Flash photos

[cgipson1]

No.. she was suggesting using manual for "NATURAL LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY!" Read it again... she says that the OP shouldn't learn flash.. that Natural light is better!

Maybe you should read that particular post again, she made no mention of natural light. Her other posts, yes. But not that one. As I read it, she is suggesting that they learn manual mode or at least get some mileage with it because it's an important part to flash photography. Critical to using flash, really.

My interpretation is different.. she never mentioned using flash. I do agree that Manual is needed for flash, and I even posted that. But Paige's comments were all Anti-Flash, Pro NL! And not really even worth arguing about really, is it!

If anyone else would like to weigh in on this, I would be curious as to how other interpreted this!

 

[Stradawhovious]

And not really even worth arguing about really, is it!

Five and a half pages in this thread would beg to differ.

 

[cgipson1]

And not really even worth arguing about really, is it!

Five and a half pages in this thread would beg to differ.

True...

So what is your take on the manual / NL / flash thing?

 

[sactown024]

I am a newbie I know but I have yet to see someone post a really good NL pic or at least one where flash wouldn't have turn out better...

 

[o hey tyler]

well if you want to learn flash then by all means learn it! But obviously you have so much to learn that your photos would probably be tons better if you concentrated your efforts on learning how to shoot in manual first.

My interpretation is different.. she never mentioned using flash. I do agree that Manual is needed for flash, and I even posted that. But Paige's comments were all Anti-Flash, Pro NL! And not really even worth arguing about really, is it!

It appears to me that she directly encouraged the usage of flash in that post. I don't know how else you would interpret it. This post seemed pretty pro-flash. "If you want to learn flash, then by all means learn it!" Coupled with the suggestion to get familiarized with manual mode as it is vital for flash photography.

Yes, her other posts were suggesting the OP use natural light. I'm not talking about her other posts.

You use a lot of exclamation points, have you noticed that? There's no need to yell.

 

[sactown024]

Another question..... If I wanted to save money could I just buy a speed lite and keep it on the camera and buy a reflector and just turn the flash towards the reflector? that way I don't have to buy trigger and umbrella and stands....

 

[o hey tyler]

I am a newbie I know but I have yet to see someone post a really good NL pic or at least one where flash wouldn't have turn out better...

How would flash have made this better? It's properly exposed, and has minimal reflections.

How would flash have made this better? It would have negated the effect entirely.

No flash was used here. She appears to be lit quite well, even without a reflector. No raccoon eyes to speak of, and there is detail throughout her dress.

I used flash here. Why? Because I had time to set it up, use it off camera and dial in the exposure to my liking. All the other shots I posted, flash was not necessary and only would have made shooting more labor intensive for minimal, or no gain. You can't expect to use flash 24/7 (depending on what you shoot IMO, studio photography is different).

I used flash here (on camera) because I needed to expose the subjects properly. Had to bump my ISO to 800 to give the flash more carrying power over the room.

The point I am trying to make is, there's no reason to use flash all of the time if you know how to see light. Yes, there are plenty of situations where flash is necessary, but not all images can be improved with the use of flash. When I shoot weddings, I use flash when necessary. When needed to properly expose a photo. I don't bother with it otherwise.

 

[sactown024]

Don't get defensive I just made a simple statement, I wasn't trying to say it can't be done I just said I havnt seen it yet, glad you posted photos. In my opinion I like the looks of indoor flash photography, it doesn't mean you have too

 

[cgipson1]

well if you want to learn flash then by all means learn it! But obviously you have so much to learn that your photos would probably be tons better if you concentrated your efforts on learning how to shoot in manual first.

My interpretation is different.. she never mentioned using flash. I do agree that Manual is needed for flash, and I even posted that. But Paige's comments were all Anti-Flash, Pro NL! And not really even worth arguing about really, is it!

It appears to me that she directly encouraged the usage of flash in that post. I don't know how else you would interpret it. This post seemed pretty pro-flash. "If you want to learn flash, then by all means learn it!" Coupled with the suggestion to get familiarized with manual mode as it is vital for flash photography.

Yes, her other posts were suggesting the OP use natural light. I'm not talking about her other posts.

You use a lot of exclamation points, have you noticed that? There's no need to yell.

hahaha... we are discussing semantics here. This line "But obviously you have so much to learn that your photos would probably be tons better if you concentrated your efforts on learning how to shoot in manual first." states to me, that she means manual only as in Natural Light... to the exclusion of FLASH. She says learn MANUAL first... NOT manual and flash first!

Of course, that is my interpretation.. especially in the context of all the other anti-flash statements that were made. This will be my last reply to this, as it is getting ridiculous. My reading comprehension skills are relatively high... but I won't argue just to argue.

 

[sactown024]

I totally agree, def don't need it all the time, no way. But this thread was about newborn photography which I plan to do inside. I think we just got off topic

 

[cgipson1]

Another question..... If I wanted to save money could I just buy a speed lite and keep it on the camera and buy a reflector and just turn the flash towards the reflector? that way I don't have to buy trigger and umbrella and stands....

Sure.. and get lesser quality shots! But that is your call!

 

[MLeeK]

You could get away without the stands-possibly. Putting the flash on the camera really isn't doing anything more than you could already do with your on board flash. Yes, you could turn it or bounce it. You could bounce it off a window, but it really limits you.

You could "engineer" a setup where you place the flash on a coffee table, floor.... with a trigger. Then "engineer" a diffuser panel of some sort either by way of a curtain, white/translucent tupperware... It can be done, but it takes some ingenuity and "engineering" skills.
The least I'd want is the speedlight and trigger with at least one receiver. You can fire your speedlight using the camera's flash, but that would be defeating the purpose of getting the light off the top of the camera completely.
What it boils down to is if you want newborn images anywhere near the ones you had posted originally you need a few things. You can get some great results just with the window. You aren't going to get what you posted, but you will get beautiful images if you wait on the light to play nice with you.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Here's a thought..... rather than spending lots of money on modifiers, you could do something like this....

Do-It-Yourself Flash Bounce Card

Not quite the perfect studio lighting modifier, but I use mine as a bounce for chasing the kids around and grip and grin events. I find it to be invaluable. Directs lots of light up for bouncing off the ceiling, but the white side also bounces plenty of light forward. It works splendidly.

The black side also works really reall well as a flag, or use to like barn doors. Really helps direct the light. I think I made half a dozen for about $6 from michaels.

 

[o hey tyler]

Don't get defensive I just made a simple statement, I wasn't trying to say it can't be done I just said I havnt seen it yet, glad you posted photos. In my opinion I like the looks of indoor flash photography, it doesn't mean you have too

I'm not getting defensive. I'm trying to illustrate that there's a time and place for flash. It's not needed all the time, as I've shown.

 

[MLeeK]

Indoor. No flash. Yep. Really. NO flash. That's a can light directly over their heads.


Mid afternoon, Outdoor, No flash


Indoor, 2 strobes


indoor, no flash and a window behind my son to our right


Outdoor no flash. See how green she is? I NEEDED flash


Here's the original of the NB image I posted in B/W


The point is learning HOW to create what is in your imagination. Sometimes it requires flash. A lot of the time it requires flash. Other times it doesn't.
Choose what you want to do and what you want to learn now.