Flash photog w/ultra-wide angle lens?

[thumper87]

Anybody got tips for flash photography with a wide angle lens? I have a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight flash and a Sigma 10-20mm lens. The lens is very, very wide at 10mm and it's hard for the flash to fill the area.

If I play with it enough, I can always get a good picture by bouncing, adjusting the angle and adjusting the brightness of the flash. But it usually takes me a few shots and sometimes, I don't have that kind of time. Does anybody know how to remedy this? I don't own any softboxes, diffusers or anything like that, but I'm ready to buy!

When I'm indoors, I just bounce off the ceiling and usually, it works out OK. But what if I'm outside in the dark?

Thanks, guys! I'm a total photography newbie, so any advice at all would be great. Don't hold back! I'm as clueless as they come!

[CFord]

We had a shoot not to long ago where another photog was using the 10-22 on a canon and was struggling with it so I stood behind him with a white reflector and he bounced the flash over his shoulder at that. Seemed to work fairly well and much better than the other things we tried. We were shooting outdoors without anything else to bounce it off of.

[thumper87]

That's a pretty good tip... I need to buy a white card. But for on the fly photography (wedding photography, to be specific), would a softbox help?

[CFord]

We used the small on camera softbox first and I think the reflector did a much better job of dispersing the light evenly over a broader area. You may want to contact Jaime Vinas here on the forum and ask him personally since he has the images from the different methods and he may be willing to share them with you.

[Jaime Vinas]

in addition to what Chris said, I used the AF illuminator (the little plastic piece that can be put infront of your flash, I think that is what it is called) and placed it infront of it.

But reflectors are a must to get a good shot with a wide angle. Most flash units handle starting at 24mm so in order for the light to be spread evenly you need to point your flash away from your subject and bounce it off a reflector, ceiling or a wall to disperse the light as much as possible.

here are some example shots Ive taken with a wide angle with this technique

[CFord]

If I remember correctly Jaime you weren't more than 12-18 inches from her when you took some of these.

[Jaime Vinas]

From Deshay, yes. I wouldnt suggest getting too far away from your subject. The light might not cover everything.