cyberphonics
24th of March 2009 (Tue), 12:57
Hey everyone. I'm going to browse through this section a bit more and do some trial and error, but here's my general question. Please keep in mind that I need to work with what I have because I have NO money to spend on equipment.
I have my Canon 40D with only the built-in flash. As far as lights go, all I have are those basic lights on the stand that come with the white umbrella. I have three of those. I don't own a studio, so I tend to just shoot in people's homes on bare walls, but mostly outdoors.
The only way I can seem to get a decent photo (meaning one that's not under or over exposed, it's just perfectly lit and all of the detail is there so I can edit it well) is to flood the subject and surrounding area with my lights (sometimes one is enough, sometimes I need all three) to make it as bright as possible in the room and then use my camera with the flash off.
I've never been able to get a proper image while using the built-in flash. It's either not nearly enough light or it makes the subject look harsh and in BOTH cases, it's obvious that a flash went off, so I just don't ever use it.
Basically, I want to start lol
What are some general tips you'd give for trying to shoot with just the built in flash either indoors when there's a lack of natural light or outdoors when it's dark?
Whenever I look up help with this, the tips given are usually related to flashes that you stick onto the hotshoe so you can turn them, bend them, bounce them off of this or that, use this angle, that angle, whatever. But what do you do when it's just the built-in fixed flash that you can't move? It just points foward and that's it?
Just pointing me in the right direction will help tons and I'll try practicing on myself a bit. Also, I believe my Canon has options to change the amount of the flash.
I have my Canon 40D with only the built-in flash. As far as lights go, all I have are those basic lights on the stand that come with the white umbrella. I have three of those. I don't own a studio, so I tend to just shoot in people's homes on bare walls, but mostly outdoors.
The only way I can seem to get a decent photo (meaning one that's not under or over exposed, it's just perfectly lit and all of the detail is there so I can edit it well) is to flood the subject and surrounding area with my lights (sometimes one is enough, sometimes I need all three) to make it as bright as possible in the room and then use my camera with the flash off.
I've never been able to get a proper image while using the built-in flash. It's either not nearly enough light or it makes the subject look harsh and in BOTH cases, it's obvious that a flash went off, so I just don't ever use it.
Basically, I want to start lol
What are some general tips you'd give for trying to shoot with just the built in flash either indoors when there's a lack of natural light or outdoors when it's dark?
Whenever I look up help with this, the tips given are usually related to flashes that you stick onto the hotshoe so you can turn them, bend them, bounce them off of this or that, use this angle, that angle, whatever. But what do you do when it's just the built-in fixed flash that you can't move? It just points foward and that's it?
Just pointing me in the right direction will help tons and I'll try practicing on myself a bit. Also, I believe my Canon has options to change the amount of the flash.