to flash or not????

[jlmegan]

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 154 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired


I love seeing the details, but is the flash to harsh? What would be the alternative to a flash, but still keeping the details? I am so new to this.

[scootermcq]

I like the flash too.... otherwise things like eyes get sunken in. If you think it is too bright, just dial it down abit with the ev button. You could also use a white reflector to bounce some light back into the face instead.

Flash is easier, does not blow around or require an assistant.

[Daisho]

well, it most certainly feels unnatural, though it is a nice shot in general.

Strobist (Take a weekend or two off to read through the lighting 101 and 102) and you will know how to deal with it.

In short, the reason why it comes across as harsh is that you are mixing Natural light with Flash light and they both have different Colour temperatures. And you are flashing straight on, another unpleasent thing.

[jlmegan]

Thanks for the info on the tutorials. I am a mother of four and a Senoir year nursing student (I know it is crazy). I love taking pictures with my new camera. stealing time is a bit difficult, but with specific direction like you gave, it makes it much easier.

Thank you Again!!!!

[natek313]

The exposure is great. The fill flash nicely lit up the details in the face.

Do you have a Speedlite or do you just have the pop-up flash on your camera? If you have a Speedlite, then definitely look into getting it off-camera with a softbox, umbrella, or something similar. That will have two benefits: (1) the light will be softer and more flattering, and (2) the light will be directional which will give more shape and depth to your subjects. On-camera and on-axis flash (like your pop-up flash) gives harsh, flat lighting - pretty much the worst kind of lighting.

If you don't have a Speedlite, then Scott's suggestion of using a reflector to bounce some light back into her face is a good one. Or, you can reposition her so that she is not back-lit. Just don't put her in direct sunlight. Haha.

Originally Posted by Daisho

In short, the reason why it comes across as harsh is that you are mixing Natural light with Flash light and they both have different Colour temperatures. And you are flashing straight on, another unpleasent thing.

Um, not to be blunt or anything, but no, that's not the reason. Color temperature has nothing to do with harshness. The reason the light is harsh is because it is not diffused.

[CheaperKings]

Originally Posted by natek313

Um, not to be blunt or anything, but no, that's not the reason. Color temperature has nothing to do with harshness. The reason the light is harsh is because it is not diffused.

that was kind'a blunt...

[calebkerr]

Harsh light comes from having too small a light source - whether it's on or off camera. Bigger light source = softer light. Softbox, umbrella, even a Sto-fen diffuser helps. The problem with on camera flash is the unnatural shadows it creates, especially under the nose and chin. It creates a "flat"looking image because you lose all sense of contrast. because all the texture of the skin is filled in. Because of personal taste, i never put a bare flash on my camera's hot shoe and point it straight at my model - never. Bounce it off something, even if it's a piece of paper you hold over your head. Or a ceiling or wall if you're indoors. Or get the flash off the camera (www.strobist.com).

Color temperature is a problem of white balance and color correcting the flash (best way is with gels). A flash's output is on the bluer side compared to sunlight. Blue is cold so it looks harsh.

I hope any of that was useful. Avoiding a direct on camera flash will help the overall quality of photos dramatically.

Cheers.

[Daisho]

Originally Posted by natek313

Um, not to be blunt or anything, but no, that's not the reason. Color temperature has nothing to do with harshness. The reason the light is harsh is because it is not diffused.

Well, one could think that I talked about not having a gobo by me saying... "he is flashing straight on". And thanks to calebkerr I don't have to explain the WB thing again. (Try with a raw image you took in natural light, switch the colortemp and see how the once nice light feels harsher...)
So next time when you want to be the smartA** get your facts straight.


PS: Before you say "I said softening the flash, not gobo" by definition a Softbox or what ever you put infront of your Flash is a GOBO ("Go in between object", something that goes in between your flash/hotlight and your subject)...

[scootermcq]

No one is going to say that going off camera is not better, and I do and will whenever possible. If you can't, don't dispair... there are things you can do. This picture I am attaching is with the flash on camera (I took it this evening to illustrate this for you). As you can tell, I shot it outdoors like you so there is nothing to bounce off of and you can also tell from the catch lights that the flash is on axis and straight on.

The only things I have done are expose for the ambient light and use a bounce card on the flash head to diffuse the light and make it larger. I have used the same diffuser that you see attached in my avatar.

In this situation, I do not feel the lighting is flat, in fact it is 3 dimensional with shadows on the cheeks etc, producing a bit of a wrap. The bounce card removes some of the harshness.

The preferences I would use with flash are:

1st - Off camera and diffused (softbox or umbrella) Not always possible and can be a pain in wind etc.
2nd - On camera and bounced off side wall (wall needs to be relatively close and hopefully white or neutral)
3rd - On camera and bounced off ceiling (same idea as wall)
4th - On camera and diffused

These images are:

1/60th
f2.8 (wanted shallow DOF)
ISO 400
Flash TTL
Focal Length 70mm
Distance 4 meters

[dave.turley]

Hi,
The picture you took is a lovely portrait of a pretty girl, flash or no flash. The pissing contest that followed was a little less edifying. Keep practising and learning like everyone in here bar none.
Dave