Ultra High Speed Flash Trick

posted by tdenham, Oct 21, 2006 4:28 PM — 4 comments

All that's needed is a dark room, external flash (using flash duration setting of the flash) and a camera that can be set to manual mode.

My camera isn't capable of going to such high speed modes, but using the flash duration almost any manual capable camera can take photos using the flash duration speed.

The flash (and I think most can) must be able to set the flash duration. My SB-600 can be set down to 64,000ths of a second. Many Vivitar flashes can do this too. The flash duration becomes your actual exposure time.

I set my shutter to be open for 8 seconds, ISO 100 and aperature of F11. I used a dark room with dim light, such as a small candle light...just enough to see what I'm doing. This is not enough light to expose anything within 8 seconds in such low light.

Now when I press the shutter release I have 8 seconds pose or drop an object and then trigger the flash at the right moment.

The distance of the flash from the object will make a difference in the exposure. I think it's best to experiment on a still object before trying a moving object.

Sounds complicated, but it's actually pretty simple. What are you waiting for...go give it a try:)