Flash talk

[thirdkid]

Alright, im starting to get to know my flash (430EXII) a little more and what im having trouble with is the metering on the flash settings.. I know how about the ETTL, manual mode, and some of the other functions..

Ive heard that you can shoot with the flash and have no shadow on the background.. Anyone know how to do this?

EDIT: forgot there was a sticky on the flash discussion heading..

[David]

not quite sure how you would do this? Possibly by using some kind of diffuser filter on the end of your flash to soften the light.

You can create different effects by bouncing flash off the ceiling or holding it off camera etc...

[EGD]

bounce flash, or the most simple and effective way, get an umbrella (either shoot through or reflctive type)

its all about where and how you put your light source, when i first learnt about the flash, i spent a good few month reading non stop on the net coz there is so much to learn. try spend a bit time and read through strobist 101. and if you want more here is a really useful link (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907).

[thirdkid]

thanks for the info..on one of my shoots i had two flashes and it gave the photo un ugly look cos of the two massive shadows on the background..

yeah been reading through the strobist forums..i might try use some diffusers and maybe invest on an umbrella..

might try experiment with the metering too..

[Moppie]

The background exposure needs to be the same, or brighter than the subjects exposure.
Or, it needs to be far enough away that a shadow will not reach it.

[thirdkid]

so the flash can actually be set so that it wont make a shadow?

[Moppie]

No, but you can set the scene up so no shadow will show.


What is a shadow?
It is just a lack of light.

Put a subject close to a wall and hit them with a flash.
If the light from the flash reaches the subject and the wall with the same intensity, and the subject is between the flash and the wall, there will be an area of the wall that does not recieve any light from the flash. This shows as a shadow.

There are lots of ways around this.
You could add another source of light, to light up the wall behind the subject.
You could lower the out put of the flash so it matches any ambient light, and expose accordingly.
You could move the subject far enough away from the wall that thanks to the inverse square law, none of the light from the flash reachs the wall. No light on the wall, means nothing to cast a shadow into.

[thirdkid]

ohh okay..cheers for that info..i might experiment tonight with the flash..might try save for another light source too..

would a soft box be good?cos im pretty sure they come with a light inside..

[David]

I read somewhere once that you can make cheap diffusers by putting clear plastic cups over the end of your flash... theres a tutorial for doing this on instructables (http://www.instructables.com/id/Budget-flash-strobe-diffuser/) its pretty budget, but effective :)

[thirdkid]

nice link..might try that..cheap enough..haha

another question about flash's, if you do multiple bursts will this do harm to the flash?ofcourse the bulb will get more wear but will it do anything to the workings/electricals of the flash itself?

[Moppie]

Most of the newer flashes have a limit to how many shots you can fire in a row, because use lots of constant use will over heat them, which will do damage.

If you find yourself using it heavily, firing non-stop as fast as it can recycle, then stop every 10 or so shots and give the flash a minute or two to cool down.