I Don't Think I'm Using This Flash Right

bleeblu · Nov 21, 2011

So I'm borrowing a friend's flash. It's a Yongnuo YN560. I know it's not the greatest thing but you gotta work with what you got. I don't know the technical term for some of these but it has a diffuser and a piece of white paper that is angled 90 degrees from the flash. I assume it is used to bounce the flash off of it at a 45 degree angle.

So I'm messing around with that white piece of paper and can't help there is a very bright spot at the top of all the pictures I take. If I turn the power down then the rest of the image gets dim. Here's an example. Sorry for the crop but it is NSFWish. What am I doing wrong?

Derrel · Nov 21, 2011

Small room, low ceiling, too much of the flash is going up, and due to the SHORT RANGES involved, there is INTENSE LIGHT at the top edge of the frame, and due to RAPID light fall-off, the bottom of the frame is very dark, in comparison. This is a very,very common occurence when shooting in dorm rooms, low-ceilinged apartments, inside motor homes, tents, or aboard boats, ships, yachts,etc.,etc,etc.

The easiest thing to do is to bounce the flash BACKWARD, off of like a wall AND a corner that is over your left-hand or right-hand shoulder. That will create a large light soure that is more equally-distant from the top of her to the waist of her...light falls off and loses intensity very quickly....when the source of light is "close" to the subject, the light "falls off" or drops in intensity very,very rapidly; however, if you can get the light to hit the area being photographed from a LONGER DISTANCE AWAY, then the intensity of the light is going to be relatively consistent in its level. So, ya' gotta aim the flash in an entirely,entirely different manner than you did for these shots. And most likely ditch the paper bounce sheet he had with it when he loaned you the flash.

Try aiming the flash head all around the room sometime, and keep the camera's angle of view and position consistent. I have done this many times, and occasionally, an oddball bounce-and-tilt flash bounce will create absolutely AMAZING lighting. Usually, the lighting will just be "good", but occasionally, I have gone through multiple test shots and all sorts of angles of bounce,tilt,and zoom, and as I said, occasionally some simply AMAZING light can be created by bouncing, if everything comes together just right.

bleeblu · Nov 21, 2011

Thank you, Derrel. You are always very helpful in the forums.

I did several test shots using the flash in different ways, however, I didn't experiment with bouncing it off the wall behind me. Right now, I want to make my images look more "professional", if you will, but it's so hard when some of the crappier pictures look so cool to me. Here's another where I bounced it off the wall to my left. I love the lighting but I know if I posted it for CC on here people will say it is too dark on the right side of the subject.

Derrel · Nov 22, 2011

I stopped by the bleeblu.com blog--you've got some pretty good photo talent brewing there!!! I loved that red backdrop image with the building....wayyyyyyyy cool!

Big Mike · Nov 22, 2011

Keep experimenting. Bouncing the flash can give you great light, but it is completely dependent on the room/area that you're shooting in. So what works for one shot, may not work for the next. With practice and experience, you'll be able to pick it up pretty well, I think.

DiskoJoe · Nov 22, 2011

camera, hot chick half naked......

what was your question?

gsgary · Nov 22, 2011

The white card is mostly use for putting a catch light in the eye when shooting outside

KmH · Nov 22, 2011

Start shooting pool.

Lighting, like shooting pool, is all about the angles.

kundalini · Nov 22, 2011

Following on with what Derrel was saying about bouncing off the wall behind you, just reverse fire your flash on the hotshoe........

If the wall is too far away or are getting a color cast from it, you can use a reflector/difusser directly behind you.....

And of course, you could get a cord for more options where to bounce.....

Big Mike · Nov 22, 2011

gsgary said:
The white card is mostly use for putting a catch light in the eye when shooting outside

I'm sorry, but that shows an extreme lack of understanding.
Why would you shoot the flash up into the sky and then use the white card to deflect a small portion of the light forward for a catch light?
If one simply pointed the flash forward, you would get the same catch light, but the flash would only need to fire at a fraction of the power.

Now, if you're indoors, then yes, the white 'bounce' card can be used to split the light. Letting most of it go up to bounce off the ceiling, but also directly some of it forward, directly to the subject for fill light and catch lights etc.

In fact, most of the flash accessories are made to do the exact same thing....Omnibounce, Lumiquest 80-20 etc.

gsgary · Nov 22, 2011

From the 580ex manual
point flash head straight ahead and then upwards by 90 (straight up) for maximum catch light stay within 1.5m, which it too close for bounce

gsgary · Nov 22, 2011

Big Mike said:
gsgary said:

The white card is mostly use for putting a catch light in the eye when shooting outside

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but that shows an extreme lack of understanding.
Why would you shoot the flash up into the sky and then use the white card to deflect a small portion of the light forward for a catch light?
If one simply pointed the flash forward, you would get the same catch light, but the flash would only need to fire at a fraction of the power.

Now, if you're indoors, then yes, the white 'bounce' card can be used to split the light. Letting most of it go up to bounce off the ceiling, but also directly some of it forward, directly to the subject for fill light and catch lights etc.

In fact, most of the flash accessories are made to do the exact same thing....Omnibounce, Lumiquest 80-20 etc.