[ChopperCharles]

I've been reading a book on on-camera flash photography, and it makes extensive use of CTS gel filters over the flash to, to match flash temperature to existing light, so white balance can remain on tungsten.

So I had the damndest time actually finding a set of CTS gel filters for my sigma flash, and I don't see any discussion on this forum about gelling a flash. Is this a less-than-common technique?

I'm really enjoying this book by the way. "On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography" by Neil van Niekerk. Amazon link here: Amazon.com: On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography (9781584282587): Neil van Niekerk: Books

Charles.

[Digitalis]

It is a very useful technique, but it can be easily overdone. I personally have been using gels on time flash from time to time, I always keep a set of CTO,CTB and fluorescent correction filters which are essential for strobist work. With wireless flash Gels can help you create some really interesting effects, and give you the ability to mimic natural light:

[klh]

I had the damndest time actually finding a set of CTS gel filters for my sigma flash

Here are the ones I have.
Cokin Photogel FLASH Filters 5 x 2" (30-Pack) FGK30500A B&H'

No CTS however.

[jmschrei]

I have not really become very skilled with my flash yet but I took a "crash course" in TTL flash locally that strongly encouraged the use of filters, either sets purchased especially for the purpose or by taping samples to the flash. Lee filters makes a sample book of all their gels and specialty filters that just happen to be right size to tape over the reflector. Here the book costs $5. You can use the gels to adjust white balance as suggested or to get special effects.
In this shot I used an amber coloured gel to enhance the fresh from the oven look of these muffins:

[DaveHolmes]

I use gels not so much to 'match coloud temps' but more to deliberatly create colour casts that aren't there...

[Digitalis]

I use the honlphoto Gel system - because I use Canon, Pentax and Nikon flash gear, having gels that can be interchangeably used on all three systems is very useful for me. The filters are attached by a Velcro 'speed strap' that is rubberised on the other side to give the strap a good grip on the flash - no adhesives are used. The gels are about 4"X4" square and are attached to the flash Via the speed strap - the gels are big enough to be used on a Nikon SB 900 or AF540FGZ.

Honl also make snoots,gobos and reflectors that can be attached to the speed strap - which makes it a very versatile system to work with.

I use the really strong colours for backgrounds, just put a gel on the flash and fire it at a neutral coloured wall and you can create some nice effects, as you can see there are a wide variety of colours - colouring the background is very useful to create some 'pop' to portraits.

[davidreilly3207]

If you are using speedlites (camera mounted strobes), you might find the following useful.
Strobist: Lighting 101: Using Gels to Correct Light
Lumiquest FXtra LQ-121

[tesla1876]

As jmschrei mentioned, theatrical filters (made by Lee, Gam, and Rosco for a few) would be really interesting to use for this. I have just been getting into strobe work, and I am looking to try some of this. I was a Technical Theater major at college for a while (made the better choice to change my major) and I used 'gels' a lot for lighting. One of my professors is saving a bunch of scraps for me just to try strobe lighting.

I know a lot of photo / theater suppliers sell big sheets of gel paper (for big $$ too), but I think that if you stopped by your local / college theater they would be willing to save a pile of scraps for youl!

Has anyone used gels on a flash for dramatic lighting?

[Allison]

I am just about to start using gels and I am going with the honl system. I already have the speed strap and the traveller8 softbox (which I love). I will be adding the gels to create some neat effects and for some balance issues I have at some wedding venues.

[krypticide]

I use the Rosco sample packs because it's very cheap and fits my flash heads perfectly. I can't say I use gels on a regular basis though.

Sent from my EVO 4G with MIUI

[borno]

Maybe one of you astute flashographers could help me pick the right gel for outdoor fill?
I don't use flash a lot, but for fill to bring out some detail outside when in the shade, like with trees for cover. My flash is 5600K and so when in the woods it will mess up the colors because the camera of course is trying to adjust for ambient. I'm guessing a cool color but which one would be good to try?

TIA

[borno]

I just ordered a set of Rosco gels so out of 55 colors, I'm sure to find one that will work.

[Digitalis]

Maybe one of you astute flashographers could help me pick the right gel for outdoor fill?

A half CTO Gel would do fine here, A full CTO makes the colour temperature of flash an approximate match for a tungsten light source: so a half should bring the colour temp it down far enough to match late afternoon daylight .

[borno]

Thanks Digitalis
A green goldfinch is really hard to correct with PP.

[Deiberson]

Here's a quick trick with the gels. Nothing too professional, just a quick example of how you can use them to create mood.
It was a grey overcast sky with no color at all. I took 4 students of mine from the classroom (after reading this thread) out to the playground to take a shot. 3 students held flashes, 1 was the subject

I set the WB to tungsten which immediately turned everything that was grey, dark blue. Then I gelled my main light to her face with 1/2 CTO. The mix of CTO and tungsten WB brought the main light back to white....which is what you see on her face. The rim lights from behind are not gelled so you can see that they appear blue with this WB set up.

I put absolutely no thought into this shot and it took literally 5 seconds. But, it was still much better than the grey sky and green grass alternative. Plus she was wearing a Justin Beeber shirt and when I asked her if she listened to him, she popped his pose.....So I had her do it again for the shot.

If I wanted to really dial it in I would have let more ambient in and only darkened the background by 2-3 stops. But...I didn't feel like getting too specific so I let it go. It does show however what you can do with gels and WB