Taking it Off the Camera

[benjikan]

Look..I don't want to ruffle any feathers here, but if you want your images to have a bit more interest, I strongly suggest you finding a way to use flash off of the camera. Direct flash, kills all of the shadows and flattens the image in a way that I quite frankly find boring. If you have no choice, here is a suggestions. Build a makeshift stand and put a 2x2 cardboard square reflector to your right or left and aim the flash towards the reflector and in to the subject. This will add dimension and drama to your images. Try this out and tell me what you think...

Ben

 

[Alex_B]

totally agree, central flash is only for emergencies when it is too dark and you have to be fast and don't have anything better around, but not when you want to create some great photograph.

I prefer using high ISO and shallow DOF over on camera flash. Since the flash wrecks more than the noise you get from high ISO.

 

[Funky]

exactly, see we need more posts like this,helpful..... it seems people have been at eachothers throats lately.

 

[Tangerini]

totally agree, central flash is only for emergencies when it is too dark and you have to be fast and don't have anything better around, but not when you want to create some great photograph.

I prefer using high ISO and shallow DOF over on camera flash. Since the flash wrecks more than the noise you get from high ISO.

Absolutely

 

[Alex_B]

Absolutely

easy decision for me since I do not even have a built in flash

 

[Funky]

you dont o__O?

 

[Alex_B]

you dont o__O?

Neither me myself nor my main camera have a built in flash

 

[Don Simon]

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first man with a built in flash. Alex B will be that man. Better, stronger, flashier." - DA DA DA DAAAA...

 

[DSLR noob]

lol

 

[Alex_B]

if that flash is built into my left hand, it might help the images alot!

 

[darich]

easy decision for me since I do not even have a built in flash

Exactly what i was about to say!!!
:mrgreen:

 

[benjikan]

Exactly what i was about to say!!!
:mrgreen:

For me that includes the flash you stick on your hotshoe...

The size of the reflector chosen has to do with how far from the reflected source the flash is. As you know the further away the smaller the area of reflection. You can use multiple reflectors to garner different results. Try mixing different reflective surfaces and tones of gray or gold or perhaps using gelatins over the aluminum surface to change the color of specific areas of the image. This can also be applied to daylight reflection as well.

 

[Alex_B]

For me that includes the flash you stick on your hotshoe...

Oh, I think darich was aware of that, and so am I. I just meant that if you have a built-in, then people are easily tempted to use it, but once you don't have ti, you start thinking about flash in a different way as you have to spend some brain on it anyway.

 

[darich]

i was aware of it...thanks Alex.

With the 5D not having a built and me not even having a flash gun of any sort then i don't think about it at all!!

Even when i had the 20D adn digital Rebel before that i rarely use flash.
I' much prefer pushing the ISO and opening the aperture and that's why after about 12 years of owning SLRs I've never bought a flash gun.

Thought about it a couple of times but then i think, "I've never needed one before so i could buy another lens instead"!!

 

[Garbz]

I couldn't agree more. If you can find a way to remotely trigger a flash you can do all sorts of things if you are DIY inclined. I was pleased to find that the SB-800 for Nikon was more than powerful enough to use with a small softbox made in 10 minutes out of cardboard and paper. The results are amazing.