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alaskayorkie 12-24-2009 01:16 PM

External flash
 
3 Attachment(s)
Forgive me if you guys have discussed this before, but I recently had some good luck with bounce flashing and wanted to share the results. I'll write more about what bounce flashing is below, but here are the results.

1. First picture was made pointing the external flash toward the ceiling and setting the camera on full-automatic setting. The light is natural, there's no blurring or red-eye.

2. Second picture was an attempt to shoot without a flash altogether, on a manual setting. It was so dark that I had to shoot at about 1/15th of a second -- too slow to avoid blurring.

3. Third picture was flashed straight on with the flash that came with the camera. It's in focus, but the light is unnatural and there's a harsh shadow behind the subject. I also got some "red-eye".

Here's how I got the first shot:
For any of you with a camera that has a "hot shoe" -- a bracket mounted on top that allows you to connect a separate flash -- I'd highly suggest you try it out. Borrow a flash or go into a camera shop and ask them to demonstrate how it works.

One of the big benefits of an external flash is it often eliminates or reduces red-eye. Red is caused by the flash hitting the subject's eyes at a flat angle (for lack of a better term). Imagine shining a flashlight at a mirror. If you shine it directly at the mirror, you'll get the glare of the beam right back at you. But if you hit the mirror at an angle, the glare bounces a different direction. Same is true with the flash.

Admittedly, sometimes the hot shoe doesn't give you enough of an angle, so you'll still get red-eye. However, if you have a flash that allows you to turn the light straight up toward the ceiling, it will bounce off the ceiling, diffuse and hit the subject with a more natural light. If you have it set on "auto," your camera will determine what aperature you need for a good picture.

alaskayorkie 12-24-2009 01:24 PM

Oops, one more thing: If your camera doesn't have a hot shoe, don't panic. You can buy a bracket that attaches at the bottom of your camera and puts the flash off to the side. It's more of a hassle, but the results are better because it's placing the flash at an even greater angle from the lens. You'll see professional photographers with this setup all the time. The drawback is you have to plug that flash in to your camera to get it to work. If you go this route, bring it in to a good camera shop and ask a pro to show you how it would work.

bildio 12-24-2009 01:27 PM

What make & model camera are you using?

alaskayorkie 12-24-2009 01:30 PM

I have the original canon digital rebel, about 4-5 years old. Model number is DS6041, I think.

browniesmom622 12-24-2009 02:15 PM

I have one also for my camera I don't know what i would do without it! I love it!!

abbey46923 12-24-2009 02:21 PM

Sorry don't know anything about cameras or flash, sounds interesting though, BUT!!! I LOVE your little model in her jammies and collar (poor baby). LOL
Cute Jillie !!!

bildio 12-24-2009 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie (Post 2927252)
I have the original canon digital rebel, about 4-5 years old. Model number is DS6041, I think.

For #2 - manual setting - did you try upping the ISO so you could shoot at a faster speed?

I tried three different flash attachments with my Nikon D90 & decided that no flash works equal or better than any of the flashes. Sometimes I may make adjustments with photo editing software.

alaskayorkie 12-24-2009 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bildio (Post 2927273)
For #2 - manual setting - did you try upping the ISO so you could shoot at a faster speed?

I tried three different flash attachments with my Nikon D90 & decided that no flash works equal or better than any of the flashes. Sometimes I may make adjustments with photo editing software.

Yeah, ISO was 1600 in blurry pic. As for types of flashes, I'd agree. You'd have to be a pro to tell the difference. Main thing you want is one with a swivel that allows you to point the flash at a 45 or 90 degree angle for bouncing.

Another cool flash trick: you can tape a napkin or piece of wax paper over any flash to diffuse the light, eliminate red eye and avoid harsh shadows.

MeganS 12-24-2009 03:22 PM

Awesome!!! Thank you for telling us about this Mike. So creative.

bettyeanne 12-24-2009 03:46 PM

Thank you, Mike! I actually learned #1 back in Oct. from the professional that photographed our granddaughters' wedding at the beach. I left the wedding pics up to him but found a "Kodak" moment that I desperately wanted to capture. I was on the second story balcony and observed Papa & our six year old granddaughter sitting on the side of the pool, at dusk, dangling their feet in the water. They were oblivious to the world, in deep conversation and it was sooooo sweet. I was able to get some great shots thanks to his tip! I love "tips"!! Thanks for sharing. :thumbup::thumbup:

JeanieK 12-24-2009 04:09 PM

2 Attachment(s)
The external flash is just another of the many things on my list.

I bought two clamp lights fro Home Depot, I put a daylight spot bulb in one, well I bought two but managed to break the second one getting it out of the package, so just have a regular bulb in the second one.

I position one at a 45 degree angle from the camera, shining down from above, and the other on the other side, coming up from below.

The flash still fires, but not so bright, so does not give a washed out look.
Attachment 303167

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 41 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On, Fired


Attachment 303168

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 21 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

alaskayorkie 12-25-2009 03:29 AM

Ooh, love the clamp light photos! That's next on my list!

Wylie's Mom 12-25-2009 06:32 AM

Jeanie....you can also use cheap pieces of styrofoam boards from Home Depot to "bounce" the light source back toward your subject. These types of "bounces" are always used in prof. shoots too...so you can get diffuse, indirect, pretty light :).

MeganS 12-25-2009 07:36 AM

So I decided to play around with my flash to see what I could do. It's very limited. But I tried putting a few pieces of tape over the flash, and it didn't help the red-eye, but it helped reduce the heavy shadow.

JeanieK 12-25-2009 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeganS (Post 2927660)
So I decided to play around with my flash to see what I could do. It's very limited. But I tried putting a few pieces of tape over the flash, and it didn't help the red-eye, but it helped reduce the heavy shadow.

Using other lights and then just using the flash as a fill light makes it not so harsh. Also moving your subject away from a wall or using a dark backdrop will eliminate the shadow.


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