[Dave Cross guest blogging again...]

During Photoshop World I went on a photo shoot to the middle of a dry lake bed outside of Las Vegas – no shade, very harsh sun light. In fact, it would have been difficult to pick a more challenging setting (I went in knowing that this challenge awaited me, but due to scheduling it was the only time we could do the shoot). So I made it into a learning situation, complete with lots of experimenting with off-camera flash. By the end I was wishing that I’d had more time to learn from some of the many “off-camera flash” training opportunities out there, such as The OneLight Workshop (DVD and Workshop) with Zack Arias,  the seminars run by Tri Coast Photo or Lighting Essentials, the great info at the Strobist and of course, Joe McNally’s classes at Kelby Taining.

I know there is plenty of additional training on this topic, these are just a few that I’m familiar with. If you decide to learn more about off-camera flash (sometimes also called “small flash”) here’s my suggestion: before taking a course, attending a seminar, or watching a DVD or online class, first put yourself into a very challenging lighting situation (e.g. full-on sunlight with no shade) and do some experimenting. Now that I have done this shoot, my head is filled with questions and things that I want to learn.

Also, be sure to check out some of the great new tutorials that have been posted here at Layers Magazine. Although some of us don’t remember what this white stuff even is , check out the tutorial on creating falling snow in Flash.