I Tried Flash Street Photography for the First Time...

What are your thoughts on flash photography? And who are some photographers you admire that use one? Let me know in the comments!
Check out Eyeshot
Max sturgeon book: bit.ly/m-sturgeon
Learn more about Humans Collection: bit.ly/eyeshot...
Humans collection on foundation: foundation.app...
Eyeshot website: bit.ly/Eyeshot
Ricoh GR IIIx: partner.shopmo...
Lightpix Flash Q: amzn.to/39dHQrT
Links above are affiliate links so if you purchase through them I get a small commission which helps support the channel :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
street photography, Ricoh, GR III, GR IIIX, fuji, film, fujifilm, analog, rangefinder, pov, gopro, X-E4, XE4, X100V, X100F, street photography tips, tips and tricks, techniques, uninspired, motivation, best street camera, best beginner camera, street photography basics, Boston photographer, best film simulation, composition tips, get better at exposing, exposure tips,35mm film stocks, kodak portra color, astia film, shooting manual, point and shoot, scanning photos, street photographers, how to shoot street

I like the approach of using flash to accommodate more concept levels. Unfortunately, it also dramatically increases the chance of getting punched in the face.

[@NLKTPG]

clearly, the risk reward ratio is not worth it 🤣😅

[@aidanbarbar5243]

I have photographed street with flash for the past 4 years and have never been punched in the face. You clearly never have shot flash street photography lmao

[@NLKTPG]

@@aidanbarbar5243 you're clearly fun at parties. But i'm sure ppl are punching themselves when they look at your pics

@@aidanbarbar5243 That was meant somewhat jokingly. Here in Germany, it's not as easy as it is in NY. Here people call the police because you walk through their neighborhood with a camera and they fear that you are scouting for a burglary. There are corners, not only in big cities, where you can get a bashing because you're walking around with a camera and it's quite possible that you might have taken a picture. Sure you can photograph here with flash, but one thing is guaranteed. It makes things much more complicated. It's not impossible, of course, but you shouldn't take it too lightly. You never know who you're going to run into. Someone once came at me with a wrench because I parked in a public parking lot in front of his house and he thought that wasn't okay. You should always remember that the simplest disagreements can escalate quickly.

@@NLKTPG don't be that harsh. I think I have found his IG and he is not so bad. I like it.

[@justin555666]

The moment you got the motion blur, it clicked how cool a flash can be. Blur and sharpness in the same photo. Awesome!

[@ivunchow]

That photo of the car at 9:48, so good. Loved seeing the process man, more!

[@djromax479]

The photo is FIREEE, but it could've been awesome if he included the settings used🥲

[@Residew]

Fav shot in the vid

[@got2beable]

Bro what a timing you have man. Insane. I just bought a flash a few days ago and thought about doing more photos with a flash. Wow

[@chrisbullock5488]

I love Bruce Gilden’s work but it is NO WAY I could be that “in your face” like that! 😱 But I really appreciate you stepping in to the unknown and providing me new ideas to incorporate flash into my photography. Thank you brotha. 👊🏾

[@tilerman]

I also love Bruce Gilden's work and i like the man himself. There's no doubt that he's the master of this style of photography. And unfortunately so many people think this is is only style when in fact he has a great body of work. Coney Island in particular is fantastic as is his 'Faces' project. A truly great photographer.

[@Mystervee]

def enjoyed this. feels like a mini sequel to the "essential night tips" video you made. Excited to see your progress with the flash- ka chow !

[@willstith1]

Flash is great. If you feel scared I've found using Flash during the day that people often don't even notice it. I'd try that. If you go out and are using it all day then it gets dark you'll be more in the groove maybe. Also I have that same flash it's kinda a pain to figure out. Anyways don't be afraid of the flash.

[@rikardlandberg]

I don’t know if you figured it out. ISO and aperture are the only settings that effects the flash. You can then control your ambient light with your shutter speed. Also, if you’re shy, crank up the ISO. Then you’ll need less light from the flash!;). Good luck!

[@thecommander6735]

why doesn't shutter speed affect the flash too?

[@acwphotog]

It does. I’m lost by his statement. Most cameras can’t even sync flash beyond a certain point (usually around 1/250th).@@thecommander6735

[@_basekit2418]

​@@thecommander6735 it's because a flash goes off so quickly that you get the full power of the flash whether you shoot at 1/8 or 1/250. So shutter speed is used to control the ambient light, but there are many ways to experiment with the flash as well.

[@thisisbenji90]

@@acwphotog shutter speed only effects the amount of ambient light that reaches the sensor, not the amount of artificial light via the flash the reaches the sensor. Flash sync speed is something else entirely. If your flash sync speed is 1/250 and you select an aperture and iso that produces a black frame, then with the same flash power you'll get the exact same exposure at all shutter speeds that are at or below your sync speed. This is because the flash turns on and off so fast that holding the shutter open longer doesn't increase the amount of light that reaches the sensor.

[@jklphoto]

I really enjoy seeing passionate young photographers stretching their creativity and technical expertise. I would say that learning to use flash would be a whole lot easier with a dedicated TTL flash. They can be used on-camera or off (with a cord) and adjusted by simply dialing-in flash exposure compensation. Trying to use a manual flash with a modern digital camera would be a challenge for many. Besides the 2 reasons you mentioned (Consistency and "The Look") there are plenty of other reasons to use flash. Historically, we utilized flash because we had to. There simply was not enough light to expose our films. Another reason to use flash in the daytime is to provide a catch light in the eyes of your subject. As you saw in the book about India, people with dark-colored eyes can appear pretty lifeless without a glint of light. Another cool thing flash can do is introduce a known light temperature into your image. Say your subject is in shadow (cool) but the background is sunny, using flash to fill them color-corrects the image. Keep exploring light and learning the tools of our awesome craft! If you really want to dig into the subject I recommend Joe McNally's excellent books and videos.

[@geneyoon11]

Dude such a great video! I’ve been messing more with flash on film and such a steep learning curve but so much fun.

[@Havenotats]

What flash unit are you using gene? :o I wanted to try shooting flash with 120 film! Have you tried it before?

[@geneyoon11]

@@Havenotats sick! This is the one I use: Canon Speedlite 270EX II Flash

[@youngum78]

Very nice video. Flash photos on the street at night is my absolute favorite thing to do. Manual focus/flash all the way.

[@jackiede75]

4:24 I think those numbers are indicating the power of the flash. 1/32 means it's flashing only 1/32 of its maximum powew which is 5 stops below.

[@subrotomitra]

Correct

[@borisapple]

there ya go! proud of you haha, trying new things. And you met bruce gilden so youre obligated to give it a whirl at least once

[@subrotomitra]

Good self-discovery , Faizal! Well done - enjoyed that !

[@jurepog]

Such nice photos with the motion blur! What settings did you use? I find it hard to get such crisp images when I try this technique and yours seemed super sharp!

[@cam3042]

So I was playing around with this a bunch, and ended up with: shutter: 1/2s flash: +1/3 TTL, probably could've gone brighter aperture on auto nd filter enabled on my x100v as other people have mentioned, the shutter speed controls ambient light (as well as the nd filter) and the other settings control how bright the flash is! but i also bet this would be easy to replicate without the nd filter

[@izzwizamahjah275]

I have that exact same flash and use it with my xpro3 and omg I have the hardest time syncing them up, but when it works it’s damn good

[@lisatheintuitive]

That last shot of the car 🤤

[@Goldmangun]

Some great shots here with the motion blur; but actually I think my favourite is the crane and mural shot!

[@eugeniaclara_]

love this topic! and very timely as well. I recently thrifted a used olympus mju ii, the camera already had dead lcd and the shooting mode stuck on permanent auto-flash - forcing me to shoot on flash 90% of the time. And turned out, it's alright! After no longer using flash for years, i find delight surprise to shoot on flash espc on film! I forgot how distinctive it was to shoot with blitz. Might want to shoot with flash again in the future. Suka banget dengan pembahasan ini, pas banget haha ✨ sehat selalu semoga harimu oke 👌

[@jrooney58]

One of the great things about the Ricoh GRIIIX is that it uses a leaf shutter that gives you a lot of flexibility in using a flash. The leaf shutter allows you to sync the flash at any speed, and that permits a lot of creativity.

[@DrewWillson]

great video as always!

[@alexjcorona2605]

This has inspired me so much. Thank you.

[@peterphoto7732]

You don't need to hold flash, in your hand all the time, you can place the flash somewhere near by, and frame the shot with the flash in mind.

[@Havenotats]

Flash seems to be a scary thing to approach but I want to try it out in the near future 😲 Thanks Faizal for some inspo

[@DeNorsemen]

Always a pleasure

[@andreitelenkov5775]

You gotta have a couple of girlfriends with you on such a photo-shoot :)

[@Termidryna]

Good idea, good captures, thanks.

[@finn4240]

4:20 :) it's how much of the flash itspower is used

[@shohaeilazleen94]

Hello, Max Sturgeon's photos are not only in India but also in Bangladesh

[@billyburg4870]

I love the journey in this video. Complete newbie to producing some fantastic images in one night. I’m growing to love your channel. You, Roman’s and Framelines are some of the best.

[@olahdanihair]

Can someone please explain how he did the cool low shutter ones Im new to photography

[@filipecostapt6427]

Would be great to see some flash photography during rain. And it maybe makes it easier to shoot humans, since we tend to be more concerned to escape from the rain

[@bngr_bngr]

You might get electrocuted.

[@zapplague6931]

Now that sounds very experimental and cool ngl

[@WesdenzelTV]

How’d you get the flash to sync! 😂

[@SumonBose]

Man, I truly love your content - I like how you present your story 🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽

[@juamcaptix6193]

The last one with the car is just crazy good

[@sirnubenegra]

Dude. Vitamin b complex and water.

[@acca17]

This is super helpful ! I am a beginner and it really open my mind. Thank you!

[@shredstein]

How did people (subjects) react to flash photography? I get nervous enough about ppl reacting without using a flash! Any tips on how to approach this issue would be appreciated. Thanks!

[@Termidryna]

What's virtual street photography?

[@JosBlomsma]

My first thought was Google Street view 👀

[@margaretvu3244]

Your videos and photographs are AWESOME!Loved the images in this video so much. Thanks for sharing!

[@rebours]

The picture at 9:37 is one of my favorites

[@21monking]

Hey, Faizal! Another great video! What camera bag are you using in it? thanks

[@salmasabhira]

i personally lovvvvveee to use flash when i take pictures of people!

[@tomorrownightfilms]

great video! i've actually just picked up my q20ii flash for my new ricoh griiix and having problems getting it to fire. i've paired the transmitter to the flash and have flash set to "flash" and im on full manual in the camera. but when i hit the shutter the trasmitter flashes red but doesnt trasmit to the flash unit...anyone else have the same issue?? i can however adjust the flash brigthness from the trasmitter as i see the indicator lights change when i press the left and right arrows on the trasmitter..but it will not flash when i press it. :( any help would be amazing!

[@StefanoLao]

this flash work with fujifilm x100v? because i have both camera and i would buy 1 flash

[@manfrombkk]

Fantastic. The combo of flash and motion blur, you crushed it !

[@trippwilsonphoto]

This man is turning into Willem Verbeeck

[@findphotography]

really cool video. came here to get some inspiration for a flash street photo challenge.

[@notasimone]

How did you dealt with people? They had some sort of reaction when being photographed? That's what keeps me away from using flash, especially at night

[@NightBrEedzZ123]

which of your presents are you using to get theses looks, especially 8:11 and 5:50 ?

[@lilclutch4517]

how did you get the pic with the crosswalk in focus but all the other lights blurred?

[@jamingdani]

I try to understand how you get things sharp and at the same time have motion blur!? Tou move the camera, with the slow shutter? Sorry for my ignorance, but i never try flash! Awsome workshop Faizal

[@moshesalama]

Hello Faizal, I like your videos and like many of the same devices and gadgets you like and recommend, sofollowing your video I purchased the new FLASH-Q M20, metal body w/extra case and accessories. After two months it arrived but shortly after one light use and test, the unit’s LCD panel went dark and stopped working. The manufacturer asked me to send it back for a replacement, which I did, but after they received it, they ignored my messages and literally disappeared. Did you experience any customer complaints with this company? Thanks

[@futureexperience]

Cool video and behind the scenes walk through on what you were doing. You have to brave to do flash street photography on people. I did like the motion blur with the city lights, but was wondering how it was achieved if the lights were not in motion in the city? Cars I understand but curious how you get a street sign in focus but then lights are streaked/trailed. Is that a function of the flash when shutter is open warping the lights? Or just camera movement in your hand? But then how is the sign in focus? Hmmm...?

[@DroptekOfficial]

I thought the same thing when looking at that photo. You can see the trail behind the sign when the flash is off because its back-lit. So to me it seems the flash fires fast right at the end of the shutter speed. So flash is off for most of the shutter duration, then right at the end, bam! The flash fires and you have a sharp frame over the top of a long exposure. Hope that helps? Also I'm just guessing from what I saw so might be talking rubbish 😅

[@jimmycapp29]

Never thought I would want to use a flash for night streetphotography. Love some of your results! Will have to give it a go sometime. Thanks for the content....love the channel.

[@thomasjames7644]

Also works great in the day too if you have a leaf shutter or hss.

[@MyMotherWasaNinja]

My LightPix flash died after one use. Built like a toy.

[@BrightMindSuper]

I can't fine rear sync setting in flash. Help

[@snahasissaha4765]

Can you share the exif of last images

[@Anthony-fz9ye]

NFTs 😮 Didn’t expect that

[@aramdavid]

I love watching you evolve with this through the video

[@alexisclovisprudhomme3373]

Love that video, thanks! I wonder where you've bought that wristband strap for your GR. I totally love it and I want it haha Thanks!

[@nih]

Max Sturgeon did his prime flash photography works in Bangladesh, not India. It's a "SEPERATE" country and considered a "Hidden Gem" for street photographers (sshh). India has become way to commercial and touristy. Not everyone in South Asia is from India.

[@koobs4549]

Very cool images

[@SUBsystemHawgCranker]

I'm so glad there's such a dope community for photography on youtube. Obviously there's the peter mckinnons on here, but faizal, bad flashes, grainydays, roman fox, paulie b.. you guys are all dope af.

[@martingreenberg870]

I think using flash in street photography is obnoxious. Bruce Gilden is intrusive. I’m surprised someone hasn’t punched him in the face. I can embrace taking photos on the street. I can be invisible. I can be unintrusive . That can’t be said about flashing someone. On top of that I don’t like the look of flash on the street. BTW snap focus is the way to go with the GR. Mask On Nurse Marty

[@eyewandersfoto]

There is nothing documentarian about flash work for street images. You've immediately altered the scene. Yes the effect can sometimes be interesting and dramatic, but it's also antithesis to what many perceive to be acceptable, both in the minds of other photogs, the viewing public, and most certainly the subjects of the photo. I know many will read this and enjoy that fact, overtly or unconsciously, embracing that confrontational energy and feeling the rebel. That's fine. But I still disagree.

[@JacksonWilde-t7y]

What’s the lens hood you have on your xe4

[@CoreyCaptures]

Would love to see a video of your Ricoh GRiii settings and possibly some custom simulations you have setup. Thanks, man!

[@Lay_rue442]

“Flash street photography” = how to get reported to the authorities speedrun 😭 great work though, loved the pictures

[@schecterman7193]

Hi, Great video and amazing photos. God job ! what are your settings for these ICM photos with flash ? and do you use flash on the second curtain ?

[@DrewWillson]

minerva modern font fam

[@KDC_1899]

How did the yellow sign stay in focus while everything else was blurry? Because the flash was on the sign?

[@Former_Gamer_]

This is what I don’t understand

[@davidb_]

street signs are crazy reflective and bounce light back into the lens which adds exposure and sharpness to it.

[@DavidNegstad]

Most flashes fire really fast (around 1/1000 of a second that it’s actually illuminating everything) so if you expose for the flash at night, whatever is being lit by the flash gets recorded to the sensor mostly in that millisecond of bright light. There will be some underexposed blur of the lit subject, but if you set your flash to fire right before the shutter closes, you basically stamp a sharp 1/1000 shutter speed exposure over the blur.

[@mp_martin]

Judging by the examples of flash photos you showed here, you probably don’t realize how often flash is used and you didn’t notice.

[@adamlorden5666]

how did u take the photos at 7:35

[@massimozanardi6457]

Nice, thank you. Been debating purchasing that little flash you have I’m a lover of street photography too. Unfortunately in this country pointing a camera and a flash in somebody’s face may end up with a gun in your face. Better to ask permission.

[@Visions_in_Toyko]

Been using that flash for a while. You can get some great results from it for sure

[@daniquevaneijk1863]

How did you get the subject very sharp while still having motion blur? These photos are truly amazing, but I can't figure out how you do it

[@maksudsharipov2046]

I can’t connect my qflash with the Ricoh gr3x. Is there any difference between gr3x and gr3 on hot shoe ?

[@this.is.sachin]

India❤️🇮🇳

[@Fuegoshotz]

Super cool!! I wanna get a flash now haha

[@MikeKleinsteuber]

I think you got some great images, particularly for your first time. Nice one

[@cielyves7379]

Faizal's photography and cinematography be aging like a fine wine 🍷🔥

[@edmund9823]

I had to rewind when I thought I heard you say Boston😁 First video I'm seeing of yours and I'm content. I'm sure I'll run into you on the street sometime this Summer!

[@malamadrem9522]

Very nice photo and the end of video! Don’t know how to shoot like that 😕 But I geas first need go buy flash 😁

[@pansearedducklet9054]

Do that in Scotland and I'll get stabbed😂

[@josekaijiecastaneda6014]

Good job in getting out of your comfort zone. Shooting people with flash is another level.

[@silvashutter]

those Ricoh cameras are way over hyped and over priced for what they actually are IMO

[@maxsturgeon9750]

Wow just saw this, thx so much! And all of your comments were dead on, cheers

[@austinmarfori3357]

Yo Faizal what’s your skin care routine? Your skin is goals😂🤝

[@rbx22]

what an annoying voice lol

[@fuschiaflume8281]

Omg i admire your work so much! Y r u so cool 😭 Loves from Singapore!

[@ObservingBeauty]

Beautiful and fresh. Thanks

[@johntrin]

if you're gonna flash people in the face at least get good pics...

[@SammySantiagoIrizarry]

Excellent video Faizal!!! Very inspiring!!!

[@derbert546]

Wow you should keep doing this! These came out grear

[@aikalakmal114]

Mantap

[@banjo5835]

The motion blur shots are awesome I think I'll try that next time I'm out late.

[@JulianIsAnthony]

Wow, what photobook is that @1:17? Those shots are stunning.

[@JonathanRobsonPhoto]

That last black and white shot of the car is, stunning!

[@so0pafly13]

Just play with you f stop thats what i do when iam using my flash