Lens shadow

First let me say, thank you for taking the time to look at my thread. I have been a lurker up to this point in this forum and have learned a lot so thank you again for that.

Attached is a photo I took while trying some HDR real estate photography recently and I keep getting this shadow when I use my off camera flash. Anyone know how to get rid of this annoying shadow? This only happens when I use my canon 10-22 lens, my other lenses don't do this.


Camera: Rebel xti (sorry thats all I can afford)
lens: Canon 10-22 wide angle with UV filter to protect glass
setting: f/8, 10mm, av setting, 400ISO.
flash is off camera, just to the side and behind me, with shoot through umbrella.

First your camera is a lot better than what others may be able to afford. Have you tried setting the flash just in front of you to the side? I would imagine any light behind you is going to cast a shadow in front of you. Also how does the lens behave without off camera flash?

1. take the filter off, 2. bounce the flash from the ceiling - this looks straight on, 3. what is your shutter speed?, 4 You say your trying to do hdr, are you doing FEC?

amerituner wrote in post #16345777
First your camera is a lot better than what others may be able to afford. Have you tried setting the flash just in front of you to the side? I would imagine any light behind you is going to cast a shadow in front of you. Also how does the lens behave without off camera flash?

I have tried moving the flash around, to the side, more to the side, in front about the camera, right next to me, etc.

It does not do this with my 18-55 lens, just the wide angle?

The shadow is from the light being behind the camera. An umbrella throws a lot of light in many different directions and if it behind camera at all it will cause a shadow. It could also be that your umbrella is not very efficient and light is being reflected off a wall behind you and forward again with a shoot through.

tmoore323 wrote in post #16345929
1. take the filter off, 2. bounce the flash from the ceiling - this looks straight on, 3. what is your shutter speed?, 4 You say your trying to do hdr, are you doing FEC?

Camera is set to AV and automatically adjusts the shutter speed. I think photo it was at 1/60.

I have tried the bouncing method however I don't get as much light and I am trying to get as much like onto the subject to get the realistic colors to pop out and lighten the room as well as help make the room lighter and not so dark.
Not sure what you mean by FEC?

look it up in the user manual = flash exposure compensation.

I think the shadow is YOU!

NeutronBoy wrote in post #16346973
look it up in the user manual = flash exposure compensation.

I think the shadow is YOU!

Great minds think a like, and I thought the same thing, so I moved the flash stand around (further to the side, in front of the camera, aimed higher, and lower). The out come was the same. Like I said my 18-55 lens does not have this shadow.

If you are using two flashes, off camera and on camera, then the shadow is probably from the on-camera flash hitting the lens. Make sure your pop-up flash is not firing or cover it with some tape. If as you say the shadow remains when you move the off-camera flash to the side (and the shadow does not move) then there is something obstructing the lower part of your lens, otherwise the shadow would move opposite the flash. If the shadow does move when you move the flash, then move the flash higher and see if that helps.

mtnsldr@gmail.com wrote in post #16346353
Camera is set to AV and automatically adjusts the shutter speed. I think photo it was at 1/60.

I have tried the bouncing method however I don't get as much light and I am trying to get as much like onto the subject to get the realistic colors to pop out and lighten the room as well as help make the room lighter and not so dark.
Not sure what you mean by FEC?

Try manual, or TV (Shutter priority) to your camera's sync speed. Probably 1/200 or 1/250.


Again, how are you trying HDR, if you don't understand FEC?

Take that filter, throw it in the trash.

In the posted photo, looks like there is a mirror behind you (mirror in the mirror visible). My guess is the mirror behind you is bouncing the flash, and causing your shadow to be captured. It won't matter whee the light is positioned, it will always bounce that light back out. Take the second mirror down, or cover it with a sheet, then try again.

All great information here, and it is all appreciated very much.

Let me see if I can address the last couple questions.
I am doing HDR buy setting my camera to AV, F/8 and taking 3-5 shots changing the exposure with each shot.
Can't be the mirror as it does this in many different rooms and houses.
I am using the pop up flash to trigger my flash (Youngnuo 560 III) as a off camera slave.
I have become familiar with EFC, and I am manually adjusting the flash no TTL.

mtnsldr@gmail.com wrote in post #16349235
All great information here, and it is all appreciated very much.

Let me see if I can address the last couple questions.
I am doing HDR buy setting my camera to AV, F/8 and taking 3-5 shots changing the exposure with each shot.
Can't be the mirror as it does this in many different rooms and houses.
I am using the pop up flash to trigger my flash (Youngnuo 560 III) as a off camera slave.
I have become familiar with EFC, and I am manually adjusting the flash no TTL.

Please read my post. There's your problem.
edit: Solution is to put a bit of aluminum foil in front of your popup so the light is directed upward or backward not forward toward the lens. It still should trigger your slave.

Qbx wrote in post #16349624
Please read my post. There's your problem.
edit: Solution is to put a bit of aluminum foil in front of your popup so the light is directed upward or backward not forward toward the lens. It still should trigger your slave.

We have a winner, the shadow is from the pop up flash and the larger diameter lens.

However, this brings up another question, why is my larger flash not killing this shadow? If the flashes are truely firing at the same time shouldn't the off camera flash over power the small pop up?

Thanks guys, this is exactly why this forum is great.

Simple answer is no - the off camera flash will never completely overpower the popup; the shadow will always be there by varying degrees depending on flash power and location of the slave and power setting of the popup. Try the foil or some other redirecting mechanism and let us know how it works out.