Need Advice to direct on-camera flash to nearby people

[ccting]

Dear experts,

I am very new to flash. I just bought my very first speedlight on 29 Oct 2011. Sometimes when the ceiling is too high or dark in color, and the walls are too far away, I wish to direct my on-camera flash to nearby people who wear white clothes. How to direct the on-camera flash in order to get best results, while not to get back complaints from the victims? Simple diagrams and samples will help a lot.

Assume that I am not wearing white clothes and I am not able to fire flash on my own shoulder.. and without any diffusers..Fire flash direct to subject is not allowed, and I don't have off-camera TTL code or wireless trigger.
Bounce back flash is not impossible as the GN of YN465 is only 27, and the hall is too big.

Thank you.

[zona5101]

You want to bounce flash but the ceiling is too high/off color?
Then attach your own ceiling...use a lumiquest or similar. There are some really simple and inexpensive DIY versions that will work perfectly in this application.

Bounce Devices - LumiQuest

DIY Reflector-Diffuser
Do-It-Yourself Flash Bounce Card
The (Really HUGE) Kimel Bouncer | DIYPhotography.net
etc...

[Sweetlifephoto]

Agreed with the previous poster that you are better off using a modifier on your flash.

In a pinch go ahead and wear a white shirt and bounce off yourself. This takes practice but holding the camera away from your body and towards your waist. The hard part is learning how to frame the image without looking through the viewfinder. Works best for wider angle lenses, don' t expect it to work with a 70-200.

The problem with bouncing off of other people are: 1.) They move. 2.) They generally don't like flashes going off in their faces.

[SGToliver]

You could always just try bumping up your ISO! Or use a Demb-Flip it to get some more fill.

[Doug Sundseth]

If you're expecting to bounce off yourself, you might consider using a sync cord. Then you can still frame as usual (one-handed, of course) and handle the flash with the other hand. The problem is that your light will be on-axis, of course, which reduces the value of the bounce.

With a sync cord (and possibly a monopod for the light), you can also get better light angles hand held by holding the light off to the side and up. You're likely to get similar lighting angles for all your shots (from camera left for right-handed shooters), but the off-axis light is much better than on-axis key lighting.

[ccting]

Oh.. thanks very much for the advices...

My next questions:
a) I believe (I made one and try before), having bounce-back diffusers attached on speedlight will cause 2 problems
- flat photos
- The gap between diffuser and source of light is too near, thus causing significant flash evident on subject. My conceptual idea is the greater distance will provide larger area of source light and provide better diffuse light..

b) Sweetlifephoto has given idea how to do it, since i have tilt-LCD. I can always tilt the digital lcd to focus on subject. No worry i have only 18-55mm vr kit len ;D.

c) Bumping ISO is one of the solution, but... noise.. Sometimes I bump the iso up to 3200 or even 6400. I have slow len. I need to shorten the light travel path. Ya I have thought of buying one but, I don't want to spend any cent for now.

d) I never thought of having speedlight on monopod. Thanks Doug Sundseth, I will have my reflector on my lightweight tripod / pvc paip...instead.

thanks experts for the advices.., hopefully I will get ideas from others.

Finally, i thinking of
a) holding my reflector with my tripod/ PVC paip with my left hand, and move away the camera to my far right and focus via tiltable digital LCD screen..
b) put my camera on tripod, with quick remote triger, while i am holding a reflector. Press the trigger while the subject moves into my frame, continuous 3 shots. Always look at the tiltable digital LCD.

I am not sure about the practicality of my idea? Will post my experience and sample photos later, here.

Thanks again.

[SGToliver]

Oh, wow. When I meant bump it up I meant to like 400 or 800 haha. Even with a kit lens this should be enough unless you are shooting in complete darkness.....Maybe you could provide a photo of what you are talking about and/or what you are trying to acheive.

[ccting]

Exp 1: On-camera flash: Holding car shade on far left by hand, fire at car shade from on-camera flash from far right by hand with tilt digital lcd. My father is eating something... ISO1000, 55mm, d5100, f/5.6, Shutter speed 1/125s -3.0EV, vr off, nr off, dynamic lighting off, flash Compensation

The car shade is 2 sided, one silver one golden with advertisement.
Question: There is no post-production at all, except adding @ccting using lightroom. How is the lighting?