New 430 II

[HostileM6]

Just got my 430 EX II, playin around with it and learning. C&C please.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff209/dyeballin11/1-7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff209/dyeballin11/2-7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff209/dyeballin11/IMG_5763.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff209/dyeballin11/IMG_5775.jpg

No PP at all.
Thanks in advance

[HostileM6]

love 57 views and no replies.

[jetboy]

What type of replies were you hoping for? #1 is flat and just a dark mess. #2, well, I can see the word Canon :rolleyes: . #3 is a can that doesn't look like it was taken with a flash (is that what you were going for?) . #4 is a messy desk. On #3 & 4 are you trying to show you know how to bounce flash off the ceiling? I really don't know what C&C you wanted for a flash test here. Maybe post these in the flash forum?

[HostileM6]

:rolleyes: thanks.

[robojack]

What type of replies were you hoping for? #1 is flat and just a dark mess. #2, well, I can see the word Canon :rolleyes: . #3 is a can that doesn't look like it was taken with a flash (is that what you were going for?) . #4 is a messy desk. On #3 & 4 are you trying to show you know how to bounce flash off the ceiling? I really don't know what C&C you wanted for a flash test here. Maybe post these in the flash forum? Dude, that was a bit harsh. At least give some useful advice if you're going to slam somebody's practice work.

HostileM6, for the first and second pictures, did you shoot them with the flash pointed up, or directly pointing forward? Third and fourth pictures are well lit, IMO. Add a few live subjects (people, animals, plants, etc), and really test yourself!

All in all, a good start! You should be quite excited, as adding a speedlite will open lots of creative lighting options for your photography.

[Sondra]

Dude, that was a bit harsh. At least give some useful advice if you're going to slam somebody's practice work.

HostileM6, for the first and second pictures, did you shoot them with the flash pointed up, or directly pointing forward? Third and fourth pictures are well lit, IMO. Add a few live subjects (people, animals, plants, etc), and really test yourself!

All in all, a good start! You should be quite excited, as adding a speedlite will open lots of creative lighting options for your photography.


I totally agree, you shouldn't just slam someone's work.. be helpful, not hurtful.. we're here to help and learn :) I think what coud help is some descriptions of why the pics were taken and what look or what you were trying to do ie: what you are trying to achieve.

Can't we all just get along? :p

[lonelyjew]

I totally agree, you shouldn't just slam someone's work.. be helpful, not hurtful.. we're here to help and learn :) I think what coud help is some descriptions of why the pics were taken and what look or what you were trying to do ie: what you are trying to achieve.

Can't we all just get along? :p

+1 to this

IRT to the topic, what exactly were you going for? If you were trying to bounce I'd say you were pretty effective but as far as the content of the pictures themselves there just isn't really anything there to me. The first and second shot lack a definite subject. Were you going for a self portrait? Were you trying to take a picture of the camera? The third shot just isn't interesting and I guess I can say the same about the last shot. I don't want to sound harsh but, that's just how it is.

I'm sure you'll find a lot of use for your flash though, keep shooting, and don't feel bad about these because frankly testing a flash in your room is extremely unlikely to bring the best out of you.

[HostileM6]

Thanks for the constructive replies guys. I wasn't goin for much really, just seein how well the flash lights up exactly WHERE i want it to. As opposed to no flash, the desk would be totally OOF because of the slow shutter speed. The first one I was just seeing how I can aim the flash and get any effect of side lighting that I wanted. Which I accomplished. For the second I was mainly going for just focus and good lighting. I just ordered the off camera shoe flash cord so that will bring me to a lot of things and lighting possibilities.

oh and with the can I was just trying all the different angles of flash I could get. Again, with no flash at all it would be OOF or with on camera flash, it would be harsh as hell.

To be completely honest, i HATE flash. I just don't like the effect and harshness it puts on photos. But with my speedlite, I love it and will try so much more with it now.

Thanks again guys, I'll post up more pics with more set goals in the shots.

[Mu Eugene]

I digress in the beginning:

One of the reasons I decided on a Canon (vs. Nikon) was that I already owned a compatible flash - the 420EX. With Nikon, I had the lenses and some accessories (though all manual focus lenses and a flash that was too old to be compatible). That was big, because the camera's algorithm to incorporate flash has come a long way, and I'm also not too keen on flash photography and if I could still use the existing unit, that would be great as I'd rather not invest in a new unit at this point.

To further enhance advances in flash-photography, consider a relatively inexpensive add-on: the Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce. It has done wonders to taking portraits and any kind of low-light photography. Mine doesn't come off from my 420 EX (the downside is that the assembly does not fit in the dedicated case).

Off-camera shoe is a fun accessory. Make sure you have a sturdy tripod(s) so pulling the cord won't topple the flash or worse. I took a multi-exposure self-portrait when I was 16 using such a setup.

Enjoy and keep experimenting.

[HostileM6]

I forgot to add I do have the Omni-Bounce and it's amazing. I have a decent enough tripod so I think I should be good. Thanks again for the CONSTRUCTIVE crit.