indoor flash photography for a beginner

[tomdrink]

Originally Posted by shanec

How does the metering work out with a diffused or bounced flash? I mean my camera wouldn't know if I'm using a defuser or bouncing the flash, right? Those lighting techniques would alter the required exposure compared to a straight-on brighter flash, correct?

If I'm not mistaken, with the Nikon CLS system, the camera fires some pre-flashes (thru the diffuser), and determines the metering off of that reading.
Don't know if Canon is the same.
TomD

[mmuhlenkamp]

An external flash will be a great improvement over the pop-up flash. For casual shooting indoors a diffuser or bouncing the flash off a ceiling or wall helps get rid of the "xeroxed" look that pop-up flashes give. Canon and Nikon seem to do a good job metering even when the flash is diffused or bounced (don't ask me how, but it seems to work). Also, an external flash will be a good starter if you ever do want to try off camera lighting.

Whatever camera you get I would also suggest getting the camera brands flash, they are more pricey than a third party brand, but you don't run the risk of frying the circuitry of the camera. Good luck.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Here's an example of how indoor flash can help a casual shot. I needed to balance out the light coming in through the windows behind my neice and also get some light in her eyes. I can't remember if this was diffused or bounced though (I think just diffused, this kitchen has high ceilings). An external flash will really help expand your options, and much easier to deal with if you're just wanting better shots indoors and not necessarily "pro" ones.

[dmcantrell]

This is an image from the Gary Fong product (I'm not advocating the product, just the technique) :



left : direct, pop-up flash
middle : hot-shoe mounted flash (speedlight), tilted to bounce light off the ceiling
right : hot-shot mounted flash with their diffuser

Note the "raccoon eyes" of the middle photo. This is typical of the ceiling bounce if the photographer is not careful to avoid it.

With just a hot-shoe mounted speedlight, the lighting choices become (almost) endless. You can bounce the flash off walls, ceilings, behind you, etc. Each of these helps to make the source of light much larger than the "point" source of the camera pop-up flash, which softens the shadows.

This can be a pretty in-depth subject, but the more you read the more you'll learn. The links above are good sources of info.

I also want to recommend this book :
Amazon.com: Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting (9780240808192): Fil Hunter, Steven…

[Jake]

Neil van Niekerk site is awesome and a must read for anyone wanting to learn flash.

And here's my favorite example of flash........
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...just-look.html

[photostein]

If you are not wed to Canon, I would look into Nikon for flash photography, especially the off camera system. I switched a few months ago and kicked myself for not switching long ago.

Here is a website to help with Nikon flash concepts in case you do change:
Nikon CLS Practical Guide

[humminboid]

Good info here!

An old photojournalist trick: Shoe mounted flash, dedicated to your camera. It doesn't have to be really expensive. Bounce capability. Rotate the head to the bounce (straight up) position, rubber band a white 3X5 card to the head.

The card will bounce some light into the face of the subject, which will eliminate the "racoon eyes", and soften the light a bit. The camera exposure wizardry will produce a good exposure. But, you may have to deal with the pre-flash.

Good luck!