Getting started with flash photography

brizzoluk

I have had my 550D/T2i for a couple of years now and want to get into flash photography.
I have just bought myself a Yongnuo468-ii speedlight to get me started.
First of all, have I made a good choice with this flash?
It was within my budget and has a lot of very good reviews. I know the Canon flashes are better but I just couldn't stretch my budget at the moment.
Can you offer me any advice on getting started using this flash and the camera settings as I have no clue what I am doing. I have a few good shots with it from endlessly altering the camera/flash settings, but I want to learn how to do it properly from the very basics.
Thanks :)

PBked

Hi there.
I cannot comment on your flashgun as I have never used that brand. However, I looked at some reviews and it seems to have pretty good press.
There are many good books concerning flash photography as it really is a field on its own. However, before you go rushing out to buy one, let's look at some basics.
Learn first how to use the flash on the camera using its ttl capabilities to sort out your settings.
You probably know that pointing a flash directly at a subject, especially people, is not a good idea unless you are using it outdoors as a fill-in flash. However, try doing it indoors with a white handkerchief dangled across the flash head.
Try taking pictures where the flash head is tilted upwards to bounce the flash off a light ceiling. If you are taking a picture of a person, get them to hold a piece of white card (about 40-50cm square) in front of them at a slight angle just out of camera shot. This will help lighten any shadows under the chin caused by bouncing the light.
Next, if your flash tilts sideways, bounce the flash off a light wall. Again, some kind of reflector hung on the opposite side helps to even out shadows although sometimes a face with partial shadow may be the effect you are after.
When you have played around with these ideas and studied your pictures for the best results, be brave and take the flash off the hot shoe and mount it on its stand. You can then use the built in flash to act as a trigger for your slave flash. You can move the slave flash all over the place through 270 degrees both on the horizontal and the vertical. I say 270 because obviously if the flash is placed directly behind the head, the slave may not trigger from the built-in flash.
If you experiment with my suggestions and even become proficient with them, you will have gone a long way towards finding out about flash photography. Now go and buy that specialist book.
Best regards, PBked