For a long time, I have been taking pictures using only natural light. To be honest, flash photography looked way too scary to me. I just didn't understand it and thought it was something only really professional photographers can pull off.
Just last year, I discovered David Hobby's website strobist.com. This website walks through everything flash related in a very down to earth, understandable way. Everything is covered: buying your first lighting kit, how to balance ambient and flash, light modifiers, gels... I took it all in and learned a lot! Turns out off-camera flash isn't scary at all and in fact, it is very accessible!
Last summer I finally made the jump: I bought my first lighting kit. Now it's all about practicing and continuing to learn and improve. I'm having a blast discovering all the possibilities of off camera flash!
I'm taking countless self-portraits to test stuff out, stalking family members with a flash and building DIY modifiers. Good times! :)
Below is one of my first pictures (a self-portrait) using off camera flash.
About the image: I'm using one speedlight (lp180) in front of me, camera left, firing through a shoot through umbrella.
Camera is a Canon 100D. Lens is a Canon 50mm 1.8 STM.