Flash techniques

I have followed several flash photography threads and have been convinced of 2 things. You must use an external flash, and you can further improve the picture by diffusing the light and/or getting the flash off the camera. I accept both principles and I know that what kind of external flash is a never ending conversation and how to diffuse the light from that flash is likewise a debatable issue.

What I would like to learn from some of the more experienced and knowledgeable members of this forum is their suggestions of how far off the camera and in what relation to the subject should my flash be. I’m referring to “walk around” gear and I realize the situation and the subject will dictate to a great degree. Are there any general guidelines?

Thanks.
Jim

The general rule is to keep the flash in an axis over the lens to avoid any weird shadows and the flash head high enough above the lens (6-8 inches) to avoid red eye. Most decent flash brackets will do this for you, like any of the Stroboframe, Kirk, or Newton brackets. You need to use a Canon Off The Shoe Cord 2 to maintain ETTL.

Regards,
Scott

To what Scott said I would only add the reason.

If you have an external flash unit off-camera by 4-8 inches to the left of the lens, then if you take a shot of the subject, you'll likely see a dark shadow to the right, and that is fairly undesired and unnatural.

However, if you put the flash 4-8 inches directly above the lens, then take the shot, you may still see some dark shadow, but it will be below the features of the subject, which is kind of how it looks on a sunny day, so it is more natural.

To make it better yet, put a Lumiquest softbox on the flash head. Then you will still get the effect as above, but the edges of the shadow will be much more diffused, and it is normally better that way.

---Bob Gross---

I've decided flash photography's hard, even with the 550EX. You have to be really careful not to blow out the entire photo, even with ETTL, especially when something's really close to you. You have to use a diffuser, the built in one works fine, the omnibounce is good too. Ceiling bounce works, if you do it right.

Practice, practice, practice. Experience (which I don't have) is the best teacher.

I reach for the omnibounce when I don't have a lot of time to set up. If using a stroboframe (direct flash), be sure to fire the flash's 'hotspot' just over the heads of the subject ('feather' the subject with softer light). I've heard the light just outside of the flash's brightest area is very nice, but the center is too harsh.