shadows caused by flash
Dec 24, 2011 09:50:09 #
How can I not get the shadows when I use my flash unit. I rarely use my flash unit and when I do, I get shadows behind the people. How can I prevent it?
Dec 24, 2011 10:04:45 #
dasloaf wrote:
How can I not get the shadows when I use my flash unit. I rarely use my flash unit and when I do, I get shadows behind the people. How can I prevent it?
Hi...and Merry Christmas.
If you are using a "pop-up" flash built into the camera, there isn't much you can do about it. Kinda the nature of the beast.
If you have a separate removable flash unit that mounts on your camera you have much more control of the emitted light and can virtually eliminate shadowing. Removable flash units (speedlights) have heads that tilt and turn so you can "bounce" the flashed light off of a wall or ceiling which diffuses and softens the light that falls on your subject. Results are pleasant.
Dean
Dec 24, 2011 10:29:39 #
Bounce Flash or move your subject off the wall. Hard to do in a living room. Here is where I bounced my speedlite off the ceiling.
Dec 24, 2011 17:24:21 #
Dec 24, 2011 17:42:06 #
dasloaf wrote:
How can I not get the shadows when I use my flash unit. I rarely use my flash unit and when I do, I get shadows behind the people. How can I prevent it?
You can reduce shadows behind the subject, by increasing the distance from the subject to the background. You can also balance your exposure to incorporate both the flash and exposure for the ambient light. While this may not eliminate all shadows, it makes a more natural looking image in many cases.
Dec 24, 2011 18:24:31 #
I've said this so much Neil should give me royalties...lol
Buy a 49 cent piece of craft foam and go to this site and learn to bounce your flash off of a side wall or reflector.
Trust me. You will produce flash that looks like ANYTHING BUT flash.
This picture was taken with on camera flash bounced with the 49cent foamie thing.
And here is a link to the instructions
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/03/08/video-using-the-black-foamie-thing/
Buy a 49 cent piece of craft foam and go to this site and learn to bounce your flash off of a side wall or reflector.
Trust me. You will produce flash that looks like ANYTHING BUT flash.
This picture was taken with on camera flash bounced with the 49cent foamie thing.
And here is a link to the instructions
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/03/08/video-using-the-black-foamie-thing/
Dec 24, 2011 18:54:24 #
All the suggestions are correct, but the biggest thing is the biggest amateur mistake - the subject is too close to the wall. Get them away from the wall! But you should also consider all the other suggestions.
Did I mention getting the subject away from the wall?
Did I mention getting the subject away from the wall?
Dec 24, 2011 19:44:34 #
Here is a pic of my step son watching Jaws on TV. He's against the wall on the couch.
I used On-camera flash with the black foamie thing bounced to his right, (my left)
The exposure was -2 stops and the flash picked up the slack.
No...it's not the greatest but it shows that it can be done without shadows and harshness.
I was about 5 or 6 feet away from him.
I used On-camera flash with the black foamie thing bounced to his right, (my left)
The exposure was -2 stops and the flash picked up the slack.
No...it's not the greatest but it shows that it can be done without shadows and harshness.
I was about 5 or 6 feet away from him.
Dec 24, 2011 19:50:15 #
There are very cheap diffusers for pop-up flashes that supposedly help a lot.
7awol wrote:
quote=dasloaf How can I not get the shadows when ... (show quote)
Dec 25, 2011 00:34:31 #
CaptainC wrote:
All the suggestions are correct, but the biggest thing is the biggest amateur mistake - the subject is too close to the wall. Get them away from the wall! But you should also consider all the other suggestions.
Did I mention getting the subject away from the wall?
Did I mention getting the subject away from the wall?
Cliff has nailed it.
You can cheat by changing the angle between you, the subject and the wall.
The closer you and the subject are to the wall, the greater the distance of the resulting shadow.
I made a quick diagram to try and show what I mean...
GT
Dec 25, 2011 01:01:44 #
Dec 25, 2011 05:49:11 #
Dec 25, 2011 06:30:35 #
Dec 25, 2011 07:37:49 #
http://www.abetterbouncecard.com
Go to the site above. I bought the large Better Bounce Card. Used shooting a wedding and couldn't be happier.
http://aubreyc.smugmug.com/Weddings/Lisa-and-Austin-Wedding
Go to the site above. I bought the large Better Bounce Card. Used shooting a wedding and couldn't be happier.
http://aubreyc.smugmug.com/Weddings/Lisa-and-Austin-Wedding
Dec 25, 2011 07:45:59 #
The problem with the betterbouncecard (which I have and use when it's necessary) is that the flash STILL comes from the camera straight onto the subject causing flat lighting and shadows behind the subjects)
When I can't use anything else, I do use the betterbouncecard but its' far from the best solution.
When I can't use anything else, I do use the betterbouncecard but its' far from the best solution.
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