Comments on: How to Use Flash for Night Portraits http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:33:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Neil B http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-55552 Neil B Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:16:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-55552 i like to front and rear light a subject with black flourecent light, then use the flash on rear curtain and a slow shutter speed seems to amke the picture more vibrant and tkes the harshness out of the white flash light, huh what do i know im only a dreamer i like to front and rear light a subject with black flourecent light, then use the flash on rear curtain and a slow shutter speed seems to amke the picture more vibrant and tkes the harshness out of the white flash light, huh what do i know im only a dreamer

]]> By: Janine http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-53056 Janine Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:10:56 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-53056 Great tips...thanks so much! Love the resulting image :-) I am rushing out to buy a Canon speelite asap! Great tips…thanks so much! Love the resulting image :-) I am rushing out to buy a Canon speelite asap!

]]> By: canon lover http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-45994 canon lover Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:47:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-45994 Love the bokeh in the last picture. How can you make the bokeh appear like that? Love the bokeh in the last picture. How can you make the bokeh appear like that?

]]> By: Bubby Jones http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-40594 Bubby Jones Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:22:45 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-40594 Okay for all of you criticizing the example photos understand that article is neither a lesson on portraits nor portrait lighting. It's quick short article about night flash effects. As I see it the photos provide a very real life example of what to expect from flash. As for the second picture again that's showing an example of straight-on flash; he explains that fact. The third photo is again for illustrative purposes. Fourth photo 1. It may actually appear better in person, also reproduction in a magazine looses highlights; 2. It may appear in real life as it does in the magazine being the vision of the photographer. The photos weren't there for you to criticize they were there to drive home a point. Look at Lomography they're mostly out of focus yet folks are flocking to it. Lens Baby the same thing but, again it's what the photographer is wanting not what the viewer wants. So get over yourselves. As for TV it's truly written as Tv or Av. If one has only used Nikon then yes they would be confusing seeing Tv and Av; nothing wrong with that (perhaps a better explanation in the article what those are). If one uses other cameras that have Tv Av they may be confused with S and A, B, or X. Because your experience encompasses all terminology don't expect others to have the same knowledge as you. That would be the hight of conceit. Is the article all inclusive heck no, any article will leave something to be desired. It's a short fast article, maybe that's all the editors allowed room for. There are entire books relegated to flash, hundreds of websites as well. So just get over it, quite being so smug, self righteous. Your condescending opinions aren't all that important. Again, the article is providing three examples it illustrate a point. For those of you on your high horse go submit your own short article with pictures. Okay for all of you criticizing the example photos understand that article is neither a lesson on portraits nor portrait lighting. It’s quick short article about night flash effects. As I see it the photos provide a very real life example of what to expect from flash.

As for the second picture again that’s showing an example of straight-on flash; he explains that fact. The third photo is again for illustrative purposes. Fourth photo 1. It may actually appear better in person, also reproduction in a magazine looses highlights; 2. It may appear in real life as it does in the magazine being the vision of the photographer. The photos weren’t there for you to criticize they were there to drive home a point.

Look at Lomography they’re mostly out of focus yet folks are flocking to it. Lens Baby the same thing but, again it’s what the photographer is wanting not what the viewer wants. So get over yourselves.

As for TV it’s truly written as Tv or Av. If one has only used Nikon then yes they would be confusing seeing Tv and Av; nothing wrong with that (perhaps a better explanation in the article what those are). If one uses other cameras that have Tv Av they may be confused with S and A, B, or X. Because your experience encompasses all terminology don’t expect others to have the same knowledge as you. That would be the hight of conceit.

Is the article all inclusive heck no, any article will leave something to be desired. It’s a short fast article, maybe that’s all the editors allowed room for. There are entire books relegated to flash, hundreds of websites as well. So just get over it, quite being so smug, self righteous. Your condescending opinions aren’t all that important.

Again, the article is providing three examples it illustrate a point. For those of you on your high horse go submit your own short article with pictures.

]]> By: Avangelist http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-40379 Avangelist Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:35:31 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-40379 I agree with some of the earlier statements, this barely scratches the surface. Of course you can't blow it or people might not buy the mag for more in-depth. But I dunno. The second shot to me looks horrible. Way too harsh light and I hate strong shadows. The rest look slightly OOF and I would guess that is due to the possibly un-necessary shutter speed. You cloud of course go fast and increase the ISO. Like to see more posts on metering the light and stearing clear of auto functions. I agree with some of the earlier statements, this barely scratches the surface. Of course you can’t blow it or people might not buy the mag for more in-depth.

But I dunno. The second shot to me looks horrible. Way too harsh light and I hate strong shadows.
The rest look slightly OOF and I would guess that is due to the possibly un-necessary shutter speed. You cloud of course go fast and increase the ISO.

Like to see more posts on metering the light and stearing clear of auto functions.

]]> By: Phil Clark http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-39929 Phil Clark Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:02:23 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-39929 Good article, thank you. For non portrait subjects, I have found some good effect with using an every day "hand held flash light" (or "torch" for our European readers). Using a tripod is with the shutter is open, shine the flash light over the subject. You can get some great effects and the subject doesn't get over exposed causing a loss of detail. You'll need to play with the settings depending on the available ambient light. Good article, thank you.
For non portrait subjects, I have found some good effect with using an every day “hand held flash light” (or “torch” for our European readers). Using a tripod is with the shutter is open, shine the flash light over the subject. You can get some great effects and the subject doesn’t get over exposed causing a loss of detail. You’ll need to play with the settings depending on the available ambient light.

]]> By: Joe A http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-39477 Joe A Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:37:14 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-39477 Hans D (what does D mean?) either you're retarded or use Nikon.... so you think there is only one way to see things. Actually Tv does make sense (Time value)as much as S (shutter or... speed) if you're within the realm of photography... specially if you know more than the universe with an N... from Nikon. Actually, also Pentax use Tv... and even Av and also Sv for Sensitivity value, something from the digital era. And Pentax also as X (for flash sync...). This reminds me a story from some years ago... A guy in a shop telling me that the Tv mode in a camera he had on the shop window was made specially for taking pictures from Tv. When I tell the story I remember two things: the salesman was stupid and the camera was a Canon. Could be a Pentax... Because I've used Canons all my life (and I also still have Nikons and Minoltas and have in fact used almost everything that comes to the market) I know well what. I even know what T and B mean, so Iam not a whiz kid from the digital era... In fact Iam 54 and started taking pictures at 9 and using my parents bathroom as a darkroom at 10... It's a long Time (value)... Hans D (what does D mean?)

either you’re retarded or use Nikon…. so you think there is only one way to see things. Actually Tv does make sense (Time value)as much as S (shutter or… speed) if you’re within the realm of photography… specially if you know more than the universe with an N… from Nikon. Actually, also Pentax use Tv… and even Av and also Sv for Sensitivity value, something from the digital era. And Pentax also as X (for flash sync…).
This reminds me a story from some years ago… A guy in a shop telling me that the Tv mode in a camera he had on the shop window was made specially for taking pictures from Tv. When I tell the story I remember two things: the salesman was stupid and the camera was a Canon. Could be a Pentax…
Because I’ve used Canons all my life (and I also still have Nikons and Minoltas and have in fact used almost everything that comes to the market) I know well what. I even know what T and B mean, so Iam not a whiz kid from the digital era… In fact Iam 54 and started taking pictures at 9 and using my parents bathroom as a darkroom at 10… It’s a long Time (value)…

]]> By: Hans D http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-39421 Hans D Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:11:57 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-39421 Just two remarks: 1 - Please, do NOT assume everyone has a camera with a TV. I own a TV that I use to watch the 8 o'clock news. I've been making photos since the age of 15 (now 55) and only ever heard of A and S. I guess I'm either stupid or retarded. 2 - Slave flashes are the future . Recently I bought a CANON HF-DC1 which is a no-good little thing. (Around 100 euros, doesn't handle pre-flashes, cannot use rechargeable batteries, cannot be altered/adapted in any way). So I searched some more and found a better one. I now am the very happy owner of a METZ 28CS-2 DIGITAL. In automatic mode recognizes pre-flash and flashes on the main-flash. Also has the possibility for a manual mode where you can influence a lot of its behavior. I only got it 3 days ago, so I have to explore further. Accepts rechargeable batteries as well. Very probably I will order a second one very soon. Just two remarks:

1 – Please, do NOT assume everyone has a camera with a TV. I own a TV that I use to watch the 8 o’clock news. I’ve been making photos since the age of 15 (now 55) and only ever heard of A and S. I guess I’m either stupid or retarded.

2 – Slave flashes are the future . Recently I bought a CANON HF-DC1 which is a no-good little thing. (Around 100 euros, doesn’t handle pre-flashes, cannot use rechargeable batteries, cannot be altered/adapted in any way).

So I searched some more and found a better one. I now am the very happy owner of a METZ 28CS-2 DIGITAL. In automatic mode recognizes pre-flash and flashes on the main-flash. Also has the possibility for a manual mode where you can influence a lot of its behavior. I only got it 3 days ago, so I have to explore further. Accepts rechargeable batteries as well. Very probably I will order a second one very soon.

]]> By: Nelson http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-39181 Nelson Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:55:57 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-39181 Nicely done, on your final did you zoom in or was it actual distance? Nicely done, on your final did you zoom in or was it actual distance?

]]> By: Dave B http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-38997 Dave B Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:42:55 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-use-flash-for-night-portraits/#comment-38997 Thanks. I recently shot a several candid pics and portraits at a very dim light party with my sb600 on top. I slowed my shutter speed down to pick up as much ambient light as possible, but I now realize I could've gone even slower to get even more ambient light in the background. Also, I just assumed that you showed the flash for rim light as example. Obviously we'd frame a shot like that a little differently or tweak the position of the back flash when it is time to shoot for real. Thanks again. Thanks. I recently shot a several candid pics and portraits at a very dim light party with my sb600 on top. I slowed my shutter speed down to pick up as much ambient light as possible, but I now realize I could’ve gone even slower to get even more ambient light in the background. Also, I just assumed that you showed the flash for rim light as example. Obviously we’d frame a shot like that a little differently or tweak the position of the back flash when it is time to shoot for real. Thanks again.

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