Light. Natural vs natural vs flash

LordV · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Soldier flies Chloromyia formosa make excellent subjects for looking at light effects- they have irridesent colour on both thorax and abdomen which are both highly reflective and also hairy.
Following are shots in 2 pairs illustrating the light effects which hopefuly show why I like doing natural light shots in light cloud conditions but otherwise prefer using flash.
Natural light shots Tv mode 1/200th ISO 400.
Flash shots M mode F11, 1/200th, ISO 200 ETTL flash.
The first pair are of a female and the 2nd pair a male

Brian V.

Click on Pics for larger size

Natural light - light cloud

Natural Light - strong sun

Natural light- light cloud

Flash - (light cloud)

LordV · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Just found another pair of comparative shots.
I actually like both these shots but it does show the colour temperature effect of natural vs flash rather well. You can change the colour temperature of flash shots downwards by about 1000'C to get a more "natural light" colouring.
Brian V.

Click on Pics for larger size

Natural light (light cloud)

Flash (light cloud)

skylab · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Natural light gives a softer fell to the shot.
I think it makes for a " smoother " shot.
If that makes any sense, Brian.

LordV · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylab

Natural light gives a softer fell to the shot.
I think it makes for a " smoother " shot.
If that makes any sense, Brian.

Brian- yes you are right- flash or strong sun tends to show more detail. Plus the fact that the natural light shots are at ISO 400 tends to give slightly less detail.
The main problem with doing natural light shots is either it's not the right light or there just is not enough it to get sensible DOF.

brian V.

bandit 1 · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Hiya Brian,

Excellent series of shots, for me I prefer the natural light shots but they are all super shot regardless.

Cheers for now from an exceedingly frustrated
Mark

dpastern · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Good comparison Brian, lovely shots as well. I agree, natural light is that much more natural, and desirable. Interesting comment about dropping the temperature of the WB for flash shots, never thought of that, but will have to give it a try.

Dave

Lawrie B · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Great comparison shots Brian, Interesting about changing the WB

lcpete · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Great comparison very interesting Brian
I prefer natural light shots but it can be very hit and miss when the light is not right.
I will try varying the colour temp next time I use flash ,I always learn something when you post stuff like this

thanks for posting
Pete

LordV · 17th of June 2007 (Sun)

Thanks Dave, Lawrie, Mark and Pete

Always worth looking at the colour temp with flash shots.
brian v.

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#1
LordV Macro Photo-Lord of the Year 2006 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Worthing UK Posts: 45,934 IMAGE EDITING OK	Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Soldier flies Chloromyia formosa make excellent subjects for looking at light effects- they have irridesent colour on both thorax and abdomen which are both highly reflective and also hairy. Following are shots in 2 pairs illustrating the light effects which hopefuly show why I like doing natural light shots in light cloud conditions but otherwise prefer using flash. Natural light shots Tv mode 1/200th ISO 400. Flash shots M mode F11, 1/200th, ISO 200 ETTL flash. The first pair are of a female and the 2nd pair a male Brian V. Click on Pics for larger size Natural light - light cloud Natural Light - strong sun Natural light- light cloud Flash - (light cloud) __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/ http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/ Macro Hints and tips http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=807056 Canon 20D, Canon 40D, Canon 5D mk2, Sigma 105mm EX macro, Tamron 90mm macro, Canon MPE-65,18-55 kit lens X2, canon 200mm F2.8 L, Tamron 28-70mm xrdi, Other assorted bits Last edited by LordV : 17th of June 2007 (Sun) at 02:18.

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#2
LordV Macro Photo-Lord of the Year 2006 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Worthing UK Posts: 45,934 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Just found another pair of comparative shots. I actually like both these shots but it does show the colour temperature effect of natural vs flash rather well. You can change the colour temperature of flash shots downwards by about 1000'C to get a more "natural light" colouring. Brian V. Click on Pics for larger size Natural light (light cloud) Flash (light cloud) __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/ http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/ Macro Hints and tips http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=807056 Canon 20D, Canon 40D, Canon 5D mk2, Sigma 105mm EX macro, Tamron 90mm macro, Canon MPE-65,18-55 kit lens X2, canon 200mm F2.8 L, Tamron 28-70mm xrdi, Other assorted bits Last edited by LordV : 17th of June 2007 (Sun) at 02:35.

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#3
skylab Goldmember Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dudley West Midlands UK Posts: 3,473 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Natural light gives a softer fell to the shot. I think it makes for a " smoother " shot. If that makes any sense, Brian. __________________ Brian 400D, 350D, kit lens x2, 100mm f2.8 macro lens,400mm 5.6L lens,70-200mm f4L usm lens. 28-135mm IS usm lens, Raynox DCR250, Kenco rings, Kenco 2X + 1.4X, RC-1, sigma 70 -300 DG macro lens, 430 EX flash, Hakuba flash bracket, Off-camera cord 2, battery grip. http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylab2007/

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#5
bandit 1 Cream of the Crop Join Date: May 2006 Location: sometimes Sunny South Devon UK :-) Posts: 5,130	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Hiya Brian, Excellent series of shots, for me I prefer the natural light shots but they are all super shot regardless. Cheers for now from an exceedingly frustrated Mark __________________ Bandit 1 Canon EOS 400D, Sigma 105 Macro, Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro, Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Sigma 500 DG Super, Home made Lighting Unit All shots one handed or "Stump-Bracket " held http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i318/bandit1_2006/

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#6
dpastern User is banned from forums Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Posts: 13,765 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Good comparison Brian, lovely shots as well. I agree, natural light is that much more natural, and desirable. Interesting comment about dropping the temperature of the WB for flash shots, never thought of that, but will have to give it a try. Dave

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#7
Lawrie B Goldmember Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 3,313 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Great comparison shots Brian, Interesting about changing the WB __________________ *Lawrie* http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawrieb/ NEW WEBSITE http://www.fastandfinephotos.com

17th of June 2007 (Sun)	#8
lcpete Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North Wales Posts: 1,996 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Light. Natural vs natural vs flash Great comparison very interesting Brian I prefer natural light shots but it can be very hit and miss when the light is not right. I will try varying the colour temp next time I use flash ,I always learn something when you post stuff like this thanks for posting Pete __________________ Canon 40D, 350D, 550D and 7D Sigma 105, 150 and Canon 100L Macro Canon 70 - 200 F4L, Canon 100 - 400L, the wifes but I borrow it !

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