Self Portrait (First tries with bounce card)

[Lance Nelson]

Tonight I decided to make a bounce card for my flash after seeing a few other photographers on forums talk about using them. I'm really happy with the results I'm getting while using it.

There's only one problem though, the shadows are pretty heavy when taken in front of a background. I'm trying to figure out how to not have such an intense shadow, any idea's?

If it helps, I'm using my flash on the manual setting. I believe this shot was taken at around 1/8 or 1/16 power. And the flash was mounted to the hot shoe.

<img width="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/2240783911_05ec0c0a01_o.jpg" />

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 31 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV
Flash: Flash fired

If you'd like to see the rest of the pictures you can find them on http://www.flickr.com/photos/lancenelson. They are going to be the very first ones on the page.

Thanks!

[Guy With A Rebel]

I'm totally new to photography (other than point and shoot) so don't take my suggestion too seriously, but I think moving away from your background will get rid of the dark shadows you are talking about.

There is a good chance I'm totally wrong, but I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction. :D

[snapdragon]

I agree " moving away from your background will get rid of the dark shadows you are talking about. " also in portrait work a lower f / will blur the back ground you don't need blur in this shot for the background persay, but with this sharp of a focuse the shadow I think is also more in focus ,making it very strong .only learning myself and I may be wrong too . how did you make your bounce card ?

[hsroxas]

The suggestions to move away from the background works. Additionally, you may tilt the card a little to the flash/camera back to lessen the light coming directly from the card viz a viz the light bounced to the ceiling/walls.

[Lance Nelson]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try all of this out later on tonight.

how did you make your bounce card?

What I did was take a piece of poster board and cut it into the shape of an ice cream cone pretty much. Then I just started folding so that the flash would shoot right straight to the top. Then made sure that the area where the light hits was pretty big for a good bounce.

This is what it looked like when I finished...

http://xs224.xs.to/xs224/08061/bouncecard421.jpg

[rediguana]

Agree with the others - separation between subject and background will help. Also, having an alternative light source for the background can help as well - this is where a second flash, or possibly another reflector may help if you can direct it to where the shadow may fall.