Do you use a Tripod in Studio?

[PerformanceImagery]

I tend to think of dragging the shutter as setting the shutter speed slower then what you metered (for a "correct" exposure). It's used to bring the ambeint light for the background into the photo if the fash would normally overpower it (or not be picked up due to the higher metered shutter speed).

[BlakeO]

Nope, I usually hand hold because a tripod most likely doesn't want to bend the way I want it to, and go where I need it to go...

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by PerformanceImagery

I tend to think of dragging the shutter as setting the shutter speed slower then what you metered (for a "correct" exposure). It's used to bring the ambeint light for the background into the photo if the fash would normally overpower it (or not be picked up due to the higher metered shutter speed).

Marty's original statement is valid. Keep in mind several concepts. "Dragging" the shutter is a term used when using strobes. You must always set a shutter speed at the sync speed for use with strobes, or lower. So if you drag the shutter you are always setting the speed lower than the sync speed.

When you use a flash meter with strobes, it returns a fstop to use. It doesn't return a shutterspeed, hence you are not using a shutter speed lower than the one metered, because none was metered in the case of a flash meter.

You can use any shutter speed, since the strobes will freeze the action and are, in effect the shutter speed. Then, if you want to include ambient light and allow it to effect the scene, you take a meter reading of the ambient light where your meter is already set to the fstop chosen for the strobes. The meter will then give you the shutter speed and if you use that shutter speed then you'll usually be dragging the shutter (and in this case the fstop and strobe speed will control the exposure of the subject and the shutterspeed and fstop will control the exposure of the ambient light). We are of course ignoring the other possibility of the ambient light being more powerful than the strobes, but that is another ball game all together.

Cheers,
rfs

[PerformanceImagery]

When I set my meter to say, 1/125 and it returns something like F8. If I then leave my aperture at F8 and lower my shutter speed to bring in the ambient light, I think of that as lowering my shutter speed from that which was metered. Same result, just a different way to view/explain it I think.

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by PerformanceImagery

When I set my meter to say, 1/125 and it returns something like F8. If I then leave my aperture at F8 and lower my shutter speed to bring in the ambient light, I think of that as lowering my shutter speed from that which was metered. Same result, just a different way to view/explain it I think.

Actually it does make a difference in this case since it tends to confuse people to look at dragging the shutter in the manner you describe. In many workshops which I've held and in countless other situations I've seen photographers confused by the issue of shutter speed and fstop relative to the use of strobes. We take a meter reading of a flash setup and tell everyone to use f8 at ISO 100 and then someone asks what shutter speed to use.

Well the answer is always the same --- use the sync speed of the camera you're using.

The only exception is, naturally, when we want to allow the ambient light to affect the scene. But the shutterspeed we select for this "dragging" has nothing to do with the flash meter and the original reading we obtained. Dragging the shutter is not relative to that original meter reading. If we want to use the meter at this point to determine the proper shutter speed we have to take another meter reading and this time we are not using the meter as a flash meter, but in its ambient meter mode. We set the meter for the ISO, and the fstop that we got from the original reading. Now we meter the scene and the meter tells us the shutter speed for that fstop.

So the correct way to think of dragging the shutter is to say: "I'll set the shutterspeed to a speed that will capture the affect of the ambient light for the fstop we're using".

cheers,
rfs

[Stecyk]

Hi,

Just to add to Roger's reply, here is an excellent site for flash techniques that discusses dragging the flash.

http://www.planetneil.com/faq/dragging-the-shutter.html

If you find his site helpful, please donate a few dollars in his PayPal Donate account located at the bottom of the screen. I have not finished reading his site, but have donated because I found his information helpful. I am not affiliated with the website in any way.

Best regards,
Kevin

[colt]

Originally Posted by randy1

Hi , I'm wondering what exactly dragging the shutter means ? Anyone have an answer please enlighten a rook ??

http://www.phototechmag.com/previous...e-ma/lane.html

[I_B_Don]

I use the tripod a lot.. That way I can talk and direct them with out being hidden behind the camera... I like the interaction I can have... face to face...

[fotoman07]

I agree with the last post. More freedom. Of course, it depends on how you are working.

[roastdawgg]

i do not use a tripod in studio, i agree that it limits my movements. If i get inspired by an angle i do not want to have to take time to disconnect from the tripod and move it out of the way. i work on a "fly by the seat of my pants" approach. Whatever is looking good to me at that moment is what I am shooting.