon, and buried an ST-E2 in an old graveyard at midnight - then maybe, MAYBE, I could get consistant results from ETTL flash (it didn't work btw, don't ask about the chicken).

Then I did something truly radical. I read the (fun) manual - did what it said - and darn if the flash didn't work. Well, maybe WORK is too strong a word - but it did get better.

So, that's what this site is about. Learning and teaching canon flash. Like I've said before, I'm no guru - but I have screwed up a lot. Learn from my mistakes. Then go and make your own and tell us about them.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

We have FORUMS sign . . .

Great news: We have a Forum!

Ok. well . . . we are usurping a forum. But, it's cool - the admin (Paul - Mortonphotographic) is awesome and says we can crash.

I figure anyone who reads what's here, will certainly want to read what's there.

I check it daily.

Let's drive some traffic that way!

July 1st - Go live date

Hi all. Just a quick FYI on where things are at the moment. I've been spending the last few weeks getting article ideas together and writing in my copious free time (all 8 minutes of it), and have a few things "in the can" that I can roll out for launch.

We are looking to launch "for real" on July 1st!

If you're reading this now, good on ya for being an early adopter.

If you have questions, send them in - I need material!

Why CWF.com?

Hi, my name is Brent . . . and I'm a Canon flash shooter. (hiiii, Brrreeennnttt . . .)

CanonWirelessFlash.com is a place where Canon shooters can come to learn about Canon flash techniques and be able to apply them directly to their photography.

We are going to focus exclusively on Canon ETTL flash. If you want Manual Flash run, don't walk, to Strobist.com. There is no better place to learn manual flash.

And you SHOULD learn manual flash. Knowing how flash works means that you can let the ETTL take over and understand what it is doing - and more importantly why.

Nikon shooters have a lot of resources out there: McNally, Moose, David Hobby, et al. I think it's time for Canon Flash shooters to stop being second class citizens - and make a resource of our own.