Who uses flash?

[booggerg]

I never really liked the look of flat-lit flash photography. I don't understand the passionate talks about the new and upcoming Speedlites... please direct me to some good websites with Flash photography tutorials and some of the creative ways to use flash for something other than the aforementioned flash-look. Thanks.

[Kinger]

This is a link that is listed in the top links section, it is all you would want to know about Canon Speedlight flashes.

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

[Andy_T]

If you use an external flash, you can bounce it off the ceiling or wall or use a diffuser ... thus eliminating many of the shortcomings of flash pictures using the on-camera flash.

Best regards,
Andy

[DocFrankenstein]

If you bounce it, it creates nice natural lighting

[robertwgross]

However, if you are in a big room with high ceilings, then you can't get any reliable flash bounce off the ceiling. Trying to get flash bounce off walls is even less reliable, due to color shifts from the wall cover.

---Bob Gross---

[evilenglishman]

bob, didn't you post a really good link a week or so back about a guy who uses the 550 off camera?
I remember a diagram of a manhole??

[robertwgross]

bob, didn't you post a really good link a week or so back about a guy who uses the 550 off camera?
I remember a diagram of a manhole??

I remember that, but it wasn't me.

I plead innocent to all charges.

---Bob Gross---

[evilenglishman]

found it, it was Scott.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/450

[ron chappel]

I agree with the orriginal comment.Most flash use is too much.

I use the inbuilt 300D flash for fill at times but not having FEC ruins alot of attempts (i can't yet be bothered doing the firmware hack)

I've noticed that some situations REQUIRE flash to work well such as head on motocross pics.It lights up the dark areas inside the helmut and generally sharpens up the whole look of the image

[robertwgross]

I would not even think about shooting a wedding without at least one big flash on a bracket.

---Bob Gross---

[Jesper]

Like the others have already said, using a flash as the main light source and pointing it straight at the subject, which gives you the ugly flash photo look, is not the only way to use flash. Bouncing it off a white ceiling or wall gives much better results. Unfortunately you don't always have a nice white ceiling or wall available, so you'll have to invent some other trick - I've tried bouncing it off a white piece of paper, for example.

Flash is also often useful outdoors in sunny conditions, when the light of the sun casts very sharp shadows - you use the flash to lighten up the shadows a bit (fill-in flash).

The built-in flash in your camera is good for not much else than fill-in flash. If you want to bounce the light of the flash, you need a good external flash.

[Cadwell]

I've noticed that some situations REQUIRE flash to work well such as head on motocross pics.It lights up the dark areas inside the helmut and generally sharpens up the whole look of the image

:shock: I can see myself being "escorted" out of the race track if I start banging a flash gun off into driver's faces. Sounds very dangerous.

[Seveneer]

I use my 380EX for fill flash quite often. It's great for lighting up the shadows of someone's face in bright sunlilght. Also, if I'm taking a photo through an archway or window, it's a good way of ensuring the foreground is properly exposed as well as the background which may be well lit.

If the flash is your main light source I'd agree with the rest of the guys that you need to bounce or diffuse.

/Phil.

[scottbergerphoto]

A 550EX on a flash bracket and a 420EX or 550EX slaved off to the side with a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio (camera to slave) creates very nice lighting in a very portable package. You can have someone hold the slave in their hands, on a lightstand, on a bookshelf or on the floor.
Scott

[Vode]

Is there any way of working with the built in and Speedlite as second light source?

[ron chappel]

I've noticed that some situations REQUIRE flash to work well such as head on motocross pics.It lights up the dark areas inside the helmut and generally sharpens up the whole look of the image

:shock: I can see myself being "escorted" out of the race track if I start banging a flash gun off into driver's faces. Sounds very dangerous.

Mmm.This does sound kinda dangerous but all pro photographers i saw use them.I can't imagine the flash ever puts out much as it would be set to fill and most of the image is bright allready.

I used to race myself and never noticed any serious flashes.I guess they would bug some riders though

[scottbergerphoto]

Is there any way of working with the built in and Speedlite as second light source?
The built in flash can't be used as a wireless master in an ETTL system, but it can be used to trigger a second manual flash(non-canon) with a digital optical slave that is designed to ignore the preflash.
Scott

[jhankins]

I've had decent success with dual 550EX's. Each with a stofen diffuser which really does a great job of softening the light. Having at least 2 flashes in my mind is a necessity for low light group pictures. I would say I am considering changing up to radio based triggers to increase my flexibilty in distances. I find the range to be restrictive but that's just me.

By the way, I use a Custom Bracket flash bracket as well which will virtually eliminate red eye in your pictures.

Jim

[Vode]

Is there any way of working with the built in and Speedlite as second light source?
The built in flash can't be used as a wireless master in an ETTL system, but it can be used to trigger a second manual flash(non-canon) with a digital optical slave that is designed to ignore the preflash.
Scott

Why won't the EZ430 work, is it just the A/E TTL thing even in manual mode? I did try, but no joy. Did I just miss a setting that would have done the trick?
What kind of devise would that Manual Flash be? Any suggestions?

[drisley]

I never really liked the look of flat-lit flash photography. I don't understand the passionate talks about the new and upcoming Speedlites... please direct me to some good websites with Flash photography tutorials and some of the creative ways to use flash for something other than the aforementioned flash-look. Thanks.

When a flash is used properly, you will not know that a flash was used at all.

[scottbergerphoto]

Is there any way of working with the built in and Speedlite as second light source?
The built in flash can't be used as a wireless master in an ETTL system, but it can be used to trigger a second manual flash(non-canon) with a digital optical slave that is designed to ignore the preflash.
Scott

Why won't the EZ430 work, is it just the A/E TTL thing even in manual mode? I did try, but no joy. Did I just miss a setting that would have done the trick?
What kind of devise would that Manual Flash be? Any suggestions?
EZ series flashes are not compatible wuth ETTL. You can use it in Manual if that is available.
There are many brands of flashes including Canon that can be used in Manual mode. You can use Canon, Nikon, Sunpak, Vivitar, Quantum, etc. It just has to have a manual mode.
Scott

[denash]

I shoot a ton of outdoor photography and a fill flash is essential to smoothing out faces when lighting conditions are a little harsh. Try it you might like it.
Jeffrey

[timmyquest]

http://www.antiwall.com/June2004/images/5Dakota.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/May2004/images/2What%20about%20me.jpg

These dont look harsh to me...you have to learn how to effectively use a flash before you can start flash bashing :-)

[booggerg]

Can i Use the built-in flash as a fill flash to any degress of success?

[evilenglishman]

http://www.antiwall.com/June2004/images/5Dakota.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/May2004/images/2What%20about%20me.jpg

These dont look harsh to me...you have to learn how to effectively use a flash before you can start flash bashing :-)

photo 2 looks like natural light to me - there isnt any sign of a flash.
The reflection in her eye is quite specific and doesn't look at all like a bounced flash.

[timmyquest]

http://www.antiwall.com/June2004/images/5Dakota.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/May2004/images/2What%20about%20me.jpg

These dont look harsh to me...you have to learn how to effectively use a flash before you can start flash bashing :-)

photo 2 looks like natural light to me - there isnt any sign of a flash.
The reflection in her eye is quite specific and doesn't look at all like a bounced flash.

LOL, are you telling me i'm lieing or are you backing up my statement that the flash works great...

Two more from that day using the flash.

http://www.questphotos.com/550.jpg
http://www.questphotos.com/5502.jpg

[evilenglishman]

no, im not saying you are lieing at all - just that no one would ever know a flash was in the photo :wink:

edit; can you post a 100% crop of her eye :D

[timmyquest]

no, im not saying you are lieing at all - just that no one would ever know a flash was in the photo :wink:

K :)

Bouncing the flash is an art

[scottbergerphoto]

Can i Use the built-in flash as a fill flash to any degress of success?
The shadows won't be as nice as if you had a flash on a bracket but you can use the on camera flash for fill. Just dial in -1 to -1 and 2/3 FEC.
Regards,
Scott