Flash Photography Tutorial - Using gels to balance with ambient light

[@robhallphoto]

For anyone looking for Side by Side comparison : Check them out at Petapixel on the article I wrote - petapixel.com/2016/08/25/portrait-tip-flash-shade-dont-mix-heres-fix/

[@contactpq]

Thanks for your unselfish act of sharing your time and valuable acquired knowledge with us .. very grateful indeed

[@robhallphoto]

+contactpq absolutely, thanks so much for watching!

[@amyrlin]

I have watched and watched this. And embarrassingly - the science just didn’t make sense in my brain. However. I watched it yesterday before a shoot - and applied the technique- and the results were fantastic. I think I finally understand the why of it all. Thanks Rob.

[@robhallphoto]

I’m actually working on a second video to try to explain this (and applied oppositely) in a better way because it’s a really weird concept and I want to show it in more scenarios. It’s much easier for me to show now that I have Mirrorless cameras so I’ll hopefully have it up this month!

[@wendystumbaugh695]

Have you done that yet, Robert? This video REALLY helped me! I shoot in the green forest and trees ALL the time and everything looks green and blue. NOW I KNOW WHAT TO DO. And, conversely, I am shooting a wedding and have been doing the opposite experiment with tungsten and incandescent lighting with CTO gels. Light BULB MOMENT, for sure!!! @@robhallphoto THANK YOU!!!

[@JC-li9hw]

Is that second video up? This video was great.

[@rsmith02]

You're just making all the lights the same color. If your background is bluish make your main light bluish too and they will match.

[@yarepwds]

Interesting technique, good video. Perhaps consider putting with and without filter shots side-by-side for comparison for every setup. That would demonstrate much more clearly.

[@Lunie2nz]

this is exactly what I came here to say. I need a side by side comparison! Great video otherwise thanks

[@h.b.1315]

exactly what I scrolled down to post

[@jonnnybensin]

Same here ;) Other than that great video! :)

[@Raychristofer]

One of the best outdoor flash tutorials, I've ever seen Bro. big respect

[@robhallphoto]

+Raychristofer thanks so much, happy it helped!

[@varunkamal91]

Robert Hall Photography I bought some neewer gels... the gels are making the skin tone super blue even though my in camera WB is set to 10000 Kelvin... what do I do?!

[@thenexthobby]

Not explicitly mentioned is manually matching camera color temp to flash color temp. It's implied, but if anyone leaves the camera on auto white balance this method only works with luck. Since flash is daylight-balanced, the gel provides a Kelvin number that it + the flash create _together_. Set the camera to that number.

[@dnolan2000]

You are the man, this is revolutionary. This so helpful, I can not overstate how great this is.

[@robhallphoto]

+Dj Dyno thanks, that means so much, glad it helped you out!

[@jmanuelforero3850]

Amazing video, after five years since posted, still offers valuable knowledge!!

[@theprettydamned]

I like to put a full or even full+half CTO on and force that shade to a deep, rich blue while keeping the subject in a warm glow. Gels are ace. You can also add a small strip of green, purple etc to make the light more "dirty" and natural - something Gregory Heisler writes about in his book that works amazingly well. Great video on a largely underused topic!

[@jasonhubbard5422]

I'm just now getting in to off camera flash photograph so this is feeling like calculus at the moment but still awesome and saved to my list of videos to watch again, and again. Thanks!

[@robhallphoto]

Check out this playlist, especially episode #9 which is a great demonstration of white balance and gels. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHOWf5umj5qql5Y

[@jakewearsvans]

This has helped me so much with the problems I've been having. thank you for taking the time to make this tutorial. very informative!

[@ClaytonChavez]

Your channel as been a gold mine for my "never stop learning" mentality. I loved this video topic!

[@robhallphoto]

So glad it’s been useful for you!

[@kylepilkey]

You should have way more subscribers. Quality content unlike all of the other photography fluff out there. I will be watching for sure

[@robhallphoto]

+Kyle Pilkey Thanks so much Kyle, I only started on KZbin with no existing audience this year, so it's really just beginning for me. I'm commited to continuing my KZbin efforts and have plans for a ton more content. Here's to hoping it continues to grow, this week was a big leap for me. I plan to continue discussing equipment and the technical side of our industry with absolutely 0 commitment to any specific brand. I pride myself on delivering unbiased information.

[@kylepilkey]

+Robert Hall Photography you will take off for sure. When you do don't get lost pimping the gear. Keep a good mix of videos that keep the sponsors/gear heads happy and videos that hopefully raise the quality of the photos being made out here.

[@ROUGHROADPH]

Excellent vid and understood. Thanks Rob.

[@321RCHeli]

Thanks for the vid! I recently took some shots at a comic con and my flashed subjects look great and the backgrounds, which were bathed in convention center lighting, look horrible and they couldn't be fixed in post. No biggie, it was only for fun anyway. My plan for an improvement next time was to shoot with no flash, but after seeing your video I'd like to also try matching the ambient lighting with gels on the flash and see how it compares.

[@robhallphoto]

+321RCHeli. For sure! Yeah I've been burned in the past skipping the gels and having to do complex masking and intricate brushwork to get a background balanced. Whether it's for balance or effect it's certainly worth it to have gels as a tool to adjust your images before they ever hit post.

[@DaraBass64]

I have the ad360 godox and love it and was thinking about getting the 600. How were you controlling the OCF . You have an on camera flash could you use that flash in addition to the OCF? as far as the Gel. You used the gel and you pumped up your WB in the camera to 7000 something? No Gel your WB was at 5500? So you always match the color of your gel and the in camera WB the same? I have just started with flash and if I understood you your explanation has made more sense than I seen before. Thanks

[@robhallphoto]

I'm using the Flashpoint Zoom R2 TTL Lithium Ion (amzn.to/2coDT23) which is the same as the Godox V860IIN (amzn.to/2c3xCKp). Both of those will control and trigger anything in the Godox X series (Flashpoint R2 Series) lineup.

[@keptle]

This was so helpful. Taught me how to use gel, and understand white balancing better. Great Clip. Thank you for your clip.

[@justexist841]

I was so mad by the amount of times when the guy blew smoke in the air and that wasnt captured hahahaah lol. Great infomal video!

[@wetchemistry6338]

5:21 “That’s Fukn tight” 😂

[@christinemcnab582]

Maybe a dumb question but just to be clear - you're adding a 1/4 CTB, AND, manually setting your camera to K7140 to get this look? Thanks for taking the time to make this video and share your knowledge!

[@robhallphoto]

+Christine McNab in the video I added a 1/2 CTB and manually increased the Kelvin temperature to 7140 or more.

[@christinemcnab582]

Thanks Robert - appreciate it.

[@alexanderhendrickson4627]

Yet another great video, Rob!

[@philipyoungg]

God. Shots on the forest are painfully beautiful.

[@DaimyoD0]

Interference can be heard @ 1:50 That being said, I'm sure your production value has improved significantly since 2016, and it wasn't really bad to begin with. Thanks for making this video; it is still the most expansive example video that can be found with a simple search for "budget color temperature gels" on YT in 2020

[@onehundundun]

You should have way more subscribers, your videos are really clear cut and informative. While Still maintaining a down to earth vibe. Love it dude keep it up!

[@robhallphoto]

Thank you so much for that comment! I'm not worried at all about subscribers, but happy to hear you enjoy my videos.

[@onehundundun]

@@robhallphoto just watched this fro the second time and didnt realized i commented on it already lol!

[@eddieteabagify]

Thanks! Didnt understamd the first time. Sounds necessary but i will have to watch again.

[@timmark4190]

This is great. Can we gel a flash and get the same affect? Love the way you took the video. The wide angle view in the video was very nice

[@robhallphoto]

+Tim Mark like a speedlite? Absolutely! Any flash source will work the same. Gel kits are typically far easier to place on a speedlite as oppose to the rigging you have to do on most monolights. And this is only my second video I've done outdoors, so I really appreciate your comment, looking forward to the next one!

[@timmark4190]

Normally when people take videos the take closeup and also cut out the details and show the pictures. Here the video give the photographer a feel of how the actual environment is and then you show the results related to the specific click. Great work

[@BachPhotography]

Very interesting video Robert! I will definitely be buying some blue gels after this tutorial!

[@robhallphoto]

+Bach Photography thank you! It’s saved me a ton of time in post!

[@joeprete7424]

Robert, Nice job on the video! I remember as a kid, grabbing every extra scrap of Rosco Gel that I could find at the Studios, just to experiment, or practice what I learned (while I watched), when working as an Assistant.

[@robhallphoto]

XD

[@kismat_rana]

you are not wrong anymore 😂

[@scorpiodigit]

"Fuckin' tight" 5:21 lol

[@RayValdezPhotography]

the pic or the shirt?

[@gregmossphotography7479]

Great video, I will try it out at my next shoot when in the shade.

[@nickwilliams6716]

excellent video, now to make a 1/2 CBT for my new V1

[@luv20th]

That is a lot of information!! Thank you!

[@lyonngo]

Great video! Do you think you can make a short tutorial on how create your light gels, how you fit them on the ad600, etc.?

[@earthtomarina1810]

I'm not sure if you've answered this question already, but are you using 2 flashes in this video? The godox in the softbox AND the speedlight on your camera?

[@robhallphoto]

No. The flash on camera is just triggering the off camera flash.

[@earthtomarina1810]

@@robhallphoto thanks so much :)

[@matthiaswegger]

you've inspired me, man.. great vid!

[@robhallphoto]

+Matthias Egger thanks man, hope you create something awesome with it!

[@matthiaswegger]

already putting it into practice - At this point i have either a cto or ctb on my flash depending on the effect i want to create, and on swapping my wb with custom K - having lots of fun with that. come to think of it you'e finally given me the confidence to switch off auto WB!

[@christhompsonphotography6783]

great video. It might be the only one talking about gelling blue to shade/overcast. :)

[@EricDraht]

This is brilliant man. Thanks so much for posting this!

[@JordanEwert]

Great video Rob! Now I just need to get the right mounts, gels, and softboxes for my flash. This technique makes sense and it was good to see your style when shooting.

[@justanailartlover1599]

Love this!! Can't wait to try my neewer gels on my neewer flash when I go fishing next in the early spring

[@IntaLEK]

You're a good teacher. Hoping to see more videos like this from you. Subscribed.

[@Benayahu223]

Man, just another thing to think about, lol...thanks, I wasn't stressed enough

[@rsmc48091]

My old stomping grounds...been to that park many, many times when I lived just off Sashabaw Road.

[@ey3tech58]

Is that a yongnuo yn360? I would recommend it for any photographer . THis light wand is perfect for any kind of shoot (to light a subject for the autofocus in dark situation ) or even to add a bit of color (color mod) . Try to buy a barn door with it , and you got THE CHEAPEST but The best light you've ever bought. Since i do photo & video , its even more usefull for video interview. Since you can also dim the light wiht it , its usefull for lightning & taking a photo with a wide aperture.

[@andersistbesser]

You use the ad600 bm a non ttl light. Do you think the ttl version is not worth the upgrade? The bm version is quite a bit cheaperso it made me thinking which one i should buy.

[@kasperdalkarl]

Nice video. I use the AD600 myself and it's a great flash!

[@reallifeprophotographer630]

This was very well done. I hit the subscribe & notifications button. Excited for you to get to HSS & explaining how it ACTUALLY works (i.e. the whole concept of under exposing & what not). Great job & Thank You

[@robhallphoto]

+N'Kera King Thanks so much! I will be addressing HSS soon

[@ubercurious]

Thanks for this Robert! What if you wanted to warm your key light a bit while balancing it for the shade. Would you add a 1/2 CTB and a 1/4 or 1/2 CTO?

[@wendystumbaugh695]

I believe you'd add "less" of a CTB. So, if "shade" is full CTB, you'd gel your light source only 1/2 or so CTB, to make the source of artificial light "warmer". If you set your cameral WB to full blue at 7140 or "shade", your artificial light will produce warmer than "normal", as dedicated by your camera setting and gel. In summary, if you gel your artificial light less cool than your camera setting, you will produce a warmer result in your image. I hope this helps.

[@MithuAshwin05]

Super interesting tutorials.. Thanks brother! ;)

[@gosman949]

How about an update on using gels Robert with the new AD200 attachment gels.

[@dariuszkrzeminski5652]

Great video, thanks! I always thought that the easiest way to deal with the cool shady side was to use reflectors, this is extremely elegant solution.

[@MySaw]

I got the shade solution... CTB with Camera @ 7140 K In sunlight... Is your solution NO gell on flash so it is @ 5500K with camera on 7140K ?? VERY VERY interesting... I am a magmod users and just throw a 1/4 CTO on with camera @ 5000K... This is a great start to understanding this... THANKS.

[@kennethlee828]

Thanks Robert for the sharing, may I know what Octabox is that in the video? Can you recommend some on-the-go Octabox that is good for wedding photographer (for AD600 users)?

[@robhallphoto]

Hey Kenneth, the octabox I used in this video is in the "Godox buying guide" link. Specifically it's the 36" but I included their other versions as well. They are all umbrella mechanism so they collapse and store easily which is a must for wedding photographers. And they are substantially cheaper than equally-featured octaboxes from other brands

[@raymondrodriguez2736]

Great video. Thank you for an educational technique to improve a photo.

[@richardgollar6300]

Very good video. I like the more advance techniques. Thank you for something outside the standard lighting.

[@Raychristofer]

Tell me something, can this be duplicated by tweaking the WB in camera if you dont have gel correction?

[@robhallphoto]

No. The problem displayed in this video is about having 2 different white balances. No one white balance amount in lightroom will work for two colors of light. Only way you could do it is with complex brushing but that is time consuming and inaccurate.

[@Raychristofer]

Thanks , and after i sent the message I realized what you just said. I have always notices on sunny days the shadows of trees appear blue, Im sure its a reflection of the blue sky because overcast days the shadows are grey as the sky. Ive come back to this shoot several times the results are great. the bad boy Jesus comment was classic.

[@AdamPetersonRP]

awesome video. I too recommend d the godox ab600. so, when talking about the inverse color....blue gels....higher color temp in WB....warmer gels...lower color temp on WB?

[@robhallphoto]

+Adam Peterson Yup. If you add blue to your primary light, you therefore have to add yellow to your settings to balance it, which means everything that isn't gelled will get more yellow, including the ambient. And it works the opposite way of you add yellow, when you compensate with the lower Kelvin temperature, all other lighting gets more blue. Lastly, you can do this with your tint as well. If you put a green gel over your key light, to balance you would have to add a significant amount of magenta. Therefore all your ambient and other flashes would have a very magenta color

[@AdamPetersonRP]

Such a simple explanation that I've never heard before but makes complete sense. Thanks Robert!

[@john32son]

This is the best video on YT I've seen in a long time!

[@robhallphoto]

+John Buckingham Jr. Thanks John, that makes me so happy to hear!

[@awdemuth]

Thanks for the vid. I'm afraid I didn't quite "get it" on the first go around - just a gap between your teaching and my learning style is all. I revised this vid after some more learning, and it really cemented the knowledge. Thanks! BTW: side by side comparisons would help tons!

[@LighthouseREFS]

Great video. Thanks!

[@gerrymagada2334]

Jason Statham is into pothography now! Good work by the way man!

[@minhkhuong6132]

I'm wondering which CTB (flash gel) to buy, 1/2 1/4 or full what is the popular one. Normally, i shoot in medium shade. And do i have to adjust the temperature K in the camera depends on the ambient light or is there any specific temperature K for every CTB ?

[@Bx99875]

Very good and interesting, video man. Also very well explained

[@barkyvonschnauzer2188]

This is a totally cool shot, great male model. Would love to see you do more shots with male models.

[@daviduribeimages8380]

Rob, this is a great video tip, love it. Is it possible for you to link the rubber bands you got. Thanks.

[@robhallphoto]

Hey David, sorry I missed this one. amzn.to/2bGEZYg Those are the heat resistant silicone cooking bands in 2 inches. They work excellent for the AD600 and speedlites (though those you don't have to worry about heat at all)/

[@42442]

would it be best to buy a barndoor with a 7 reflector for the godox ad600Bm or should i use my Godox tt600 for the backlight and for my keylight use the godox ad600BM

[@UtaDaniel]

That Godox unit is so so nice, so nice! I love mine, i take it everywhere, recommend it without any doubt.

[@robhallphoto]

+Daniel Uta it sure is! I've fully adopted the system and can't imagine using anything else

[@MovMac]

Love this tutorial . Thanks

[@paulocontente9993]

First time I see your videos.I liked this one.

[@mali8389]

more videos like this please!

[@MestreMur]

Nice video... A great master!

[@benjaminfargen]

nice video! thanks for sharing.

[@harveylouis445]

Great video, Robert. Do you foresee any problems with using silicone bands to attach gels to a reflector rather than attaching the gels directly to the bulb, as you have done?

[@robhallphoto]

definitely not, I would just get some larger silicone cooking bands

[@judithfernandes9279]

This is amazing! Great video!

[@smozzie24]

This is great. Thank you. I'm gonna give this a go.

[@robhallphoto]

Thanks, good luck, please share how it works out for you!

[@mrscillalatte]

Love the images of your friend, great job. Keep teaching. I enjoy your videos. I am a new subscriber. Thanks for all the tips. I appreciate it greatly.

[@danielj8177]

Would using an 18% gray card in the shot and setting the WB in post fix it all?

[@Dowswellphoto]

Hey Robert , thanks for the video! and for sharing the link to suggested godox accessories. What are your thoughts on the Godox XT32 transmitter? Will it work with every godox flash including the soon to come ad200?? I prefer the design and layout of it over the xt1 transmitters. Thanks again for great content!!

[@gsnassif]

Any videos on using indoor flash, while your body is set to auto ISO...and the horrible results that occur when the body uses an ISO like 3200, etc? Shooting with a Sony a6400 and godox Roundhead flashhead.

[@robhallphoto]

No because that's setting yourself up for failure. Auto ISO and manual flash will never work well together, and Auto ISO + TTL is like playing roulette, with wildly changing results depending on your metering mode.

[@brucedeo1981]

Great Video, thanks. I wonder however how much of it is actually doable to work around in post process? Propably not easy to correct different WB in shadow area of the face, vs the lighted area, but i guess the backround is easily set on different WB if you need to.

[@robhallphoto]

Yeah changing the background ambient is a breeze, but the adjustments that come with then correcting the subject with mixed temperatures always requires complex masking and brushwork. Depends on how many images your providing but adding a gel (if balance is the goal) is always faster.

[@alexandre..9343]

lovely bokeh, what lens were you shooting on? what settings? would be nice to have it in description

[@robhallphoto]

+Alexandre .. 85 1.4G

[@jasonbodden8816]

This was brilliant.

[@robhallphoto]

+Jason Bodden Thanks so much Jason!

[@kingoftheorient]

This is an awesome trick. Amazing work! Subbedd

[@charlesstacyharrisiii2593]

Nice job. A bit more color theory would be great for a future video.

[@dailychillvibe6012]

Hi Robert how do you set up you on camera flash ( looks like tt685 or 860 ) as a transmitter to your ad600 ?

[@drakebergens9707]

You mentioned in a previous vid that you can't recommend the Godox gels for the round head AD200 attachment and upcoming round head speedlight because of the color cast the gels have. Do you know if the Profoto A1 gels can be used on the Godox round head applications because they're both magnetic?

[@anthonyvernolini6633]

can you correct this problem in Lightroom or photoshop? Good vid man.

[@robhallphoto]

You can, but it requires brushwork, and usually since the temperatures have soft transitions (due to soft mixed lighting) it is very delicate and precise work.

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

Generally better to nail it in camera, but you could use the HSL in Lightroom to desaturate the blue, aqua and/or purple.

[@uptownphotography]

Nice video...Can you recommend an attachment for a speedlite (Canon 600EX RT) that's easy to use in the field...Thanks. Philip

[@robhallphoto]

+Uptown Wedding Photography NJ Magmod gel system is super fast and easy to use in the field, and has awesome modifiers that work with it as well.

[@kurbybro]

Nice work! Can you list what size/brand silicon bands you ordered? Thanks

[@robhallphoto]

+Kurby Brown these are the exact ones I use. You have to double wrap these for AD360II but they work perfect on AD600

[@robhallphoto]

Silicone Cooking Bands - Multi Color - 1 Unit www.amazon.com/dp/B0041HTBQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-x9eybY3EKM2B +Kurby Brown

[@namritaraje4556]

What is the best kelvin to achieve healthy skin look??

[@robhallphoto]

There's no answer to that question. Different lighting equipment puts out different colored light. The color of light changes as you modify the power level or use functions like HSS. Modifiers can then push that color more cool or warm. Gels can make that more cool or warm. The ambient light it blends with can also influence the color. And finally, "healthy" is subjective, as you may be trying to make it perfectly accurate, or you may be trying to make their skin appear warmer. If you're not going to use a colorimeter and find out the exact color temperature of a flash, at a specific power, with a specific modifier, simply use an image as a reference point and if you want their skin warmer, increase the K, if you want it cooler, decrease the K.

[@timwoodphoto]

Fantastic - Thanks for this video! :)

[@joeljrichards]

Unsolicited suggestion: turn your cell phone on airplane mode while filming to eliminate that audio glitches.

[@sblack122]

I thought it was my phone interfering with my headphones. I threw my phone on a couch across the room because I couldn't get rid of it. Lmao!

[@mariomariado]

Hello! Which lens are you using for the portraits? Nice work!

[@robhallphoto]

This video is all with the 85mm 1.4G Thank you!

[@XGray64]

This is great! Thank you!

[@hank5747]

In order to get a better balance when using flash outside on sunny days, should I just leave some form of CTB on my flash? Vice versa for overcast, use CTO?

[@robhallphoto]

+Hank CTO wouldn't balance in shade, CTB does. CTO is for balancing in indoor, tungsten environments. Generally 3000-4900K would require a CTO (of various strength) to balance with flash. And CTB in general wouldn't balance for sunlight, it would warm the sunlight

[@harveylouis445]

Just to clarify, the CTB itself would not warm the sunlight. Rather the matching cool color temperature in-camera, which will add warmer, amber colors to the scene, will warm the sunlight.

[@josephwilson2499]

So your change your camera’s white balance to match the gel?

[@effectnayatube]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! Big thumbs up! You explain like the best expert 😍 it is VERY usuful, subscribed definetely!!! Love the model also so fun 😍 Pls do more videos about gels i bought 4 packs of rosco gels (temperature correction, colors and diffusion & beauty kit). Maybe you can help me with the beauty kit i still have no idea how to use it((( bought it for portraits in studio thought it will be great for skin tone... but they are weird for me... (((

[@robhallphoto]

+Юля Эффектная thanks so much, I'll work on another gel video in the off-season. I'll look into the beauty kit

[@fatfro1]

Great video! Must have watched at least 4 times. What do you recommend to use to hold the gel to a strobe like the AD600? Would rubber bands work?

[@robhallphoto]

I use silicone cooking bands instead of rubber bands, because silicone cooking bands are made to handle high temperatures.

[@tonyrao6002]

Nice video - just wished u had put side-by-side photos 2 show the difference/comparison between using and not using the gels

[@JonathanSanderPhotography]

Nice man, helpful.

[@MyNycable]

Just wondering can you use an Elinchrom Blue Umbrella.

[@robhallphoto]

Yes, the elinchrom blue umbrella would provide a similar balance, although it's more restricted. With that umbrella you would be stuck with that shape and that specific color balance, whereas with gels you can use any modifier and different strengths of gels.