I practised putting up and adjusting my tripod today, so I can do it quickly and I know all the angles I can use. It’s such a good tripod (a Vanguard VEO3+). You feel confident using it because it’s so well-engineered, and it offers such a range of angles, including with the camera upside down on the floor!
Still on practising with equipment, I looked again at how to use my flash. There may be times when it’s okay to use an on-camera flash, like with a flat subject, but most of the time I’d hold it to the side of the subject. I’m planning to fix the camera on the tripod and put it on a ten-second timer. Then when I push the shutter release button, I’ll move to the side and hold the flash in the air, pointing it at the subject from an angle. I practised that today and it does create better contours and softer shadows.
I also read the instructions of my flash again because I’d forgotten how to get exposure compensation with it. Lowering the flash strength will help, and firing through a hand-held diffuser, especially if the subject is close.
So there, I feel more confident in using the tripod and flash, which will be handy as we get into the darker months.
The computer troubles continue. I discovered that none of my laptops can run a video call and a browser at the same time. This was a problem in my French class on Thursday, and yesterday with a call to R. I had to use my phone to call R. I use my desktop most of the time, and it works well, but it doesn’t have a camera, a microphone or speakers. I could just buy them, and that would be cheaper than a new laptop, but what if I need to call someone from another room, or away from home? I’m facing the prospect of buying a new laptop after all.
We had guests this afternoon then I had to go out in the evening. so that was the rest of the day.