I have to learn this! So I grabbed my camera and my SB-900. Instead of putting on any diffusers/bounce cards, I thought I would practice with just the naked flash and use bounce to diffuse.
It is pitch black outside and our house lights are dim, so flash was definitely needed. I sat down in our family room, with Satori a few yards away. I angled the flash to the ceiling so it would bounce at an angle to hit her. Here's the result. (Not saying its an award-winning photo, I'm just practicing!)
For those of you who want to practice, please join in! If you have an uncooperative child, use a teddy bear or doll!
~ Angela Nikon D700 | Nikon D30070-200mm 2.8 VR | 24-70mm 2.8 | 14-24mm 2.8 | 85mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.4 | 18-200mm VR | 105mm 2.8 VR | 10.5mm | Lensbaby 3GSB-900 | SB-800 | elinchrom strobes | reflectorsCS4/LR2
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I'll be creating a Flash Tutorial here in the next few weeks, I took a class on camera flash and also have some good resources. I'll sponge up as much as I can and then post a tutorial.
Sounds awesome, Angela!
I just ordered a flash today. Good timing.
JANICA
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Cool, I hope some more knowledgeable than me can help out, as most of you know I've been very intimidated by using any supplemental lights, lol. I want to start easy and then learn more advanced tricks and stuff.
I accidentally posted this in the other flash thread. I don't know if this will work here or not....I copied and pasted.
Here is my most recent "good" flash pic.
Then here is one where I bounced the flash off of a reflector. Again the flash bounced over my left shoulder and hit a reflector that my "assistant" was holding.
~~Tammi~~
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Those are great examples!
For this thread, let's try to keep it SUPER easy, just to start getting people used to flash. On-camera, hot shoe flash, no accessories. Like me, I get intimidated, so I want to practice with what I can. Say I'm at a client's small house. So no assistants, no reflectors, no diffusers, just on-camera hot shoe flash. Practice just directing the naked flash off a wall to get the diffusion. You can turn your flash all around.
We can start other advanced flash threads - examples of off-camera, using diffusers, rotating flash brackets, bouncing off creatively, etc.... If we start simple, then we can learn faster without confusion, and as we get more advanced, then we can try to get ideal eye catchlights, nice soft, diffused lighting...
After learning something already from Tammi, I went off to practice bouncing off the wall instead of ceiling. The difference was illuminating to say the least!
I created a new Group dedicated to learning flash, so head over there and see my practice photos showing the difference. Please post your own practice shots too!
http://www.dslrcommunity.com/groups/flash_practice/default.aspx
Not sure if people can find their way, so I'm going to copy the post here:
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These photos were taken at ISO 200, f/2, 1/125 on my 85mm 1.4 lens. Flash was TTL at -0.3 EV, although it probably didn't need to be, I just wanted some shadows. I ended up having to boost the exposure, so I should've just left it, and now reading more, if you bounce you often have to increase the flash.
The only thing changed in these photos was where I was bouncing the on-camera flash.
I do very much prefer the bounce off the left wall. More natural lighting, bigger eye catchlights, less harsh shadow...
BOUNCE OFF LEFT WALL
BOUNCE OFF CEILING
hands down I prefer the catchlights in the 'bounce off the wall' pic. Better light direction too. You can see its coming from the left (albeit a bit harsh LOL) rather than smack down on top of the baby's head. In natural light outside, you never want the light to come down from above. It causes shadows in/under the eyes. (That's why Stephanie's eye photos are so beautiful when she has them looking up. :D ) Also you can see that the light is hitting the baby's nose in the ceiling bounce. That is also rather unattractive too irl, kwim?
SO! I definitely prefer the bounce off the wall! Another thing that can be tricky, is if you have some natural THING on the other side of the subject to bounce some light gently into the shadowed side of the face it can be even more attractive, but its not always possible. That said, I still prefer the OTS bounce. :)
thanks for the demo!
The bounce off the wall looks great Angela!!
-Stephenie
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Tammi,
I didn't realize it was harsh, how could I improve the lighting? This baby has very reflective skin as it isn't real, it's hard plastic. I also increased the exposure in Photoshop, so here it is SOOC. Is that any better? If not, how could I improve the photo in terms of the simple setup I have so it isn't so harsh? Move further from the wall? We were 6 feet from the wall. Adjust the angle of the flash on my camera somehow? Adjust the baby's direction?
Again, think small room and no room for assistants or reflectors, other gadgets, I want to start SIMPLE and nail the basics first!
If I can get this down, then I can start thinking about client in-house shoots. Being a perfectionist, I want lighting to be perfect so people love their images and pay for prints!
I think the specular highlights on the doll's "skin" are what make it look harsh. I don't think your light, its the "skin"! :)
Wow, that was 6 feet from the wall? Are you using auto or TTL or what setting on your flash? Are you shooting in manual or using exposure compensation? I might go ahead and try to angle your flash a little bit. I am trying to guess how you must be holding everything. was your camera vertical with the flash toward your left side, aimed back? Was the flash bent at a 90 degree angle? If so, try "feathering the light" by angling the flash a little bit more away from the camera. Maybe 45 degrees? I think experimenting is great! And you are really good about showing us your results! (hint! ;) )
It makes perfect sense to work on one-man flash jobs....I think if you were anticipating shooting in someone's house and its DARK, with flash, I'd take a large white reflector though, and either prop it (like a wall--not as precise as if it were your main light, kwim?) just for a little bit of fill light, OR ask a parent to hold it for you-depends on the situation of course. But to start, yes, I think just learning bouncing techniques is a great start! Its just that with no fill light at all.....I can't stop myself from saying it. LOL It can be phase two. I just had to say it so the idea is there. LOL I am a perfectionist too. So i TOTALLY understand.
Yeah, it's probably the shiny skin. I'll have to powder him up! :)
I'm using flash TTL, camera on manual. That photo was -0.3 EV.
I am holding camera as normal, flash pointed directly to my left at no angle. Baby is 2 feet in front of me.
What about another white wall in a smallish room, that might be a reflector? I want to be totally self-sufficient but I have NO problem asking mom to hold reflector, and have done it many times, I bring that thing on every shoot. :)
I practiced with Satori again tonight, but I have ANOTHER question and will post another thread about that. :)
Also, I won't deem myself ready to shoot at client houses until I get this nailed, but I do have two flashes, planning on getting a third, as I've learned so much in other online tutorials. I have light stands for them all, and soft boxes/diffusers of some sort. So I'll get there soon!
Angela: Yeah, it's probably the shiny skin. I'll have to powder him up! :)
I am sure that's it, and ROTFLOL about the powder. :D I just watched a video of a photographer's session with a senior and he, himself powders EVERY senior he photographs. LOL
And yep, another wall would work, esp if its white and close to the subject. :)