Fast glass versus flash, an example.

Mark1 wrote in post #15550151
I have never seen it as a "one OR the other" question. It totally depends on what the problem is, and what you will use to solve the problem.

Bad light in general? Good light but very dim? Bad shadows? Dim light from the wrong direction?...on and on... Some problems will demand a flash. Others only need a larger aperture. The answer is dependent on the problem.

True and agree with you.

I prefer flash because it allows me to choose whatever background I wish, back it as bright or dim as I wish and then still choose the quality and quantity of light I wish along with its directionality.

JakAHearts wrote in post #15550211
I prefer flash because it allows me to choose whatever background I wish, back it as bright or dim as I wish and then still choose the quality and quantity of light I wish along with its directionality.

You like flash because you can control the light. Thats what photographers are supposed to do. Analyze the ambient lighting and determine whats the best way to capture an image in the given lighting conditions. A flash gives you some degree of control and allows you to manipulate the given ambient conditions. If you can do it with something else,,GREAT. But a flash is often the most expedient way to control many many ambient lighting situations. For the life of me, I dont understand why people are afraid of learning how to use a flash. Its by far the most important tool we have in our bags.

umphotography wrote in post #15550290
For the life of me, I dont understand why people are afraid of learning how to use a flash. Its by far the most important tool we have in our bags.

Nor do I understand why people think it is hard. If there is not enough light, turn it up. If to much, turn it down. Soon enough you will be able to know where you need it.

Haha, now that we're done patting ourselves on the back, more examples please.

Sure

I like this one in B&W better.

digital paradise wrote in post #15550372
Sure

Bounced off a reflector.

I swear we were at the same wedding right? Here is one of mine from that night. July 2010 Grand Rapids Michigan

The point of this thread was to show examples of why you use fill flash and what it looks like if you dont. Just posting fill flash shots without the non flash alternative doesnt really help prove my point that fast glass alone isnt always enough. I really dont want to turn this into the "great fill flash" thread.

OK. Sorry about that. Want me to delete them? I'm OK with it.

digital paradise wrote in post #15551706
OK. Sorry about that. Want me to delete them? I'm OK with it.

No thats okay. Just didnt want to stray too far from the point. I just wanted to have some examples to point to when a newbie says they dont want to use flash at an event because they have fast glass.

No problem and thanks. Besides you know me and I never stray off topic

Actually a great point here. My shooting partner is a natural light photographer. He hates using flash and usually has a hard time at the reception. He hates it because like members have pointed out on other threads - if you don't using like it, etc you did not take the time to learn it. He never took the time.

In the long run it gives us a good mix but I'm glad I'm comfortable using it when I need to. He does nice work.

digital paradise wrote in post #15551762
No problem and thanks. Besides you know me and I never stray off topic

Actually a great point here. My shooting partner is a natural light photographer. He hates using flash and usually has a hard time at the reception. He hates it because like members have pointed out on other threads - if you don't using like it, etc you did not take the time to learn it. He never took the time.

In the long run it gives us a good mix but I'm glad I'm comfortable using it when I need to. He does nice work.

I would never imply that under some circumstances you cant get good available light shots. But so many times the light is sufficient but simply bad. The can lights in the room I took my example in create horrendous eye and neck shadows, people who wear glasses have ugly shadows below the eyeglasses on their cheeks. It would be impossible to get flattering shots there without some fill flash.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #15548344
It isn't an either-or proposition.

You can use fast glass AND strobes.

Good point! Often with a long lens at a pretty good distance from the speaker, I'd use direct flash at about 1/64th power to kick a little known WB light into the eye shadows.

umphotography wrote in post #15550090
Gonz

great examples. Im so sick of the natural light photographers terminology. A flash is the way to go and when blended with ambient properly, the best way to go as well.

Totally agree. Complimenting the environment and shaping light to create a different image is a skill that less than a minuscule % of photographers can execute well.