indoor flash photography for a beginner

[shanec]

From an unrelated thread...

Once you learn how to use them, you will get much better light with a flash than with natural light. For an amateur user, a flash can produce very poor light. In the hands of an expert, you can create much better light than you can get from natural light.

I know some stuff about photography without a flash. I know very little about flash photography. My only experience is popping up a built in flash and letting the camera control it.

How does one get natural looking flash photography indoors? Let's say indoors with "medium" lighting. What I mean by that is that it isn't dark, but it is low enough to cause low shutter speed and issues with associated hand-held camera blur.

Can the built-in flash be controlled in any way other than on/off? Do I need a flash attachment whose brightness I could adjust?

Without getting real fancy here (no umbrellas, light stands, etc), what could give a natural look for casual indoor flash photograpy?

[RKEnnis]

For starters, I'd suggest you check out the Strobist site. Especially the Strobist 101 series.

Strobist: Lighting 101

[shanec]

OK, I gather from that site the answer to my question might be, "nothing". I'm limiting this to an on-camera flash for casual photography. I'm a mere enthusiast. No studio. No light stands, umbrellas, defusers, etc. No bags (plural) of equipment to haul around. Nothing to setup that 1) can't be done in seconds, and 2) can't be held in my hand.

If it can't easily be done with an on-camera flash then I'll quietly accept that.

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by shanec

OK, I gather from that site the answer to my question might be, "nothing". I'm limiting this to an on-camera flash for casual photography. I'm a mere enthusiast. No studio. No light stands, umbrellas, defusers, etc. No bags (plural) of equipment to haul around. Nothing to setup that 1) can't be done in seconds, and 2) can't be held in my hand.

If it can't easily be done with an on-camera flash then I'll quietly accept that.

Shane, while far from being a expert on the subject if you just going with the pop up flash it will severely limit your options. you can turn it on or off there should be a menu option that will turn the power of the flash up or down but other than that not much. You will get better options if you get a matching flash that mounts on the hot shoe of your camera . then you can till increase decrease the power but flash should have a tilt head allowing you to bounce your flash . hope this helps

[tukaniray]

Well ... there are some controls in the SLR cameras to control the intensity of the Flash.

You can also tell the on-camera flash to give you different times the flash fires. A little ahead of the shutter and a little behind.

If you still want to get a bit more natural ... then just don't use the flash.

With some practice, you control a slower shutter and be still enough to take some more natural shots. Slowing the shutter will let more of the light reflecting off different surfaces come in. Fulfilling more of the shot indoors and less black areas.

There are a few more ideas. ... but yeah, if you want to use some lighting, I also believe in getting a flash off your camera. But eh, all depends on how deep you want to get into the field.

It seems you are just jumping in as a hobby. So, good luck with learning what you can to get shots that you like with the equipment that you will eventually get and be happy with.

-Ray-

[shanec]

Thanks for the ideas. I like photography a lot. But it is just a hobby and I draw the line at carrying any more than one bag and limit it to and held equipment (except for 1 tripod for the camera - at times).

I'm open to flash with the hot shoe, but that's as far as I'd go.

[cassmartinez]

Just get a bigger bag.... Kidding!

Just keep practicing and working with what you've got and seeing what you can make it do for you.

[tomdrink]

I think the first, and easiest step, would be to get a flash for your hot shoe, that allows you to tilt/pivot the flash. Then you can bounce the flash, whish looks a lot more "natural" than the light from your pop-up flash. You can also add a cheap diffuser (stofen) to soften the light.
Good luck, and you came to the right place to ask questions!
TomD

[Daniel W.]

Here's a really good starting point, settle down for a few hours and have a good read.

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-pho...hy-techniques/

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If you have a clear water bottle with you you can hold that in front of your flash, empty and full bottles will have a different effect on how they disperse the light from your onboard pop up flash unit.

[tachy]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

If you have a clear water bottle with you you can hold that in front of your flash, empty and full bottles will have a different effect on how they disperse the light from your onboard pop up flash unit.

cool tip!
and speaking of water bottles, a water bottle can easily be transformed into a tripod! i hope im not repeating anyone in saying this

[shanec]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Here's a really good starting point, settle down for a few hours and have a good read.

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-pho...hy-techniques/

Fantastic link - guy talks about using an on-camera flash in a way to not look like a flash is being used. Exactly what I'm looking for.

[ChristopherCoy]

If it weren't for the CLS abilities, I'd have absolutely no use for my pop up flash what-so-ever. But its neither here, nor there, if you dont have a camera yet.

[chemisti]

Ditto on Planet Neil - outstanding resource for on-cam flash work.

While the Strobist site concentrates on off-camera flash, there are some ideas there that still apply to any light - like how modifiers soften light and some ideas about directional light.

Here is a simple modifier that I have used on-cam with success when used fairly close:
DIY Reflector-Diffuser

[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?