STEP BY STEP / Using a honeycomb grid

1 Attach the gun We popped a Speedlight onto our Nikon’s hotshoe and set the flashgun to TTL (through-the-lens) mode. Here, the camera sets the power output of the flash, based on the exposure settings dialled in, by measuring the light from a pre-flash fired just before the main flash is fired. 2 Attach the grid Next we attached our Strobo Kit mount to the business end of the Speedlite. The mount is variable in size and accommodates the majority of flashgun sizes via an adjustable Velcro strap. Once the mount is on, magnets hold the honeycomb grid attachment firmly in place. 3 Camera settings In Manual mode, we set the aperture to f/11 for maximum depth of field, ensuring the model was sharp from front to back. The shutter was set to 1/200 sec, which is the maximum flash sync speed of our camera, and we used ISO100 to keep noise to a minimum. 4 Horizontal orientation With your Nikon in landscape orientation, you’ll get an even light across the face of your model. The shadows will be minimized behind the model because the light is coming from straight above the lens. The only defining shadows fall slightly under the nose and chin. 5 Vertical orientation Holding your camera in portrait orientation will force the flash off to one side of the model. This gives a stronger shadow across one side of the model’s face, adding contour and texture to the features. It also casts a shadow to one side behind them. 6 Choose your background We shot the main image indoors against a plain background, but this technique will work equally well outside. For instance, you may want to find a brick wall and rattle off some more shots. The hard light of the flash will complement the rough brick texture.