Bounced Flash
Jan 22, 2013 09:34:35 #
Hi,
Happy New Year to everyone.
Problem : How do you cope with bouncing flash of funny coloured walls/ceilings etc.
Was trying out some family flash portraits and tried to bounce the flash of the ceilings and/or walls . Got strange results which I stupidly deleted , should have posted.
The only thing I can think of is that the flash light source becomes the colour of the bounced surface,seems logical to me but photography does not always seem to obvious . what to do?
Help!
Happy New Year to everyone.
Problem : How do you cope with bouncing flash of funny coloured walls/ceilings etc.
Was trying out some family flash portraits and tried to bounce the flash of the ceilings and/or walls . Got strange results which I stupidly deleted , should have posted.
The only thing I can think of is that the flash light source becomes the colour of the bounced surface,seems logical to me but photography does not always seem to obvious . what to do?
Help!
Jan 22, 2013 09:52:07 #
You can make a simple reflector out of a white or manilla file folder. Just fold it at 45 degrees and tape it together. Attach it to your flash using a large elastic and "presto".
Here's a link to a template you can download and cut out of card stock.
http://www.petapixel.com/2010/10/21/print-a-diy-flash-reflector-on-card-stock/
Cheers
Here's a link to a template you can download and cut out of card stock.
http://www.petapixel.com/2010/10/21/print-a-diy-flash-reflector-on-card-stock/
Cheers
Jan 22, 2013 12:37:27 #
eBay has some inexpensive bounce flash reflectors to attach to your flash head to bounce the light off a white surface without using the ceiling and walls. Just search for flash reflectors.
Jan 22, 2013 16:31:31 #
Jan 22, 2013 16:43:23 #
Hi,
As new to this madness I am a bit confused.
I thought that the idea was to use the walls/ceilings to increase the size of the area "flashed" to soften. The "reflectors" make good sense and must be preferable to using green walls . I just wondered if there was a way to negate the green light.
Thanks for the source info, makes more sense than just splashing out on brands.
As new to this madness I am a bit confused.
I thought that the idea was to use the walls/ceilings to increase the size of the area "flashed" to soften. The "reflectors" make good sense and must be preferable to using green walls . I just wondered if there was a way to negate the green light.
Thanks for the source info, makes more sense than just splashing out on brands.
Jan 22, 2013 17:30:31 #
Well, if you don't want to pick up the colour, you look for another surface, or use your own modifier. The scrim from a five-in-one reflector, together with a speedlite and extension lead, and with a bit of help from a humanoid interactive light stand, and you have an instant soft box, for instance.
I once had a job in a small shop where every surface, walls and ceiling were painted black! So I held the camera with one hand, and bounced a camera mounted flash off a reflector I held in the other hand.
The shot below was, at first glance, a bloody nightmare. The location was full of clutter, and the was a window right behind the subject. A large black reflector blocked off the window, and a med sized gold reflector was wedged on the wall camera left. The ambient was underexposed and the camera mounted flash bounced off the gold reflector. The idea was to make it look like the light was coming from the angle-poise lamp. The result was a useable PJ picture rescued from a difficult situation.
I once had a job in a small shop where every surface, walls and ceiling were painted black! So I held the camera with one hand, and bounced a camera mounted flash off a reflector I held in the other hand.
The shot below was, at first glance, a bloody nightmare. The location was full of clutter, and the was a window right behind the subject. A large black reflector blocked off the window, and a med sized gold reflector was wedged on the wall camera left. The ambient was underexposed and the camera mounted flash bounced off the gold reflector. The idea was to make it look like the light was coming from the angle-poise lamp. The result was a useable PJ picture rescued from a difficult situation.
Jan 22, 2013 17:45:05 #
Hi,
Now I know why all those reflectors etc exist.
Like the photo, the gold reflector gives a good soft light and
it really does seem like the light source is the lamp . Gives a great mood.
I would have thought that the addnl. light from the window would have helped but you cut it out . Was this because it was "bad light"?
Thanks for your time and help. Think I will stick to natural light only for a while , this "flash" business is much more complex than I thought, don' t think I am ready for it yet!
Now I know why all those reflectors etc exist.
Like the photo, the gold reflector gives a good soft light and
it really does seem like the light source is the lamp . Gives a great mood.
I would have thought that the addnl. light from the window would have helped but you cut it out . Was this because it was "bad light"?
Thanks for your time and help. Think I will stick to natural light only for a while , this "flash" business is much more complex than I thought, don' t think I am ready for it yet!
Jan 23, 2013 07:22:34 #
Jan 23, 2013 07:32:32 #
Jan 23, 2013 07:38:08 #
Hammer wrote:
Hi, br br Happy New Year to everyone. br br Prob... (show quote)
LumiFlex used to make a pocket reflector... as I recall it came with two options, one had holes for partial reflection....
Jan 23, 2013 07:55:40 #
Jan 23, 2013 08:24:48 #
Hammer wrote:
Hi, br br Happy New Year to everyone. br br Prob... (show quote)
Colored walls will tint the bounce light, RAW processing should be able to adjust, Bob
Jan 23, 2013 08:42:38 #
Jan 23, 2013 09:26:26 #
Bouncing flash off a colored wall or ceiling is like putting a colored filter on your lens. If your camera has a custom white balance function, learn to use it. You can use any really white surface as a target or carry a small grey card.
Len
Len
Jan 23, 2013 09:52:39 #
Hello,
Will definitely try to use the custom white balance , its on my list but I am confused by this .
If I set the white balance by referencing the camera to photo of a grey card in the ambient light will the walls/ceiling still "colour" the flash light and do I photo the grey card using the flash?
Help !!!!!
Will definitely try to use the custom white balance , its on my list but I am confused by this .
If I set the white balance by referencing the camera to photo of a grey card in the ambient light will the walls/ceiling still "colour" the flash light and do I photo the grey card using the flash?
Help !!!!!
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