Portable Studio?

Nope, just a flash, a soft box and some photoshop :)  I wanted to capture my daffodils but was having a hard time outside with this horrid wind we've been having.  Not complaining as it's basic spring weather, just makes photography tough outside.  So I came inside and used a simple cloth backdrop and my flashes.   The photoshop comes in post production and turns the color information B&W, adds contrast and balances the lights and darks.  I try to only do in photoshop what you would be able to do in the darkroom.  The 1st & 2nd photos are with the 550 EX Speedlight on a Canon 5d Mark II, ISO was 400, F/5.6, and shutter 200. My camera is always set to manual for the most control :). 

I have two Speedlights, both Canon,  a 270 EX and an older 550 EX.  They vary in size from smallest available to biggest, well what was the biggest when I purchased it.  I would invest in the 450 EX (the middle) but am currently tapped out money wise.  The biggest hurdle when starting a business is to be money wise not money stupid.  So that asks the question do I 'need' a 450 EX and the answer is no, I can work with my 2.  I am instead adding to my flash accessory stash.  I will review and post when I receive them.

The 550 Ex was much higher sitting on the camera and gave a much more shadowed effect than I wanted.  To correct this I would need a portable slave (the term used for a flash trigger) mounted on my camera while I posed the Speedlight on a base.  See more portable studio effects :)  What I am loving about these works is that you can get the studio feel even though this was in my kitchen.  I see soft shadows, many tones of both color or grey.  I believe I bounce flashed the 2nd photo.  The 3rd photo was with the 270 EX and has a much more direct lighting effect as the flash is smaller and closer to the lens.  This 3rd photo was taken with a Canon 5D Mark II as well but the 270 EX Speedlight at a ISO of 400, F/5.6, shutter 200.