Trying to be creative with flash

I have never posted in this forum before you will normally find me in the sports forum. Today i went out with my new 580ex to see if i could be a bit creative
C+C welcome

1

To be honest I'm not really digging the flash in the shots. #1 is probably the only one that doesn't look completely artificial. The biggest problem is that the flash is shooting the light in the center of the image, like it should, but you get this beam of light in a circle in the center of the image. I've seen flash used effectively for fill in a landscape on tree branches or flowers, and maybe hand holding the flash and angling it off center might help, but to me a landscape should look as natural as possible. If you use flash it shouldn't be distinguishable. That's just my opinion though. Nice place though

I've just got my 580EX recently and looking for inspirations, this is certainly something to comtemplate! I like your endeavours and idea to try something like this, well done on that.

I guess you zoomed the flash on these shots to 105mm? Stayed at full-flash strength for all of them? I'd agree with motogeno, I have seen ones like this that uses the effect like a spotlight but it has to be the correct kind of subject and needs to darken up the edge interest more to accent the focal point. By moving the flash head left or right (off centre) and thinking a little more about the composition, because of the change in focal point, you would have maybe got more interesting shots?

Great effort though, keep going. I would try FEC and moving the flash head left and right and exposing down to only allow the focal point to come through. Or even, flash a dark part of the scene? Just something I would want to try

I'm not really digging the results but it's an interesting concept. If you had a subject that would be portrayed better in a spotlight kind of light and it darkened the borders of the photo it'd be neat, as it is it's just blowing out some spots. Keep experimenting and enjoy the new flash. This makes me want to dig mine out and practice flash photography more.

Of these shots I do like the first one compositionally, looks like a great view!

Thank's Montegeno and Rammy i will have another go over Christmasmaybe umbrella and flash ?
thank's Dorman maybe a naked woman on the rocks would have helped