Camera mounted flash - Does the light need to be bounced to be useful?
Dec 2, 2015 11:04:13 #
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
Dec 2, 2015 11:13:13 #
toast wrote:
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I guess it depends on what type of environment your in? Can you explain a little more!
Dec 2, 2015 11:15:50 #
Yes, and another recent post regarding astronomy photos suggests that using a simple bounce card attached to the flash and dialing the flash output down will enable you to ease shadows and improve contrast in outdoor portraits.
Dec 2, 2015 11:40:52 #
toast wrote:
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
Of all the flash techniques used, camera mounted is probably on the bottom of the list as far as creative.
--Bob
Dec 2, 2015 11:43:40 #
rjaywallace wrote:
Yes, and another recent post regarding astronomy photos suggests that using a simple bounce card attached to the flash and dialing the flash output down will enable you to ease shadows and improve contrast in outdoor portraits.
Given the nearest star is about 4.5 light years distant you would need a long shutter speed to utilize any bounced flash.
Dec 2, 2015 11:48:11 #
toast wrote:
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
Any light coming from the same axis as the camera will be "flattening" and not flattering.
Even if you use a bracket, it's just not that great a look. (think deer in the headlights)
if you attach a flash to your camera, you need to bounce it to the side to get "side lighting" that is flattering to folks.
But yes...you need something to bounce it off of otherwise it will continue to travel through the universe and not come back to your subject. Light travels in a straight line unless it's deflected by an object.
Dec 2, 2015 11:50:34 #
Los-Angeles-Shooter
Loc: Los Angeles
The on-camera or on-bracket flash can be softened with various modifiers and cards. It'll do the job in many circumstances but, even softened, it is seldom elegant.
Dec 2, 2015 12:07:14 #
toast wrote:
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
You can also use it to trigger an off-camera flash. Nikon has an inexpensive shade that covers the light going forward from the flash but enables triggering.
Dec 2, 2015 12:10:04 #
Los-Angeles-Shooter wrote:
The on-camera or on-bracket flash can be softened with various modifiers and cards. It'll do the job in many circumstances but, even softened, it is seldom elegant.
Trying for elegant would be studio shooting, candid shooting can be done with on or close to camera flash, probably has to be, good technique may even surpass poor studio shooting, I do not favor the idea of brackets that position the flash head over the lens. Think back to the Honeywell 880 days, I'd say the 70's when I was learning, the flash was positioned above and to the left of the camera when held in the landscape position, above and to the right in portrait, shadows fell down and to the side, move to the Metz 202, get a bounce head, bounce or bounce and a fill card and the shadow was almost gone, remember no TTl, f10, 10 ft, ASA100, lot of weddings done that way, lot of good photos, lot of happy people. Bob.
Dec 2, 2015 12:10:17 #
I'll be a little more specific. My camera is a Canon 5D Mk3. Mounted flash is Canon 600EX-RT. I'm shooting indoor basketball tonight. Really high ceiling and pretty open area.
If I point the flash directly at a played and they are say 15 feet away we I see any benefits from the flash. I'm sure I will find out tonight but I'm always curious and willing to learn from folks who have experience and knowledge.
I always appreciate the help and love reading what other think and their own personnel experiences. :) Thank You!
If I point the flash directly at a played and they are say 15 feet away we I see any benefits from the flash. I'm sure I will find out tonight but I'm always curious and willing to learn from folks who have experience and knowledge.
I always appreciate the help and love reading what other think and their own personnel experiences. :) Thank You!
Dec 2, 2015 12:30:05 #
Yes. I use bounce flash, with a Gary Fong diffuser, whenever I am shooting indoors. You get some direct flash, but the majority of the light is directed upwards and produces warmer results.
Dec 2, 2015 12:46:14 #
John_F wrote:
Given the nearest star is about 4.5 light years distant you would need a long shutter speed to utilize any bounced flash.
John, please re-read my post. You aren't going to bounce the flash off some distant star, I was suggesting bouncing it off a card (like a 3x5 card) taped or attached with a rubber band to the flash head in order to soften the flash effect for a portrait or other subject matter.
Dec 2, 2015 12:55:08 #
rjaywallace wrote:
What does astronomy photography have to do with bounce flash?. . . recent post regarding astronomy photos . . .
Dec 2, 2015 13:17:19 #
toast wrote:
Is the light coming from a camera mounted flash unit still useful is there is nothing to bounce the light off of?
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
I'm thinking you still get some benefit/effect from the light/flash but not sure.
Of course there are benefits although for some applications the light creates shadows and is unflattering.
Its great for fill flash outdoors.
Its brings out colors on birds that the camera would not pick up in certain lighting conditions.
It allows use of higher shutter speeds up to the camera's max sync speed in poor lighting.
Facilitate smaller apertures for greater DOF.
Works great with light modifies indoors and outdoors.
Allows exposure that you would otherwise not be able to use.
Minimizes the affect of mixed lighting indoors.
And probably some things I haven't listed.
Use it all the time mounted on camera indoors and out. Of course that's not the only way to use it and some alternatives work better than others in certain conditions.
No camera bag is complete without a flash.
Dec 2, 2015 15:45:46 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
What does astronomy photography have to do with bounce flash?
The flash will illuminate nearby airborne dust particles, giving the illusion of more stars in your images. Then, print them up, invite friends over and challenge them to find the constellations. Hours of fun.
Mike
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