Got the 430EX II flash

Now I need some tips on using it indoors and outdoors. I have a 2 yr old who just doesn't like taking pics. So I need to take his pics without him knowing or just get that one snap at the right moment.

So I am not sure if off camera will work indoors because he wont cooperate with me when I am taking pics. What are my best options? Should I use a diffuser (something like this one). Any tips and ideas will be greatly appreciated.

I have the following lenses 18-135mm, 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8 and a 60D.

Just bounce off ceiling and/or walls.

DevilsGrave wrote in post #14090524
Should I use a diffuser (something like this one). Any tips and ideas will be greatly appreciated.

I have the following lenses 18-135mm, 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8 and a 60D.

I have been using a softbox diffuser similar to what you show - I aim up at a 45 degree angle or bounce depending on the environment. The diffuser works well for me. My son is 16 months old and wont sit still for a second so it is just a matter of being ready and focused for when he does look the right way. Sometimes I will give him something to play with and capture him playing.

Three things you should learn to do with flash. Do them in order.

1. Learn manual flash. Look at the tutorial in my signature.
2. Learn bounce flash.
3. Learn fill flash.

Go ahead and get a diffuser, but in the mean time try out bouncing your flash! Your photos will come out much better (less harsh!) than shooting the flash straight on. I also have another suggestion for you. I work with kids, and occasionally take photos for our website and newsletter (with photo consents from the parents, of course). A lot of younger kids are just like your son. What I'll do is hold my camera at waist level, set to continuous, and take shots whenever you think he's doing something that might make a good photo. It can take a little practice to get the angle you need to hold the camera at to get him in the frame, but I've had some great results. You'll learn how to hold it to get nice, level shots, but you can also get some great at-an-angle shots! It's a less disruptive technique that still allows you to be right beside them. Since you have a 60d, you can use the LCD if you want, but the more attention you pay to the camera, the more attention he will pay to the camera. I'd try this out with your 50mm lens to start.

eerfmaps wrote in post #14107473
Go ahead and get a diffuser,

Diffusers can wait. They don't do much to begin with, and only make a noticeable difference in a limited range of situations.

Bounce flash. yes. Learn this.

Again, this is a good idea. When taking photos of kids, ALWAYS get down to their level. Sit down, kneel, do something that gets you down there.

Thanks all. I will look up the tutorials Tiberius. Hoping to take some good pics soon.

Tiberius47 wrote in post #14108687
Diffusers can wait. They don't do much to begin with, and only make a noticeable difference in a limited range of situations.

Ah, yes, I would mostly have to agree. However, you can pick up some very cheap diffusers that do the job alright. Since you're just starting out, don't spend a big chunk of change on one. Get a cheap one and see how much and in what situations you use it, and go from there. I have no idea about the quality of the one you linked to, but it's definitely cheap and you won't be out much if you don't like it or don't use it often. I actually use mine quite often at work because we have VERY high ceilings and colored walls not good for bouncing. My flash isn't quite strong enough to bounce and get the results I want, so I resort to the diffuser.

eerfmaps wrote in post #14112986
Ah, yes, I would mostly have to agree. However, you can pick up some very cheap diffusers that do the job alright. Since you're just starting out, don't spend a big chunk of change on one. Get a cheap one and see how much and in what situations you use it, and go from there. I have no idea about the quality of the one you linked to, but it's definitely cheap and you won't be out much if you don't like it or don't use it often. I actually use mine quite often at work because we have VERY high ceilings and colored walls not good for bouncing. My flash isn't quite strong enough to bounce and get the results I want, so I resort to the diffuser.

I honestly don't get this.

All a diffuser does is spread the light out so that it will bounce off any nearby walls and the ceiling. However, you;ve said the walls are coloured (so you can't use them for bounce) and the ceiling is too high for bounce. What exactly is your diffuser doing in this situation, apart from sending light in directions where it isn't doing you any good? You're wasting light and your batteries.

Tiberius47 wrote in post #14117166
I honestly don't get this.

All a diffuser does is spread the light out so that it will bounce off any nearby walls and the ceiling. However, you;ve said the walls are coloured (so you can't use them for bounce) and the ceiling is too high for bounce. What exactly is your diffuser doing in this situation, apart from sending light in directions where it isn't doing you any good? You're wasting light and your batteries.

Sorry, I should have been more clear, especially as the op probably doesn't know a lot about diffusers yet (not that I know a ton - please correct me if anything here is wrong!). I use two types of diffusers. One is a stofen style omnibounce, and the other is a softbox kind. I use the softbox when I'm very close to my subjects and want to effectively make my light source larger, for slightly less harsh light. I don't think this would work at all when the kids are farther away, but it helps for up close shots. This is what I was referring to. I also use a stofen occasionally. I don't have white walls, but we do have a white cubby system for the kids. However, bouncing a straight flash off of the sections makes for strange shadowing. The diffuser sends the light to reflect off of more surfaces of the cubbies from different angles, and produces much more even light on the subject.

eerfmaps wrote in post #14119427
Sorry, I should have been more clear, especially as the op probably doesn't know a lot about diffusers yet (not that I know a ton - please correct me if anything here is wrong!). I use two types of diffusers. One is a stofen style omnibounce, and the other is a softbox kind. I use the softbox when I'm very close to my subjects and want to effectively make my light source larger, for slightly less harsh light. I don't think this would work at all when the kids are farther away, but it helps for up close shots. This is what I was referring to. I also use a stofen occasionally. I don't have white walls, but we do have a white cubby system for the kids. However, bouncing a straight flash off of the sections makes for strange shadowing. The diffuser sends the light to reflect off of more surfaces of the cubbies from different angles, and produces much more even light on the subject.

Ah yes, that does make a difference.

Stoffen omnibounces aren't much use. They turn the flash into more of a bare lightbulb, send light out in all directions. This only makes a difference if there are nearby surfaces like walls and ceilings to bounce the light off. It doesn't actually make the light softer.

A softbox, on the other hand, does make the light softer, because it makes the light source bigger. This gets rid of the harsh shadows.

And the moral of the story is...

If you want softer light, make the light source bigger. Simply spreading the light out in more directions won't do it.