Is it ok to not like flash?

[JFeinbergPhotography]

Well, after about two months of really focusing (little pun) on photography, I have found that I really don't like using my flash, both the internal and external one. I like the natural ambient light. Of course if it is night, I would. But if I have the option to, I almost never.

What do you do?

[Jim Bryant]

What kind of flash do you use? Hopefully not one of those pop-up thingies. Go to strobists.com and check out all the helpful hints that make flash not so bad.
The guy's name is Dave Hobby. There's also Joe McNally: Lighting Joe McNally’s Blog. FLASH is a good thing, IF you know how to use it properly!

[JFeinbergPhotography]

I have a pop up one that I don't think Ive ever used unless it was a family gathering and I didnt care about the quality, but I have a difuser for that anyway.

And no, I have a hotshoe flash as well, but I don't like using it too much.

[DivotMaker]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

What kind of flash do you use? Hopefully not one of those pop-up thingies. Go to strobists.com and check out all the helpful hints that make flash not so bad.
The guy's name is Dave Hobby. There's also Joe McNally: Lighting Joe McNally’s Blog. FLASH is a good thing, IF you know how to use it properly!

+1

I hated flash until I visited the links Jim posted. Then I attend a stop on the Flash Bus Tour. Now I am looking for ways to experiment.

{I am flashin whenever I can, now}

[Jim Poor]

99% of the time, not liking flash in any form = not knowing how to use it.

Mcnally is great and also Strobist.com

[nickbedford]

I love using flash, both external and on-camera. On camera simply involves utilising bounce cards or diffusers and a percentage of forward/ceiling/wall bounce to achieve a flattering result.

External softbox/umbrella lighting rocks.

My own examples:

Umbrella (15 degrees to my left) + softbox (90 degrees on the right)



Softbox up to the right above the monitor speakers + bare speedlite from behind subject



On camera Canon 270EX speedlite using a Demb bounce card.

[inkista]

It's not ok to not like flash unless you already know how to properly bounce and do off-camera lighting work with a flash.

For me, the go-to-link for a quick and easy lesson in why you want an external flash that tilts and swivels and why you want it, is this one: Neil van Niekerk's article on how to bounc on-camera flash.

Nick, I find I bounce behind me more often than I bounce in front of me.

[ravncat]

Like most thing`s in photography, subtlety is usually best. I find flash is best when it is subtle - you show a person and they don`t go - ahh, that`s flash. Learn how to blend flash and natural light, and I totally second all of the above comments about the strobist and Joe Mcnally. Getting your flash off axis will help alot. Proper white balance will help. Flash and lighting is also critical in studio work for proper color management

[nickbedford]

Originally Posted by inkista

It's not ok to not like flash unless you already know how to properly bounce and do off-camera lighting work with a flash.

For me, the go-to-link for a quick and easy lesson in why you want an external flash that tilts and swivels and why you want it, is this one: Neil van Niekerk's article on how to bounc on-camera flash.

Nick, I find I bounce behind me more often than I bounce in front of me.

That does depend on your surroundings though. In that third example, there were no walls or ceilings nearby. I still like the way the on camera worked in that situation, giving a softer slightly down angled light source, though that's with a small hotshoe flash, not a full size unit.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

99% of the time, not liking flash in any form = not knowing how to use it.

Mcnally is great and also Strobist.com

Bingo. Takes a while, and some practice.