logo

Techniques

Read through our fancy techniques for just under 2% of what this amazing instrument is capable of. The other 98% is up to you…



Even all around

By surrounding your lens with light, the Ringflash allows you to toss a completely even burst on your subject. You see, if your flash is off to the side (like on a point and shoot camera) or up on top (like a professional SLR camera), then your flash will always have a bit of directional cast. Only a Ringflash can give the soft even light and crazy shadows that you will soon be bathing in. It’s especially pronounced with the Fisheye cameras. To take advantage of this, shoot things close-up, or from overhead – photograph lots of noses, engine parts, sunflowers and dirty dogs. Shoot a person right up against a white wall and you’ll see a pronounced halo shadow around their body and round reflections in their eyes. Revel in the fact that your very special flash to perfectly light people, things and scenes in a way a regular flash just couldn’t handle.

photo
photo

Hold it open

When you’re close to your subject, much of the Ringflash’s light is absorbed by their face. As such, the background in night scenes will be left pretty dark, unless they’re right in front of a wall or solid object. To counteract this, take advantage of your camera’s long exposure capabilities. Hold that shutter open a few seconds before or after the flash flies and allow that beautiful streaming light to flash out the back of your image.

Afternoon delight

Any Lomographer worth their chops knows about the other-worldly beauty of daytime fill flash; especially when that flash is colorsplashed or otherwise buck-wild. With the Ringflash’s special effect of super-natural even lighting, you’ll get an awesome flashed object against an otherwise normal daytime background. Trust us - It’s great. Put your subject under a shady tree or place their head right in front of a setting sun for the most impact.

photo
photo

Technicolor dream

Here is the unbelievably powerful and totally unique capability of the Ringflash – Flashing a subject with even and seriously dazzling light. Choose between the solid single color rings or use the small gel filters – thereby flashing your subject with several different colors at the same time. This multi-color technique works especially well with the Fisheye One and Fisheye No.2 cameras. But be sure to get right up to your subject’s nose. And definitely load up some slide film and try cross processing your color Ringflash shots. The X-Pro color shifts will only add to the excitement – Read more about cross processing here.

Off the hook

That little cord which attaches to your Ringflash to its hot-shoe adapter is nothing less than pure, uncut flashing freedom for your compositions. Rather than attaching the flash to the front of your lens, try holding your camera in one hand and your flash in the other. Flash your subject from alternative angles like from the side, under the mouth, from the left or right and so on. Depending on your placement, you’ll get a different lighting and shadow effect. With luck, you’ll even see 4 totally separate shadows behind your subject (hint: try it with the multi-colored ring for multi-colored shadows!).

photo
photo

Magic magnification

A message to you Fisheye One and Fisheye No.2 shooters: If you don’t already have one, then get outside and buy a decent quality magnifying glass. With this in your hand, you are primed to take some of the most hands down psychotic images ever seen. Put your subject about half a meter from the lens and allow the magnifying glass to sit somewhere in between. A portion of your subject will instantly be enlarged and shockingly cool results are virtually guaranteed.