Should I add a second strobe ?

[jpatmore]

Hi, I am very new to underwater photography. I current have a Fuji E-900 in ikelite housing, and a sea and sea YS-27DX strobe. I have done around 6 or 7 dives with my new toys, and am totally hooked !!

I am considering adding a second strobe, because I have the option of getting a YS-110a or another YS-27DX at a very attractive price.

I guess my question is, as a newbie, is it worth spending the time to master shooting with a single strobe before adding a second, or should I add the second now, and learn from the start with two strobes ?

On the subject of two strobes, is it best to get two the same ?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
John

 

[gert7to3]

I wish I had gotten two strobes from the start. You will have much more control over your photography.

Check Jack and Sue Drafahl, Underwater Photography and Photoshop Instructors for books on digital photography and image processing. There are many good posts in the intro stickies to the forums here, at Wetpixel.com :: Underwater Photography and Videography , and a gods strobe illustration at www.kelpfish.net/strobe.set .

 

[gert7to3]

Oops, blew the kelpfish link. Try this one:

http://www.kelpfish.net/strobe.swf

 

[RAWalker]

Just like shooting on land a second strobe allows you greater control, more light and less shadow. The other advantage at depth underwater is less loss of color.

 

[jpatmore]

Thanks guys, thats the advice everyone has been giving me, so have ordered another ys-27dx. !

 

[vkalia]

I see you've ordered your second strobe, so this is moot - but I'll toss it out there for the archives anyway:

I guess my question is, as a newbie, is it worth spending the time to master shooting with a single strobe before adding a second, or should I add the second now, and learn from the start with two strobes ?

There really isnt a single correct answer to that, as both approaches are valid ways of getting you to the same objective.

Learning how to use one flash, its limitations, etc is certainly very useful. Shooting UWA with a single flash really teaches you how to aim it properly, how to use the light and shadows for maximum effect and also what the limitations are. Then, when you add the second strobe, you have a good sense of what you want to achieve with the second strobe and what impact it has on your images.

OTOH, if there is a scene which needs 2 strobes to be lit properly, it needs 2 strobes. no amount of single-strobe mastery is going to help in such a case. So having 2 strobes is certainly not a bad thing.

My recommendation? I prefer the first method. Yes, you may have a few shots where you'll miss the second strobe, but given that you are in a rather early stage of your photographic development, you'll be better off sticking to one strobe for now. It may be a bit frustrating initially, but it will stand you to good stead in the long run. Too many people start with 2 strobes and don't learn to optimize flash balance and angles.

I am attaching a recent shot taken with a single strobe (Z240) and a fisheye, with a field of view greatly exceeding the strobe's coverage. It is possible to use shadows for creative effect - something few people seem to realize or use underwater (myself included... this shot was a sort of wake-up call for me in some ways as well).

On the subject of two strobes, is it best to get two the same ?

My opinion is yes. You can get by with 2 different strobes provided their color outputs are the same, but that is rarely the case (IIRC). You have more flexibility and better lightmatching with 2 of the same...

Vandit