Flash tips: Nikon i-TTL system - multi-unit flash

Tips for using the Nikon Intelligent Flash System


Master-Slave principle


Even a single flash unit offers a lot of possibilities, as long as you are really thinking about the light guide and not leave everything to the automatic. But you should not expect miracles from a system flashing device. A truly spectacular lighting design with gradients, light and shadow play is always more than just a light source. The perfect flash shots of commercial hunts even require a studio with large softboxes, brighteners and effect lights.


So color comes into play


Because a solitary flash unit can not keep up. The brilliant thing about the i-TTL system is, however, that several flash units can be linked by the master device connected to the camera wirelessly triggering one or more slave flashes. The TTL flash control is in this case extended to all devices involved.


Thanks to the built-in photo cell, the slave flash is triggered by the main flash unit. This also works without problems, as long as the camera does not emit flashes before the actual recording. If this is the case, the servo light flashes too early - before the shutter opens the photographically effective time window. With slave flashes of the latest generation, there is therefore a delay function which enables the device to detect and "overlook" the measuring flashes of the camera.


With slaves, the largest rooms can be illuminated theoretically if several of these devices are positioned in the room. The flashes have to be set up in such a way that none of them flashes directly into the camera and nevertheless all areas are uniformly illuminated. That sounds easier than it is.


Wirelessly triggered flashes are also the means of choice, if the available light is rather boring and is to be upgraded by lighting accents. Examples: For example, With the flash a counter- or strip-light situation. To do this, the slave flash is placed behind or next to the subject or person.


Guide flash: color filters create atmosphere


Flash light is white as daylight. However, you can influence its color - from almost invisible accent to massive flooding. Most flash manufacturers and some foreign suppliers offer plug-in filters in different colors. These filters swallow light, how much depends on the color. I-TTL takes this into account automatically.


Use the color filters carefully. Monochrome pictures usually look kitschy. Only at the same time, even when light is also visible in the picture, do exciting moods arise. This can be a second flash without filter or daylight. You can also combine a filter in front of the lens with a filter in front of the flash reflector. For example, in the case of a landscape view, a light stream is immersed in a cool light while the red filter illuminates an object in front of the flash reflector. Perhaps you did not get involved with such recording earlier, because the results were not directly controllable. For digital cameras this is no problem: Just try and correct. As long as you are satisfied with the result.


The i-TTL system, flash exposure memory, FP short sync, long-time sync and second curtain, soft light, near-focus flashing close-up flash