430EX QUALITY

these photos were took with MY NEW 430EX flash the first one is with the flash full on the subject the second one the flash is
at 45 i think the first one is the better photo am i right i am new to photography and would appreciate an opinion please
the true colour of the wallpaper is antique cream
thanks ray

You have fallen into a trap I did not explain to you, when you visited, because it is quite rare, to hit on it so soon.

Light bounces off surfaces in exactly the same way as billiard balls.

If you look at your bounce shot you will see most of the light bounced back , on top of her head and the top of the wall behind her.

There are four ways to counter this.
One, move further back so that the light bounces at an angle that will cover better.

Two. set the flash at a steeper angle so that it bounces back at a better angle.

Three, Bounce the flash off the wall rather than the ceiling. This works very well in some corner situations.

The Fourth, is to use a diffuser (stoffen) like mine, this bounces some of the light and also sends some softened light forward at the subject. this usually gives the best result.

You will also have a better feeeling of roundness if you dont put your subject so close to the wall.

There is a lot to learn, The best way is to try things, find problems, and ask questions.

think im getting the hang of things now terry,good job its not film or it would cost me a fortune do you think this is better

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Well, I think it's better! But what do I know?

Crop out the door & some of the left wall and PS the plug and wires, and you'll have a keeper...

Yes, that third shot is a definite improvement! Terry has given you good advice.

The very idea of pointing the flash upward at 45 degrees baffles me. Flash units even have markings on them to indicate this angle, and I have yet to understand the value of this technique.

To me, 45 degree bounce is a recipe for disaster. First, the light will tend to hit the ceiling directly above the subject, and being lit from directly above is especially unflattering for older people (it doesn't look so good for younger people, either).

Secondly, at 45 degrees, the amount of light that hits the subject directly from the flash is a total crapshoot. It depends on how the flash is zoomed, the distance, and the focal length used.

This statement calls for further discussion. Light will bounce off a mirror or other glossy surface much like billard balls. But it will bounce off a flat white surface (like a ceiling) IN EVERY DIRECTION.

This is somewhat of a generalization, but I think it's a good way to think of bounced flash: With direct flash, you're lighting whatever is in your viewfinder. With bounced flash, you're lighting THE ENTIRE ROOM. The illuminated area of the ceiling essentially becomes a large, diffuse light source.

Much better, Keep up the good work.

YOU CAN ALSO READ UP ON SOME HOME MADE DIFFUSERS HERE:
http://home.comcast.ne​t …smit/bounceflas​htoys.html
i have been using this bubble wrap diffuser for a few months now with no issues, just the odd quirky remark : )

andrewaaa5 wrote:
YOU CAN ALSO READ UP ON SOME HOME MADE DIFFUSERS HERE:
http://home.comcast.ne​t/~dougsmit/bounceflas​htoys.html
i have been using this bubble wrap diffuser for a few months now with no issues, just the odd quirky remark : )

I like that bubblebag idea must try it, it would save space too.