File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
I just recently bought a Canon Speedlite 430EX and I've had to shoot on Automatic most of the time due to the fact that the flash needs constant adjusting. I was wondering if anyone on /p/ knew anything on flash photography or had any good examples I could look to.
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBELCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/4.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:07:20 23:20:24Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/4.0ISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashFlash, Auto, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length27.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width800Image Height734RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
I still love this picture
>> Anonymous
>>64963

Yeah, I liked the photo as well. The way I got the pup to look at my camera was by waiving one it's toys right above my lens. It acts more like a cat than it does a dog since it's always pouncing on me and trying to chew off my fingers. I also noticed right after I took this shot that it took a crap on the couch.

One look into it's eyes, though and you forget all about that.

______________

So there are no strobists on /p/? I'm surprised?
>> elf_man !fBgo7jDjms
I read the blog, haven't bought an external flash, though.
>> Anonymous
that doesnt sound promising, i was looking forward to getting my 430ex...i dont want to have to keep fiddleing with it all the time.
>> Anonymous
you don't have to shoot in automatic with the flash, you can use your other modes on your camera with the flash they just behave a little differently.

Av will meter as usual and the flash will fire anyways which is for like night shots where you want the background well exposed as well as the subjects. If you shoot in manual basically you pick your aperture and then you pick a shutter speed based on how bright you want the background in relation to the subject, ie 1/60 for a brighter bg or go up to your cameras flash sync speed (if its a rebel 1/200) for the darkest bg, no matter what you pick in manual the camera will auto adjust the flash for you.
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
     File :-(, x)
Read the Strobist. End of story. I'm just getting into it, and it's intense. I need a loooot more equipment. :(

Pic somewhat related. First time I've ever used flash, for a wedding reception I was covering. Vivitar 285hv, for those wondering. Mounted on camera hotshoe, 1/4 power, bounced off a white arched ceiling, 1/160s exposure @ f3.5. I think. I'm going from memory on this one.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D50Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern670Focal Length (35mm Equiv)45 mmImage-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2007:07:24 13:19:47Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeSpotLight SourceTungstenFlashNo FlashFocal Length30.00 mmRenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastHardSaturationNormalSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
>>65017
Lulz EXIF.
>> Anonymous
Your dog is so cute. Makes me want to eat him, but that might be because I'm Chinese.
>> Anonymous
Don't bounce your flash off the ceiling. Instead, turn your flash backwards and bounce the flash off the wall behind you. Works every time, in every situation. Except if the wall is anything other than white, in which you case you get serious color cast.

Oh, and I second the strobist.com suggestion. Since I just suggested it to someone else in another thread.
>> Anonymous
>>65089
>in which you case you get serious color cast.
Lulz RAW.
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
>>65089
Does anyone else see the problem with this?

Anyways, the Vivitar 285hv doesn't have a head that pivots in that way. Woulda coulda shoulda. If I had my druthers, I'd have two or three of these puppies on light stands so I could illuminate the whole damn place.
>> Anonymous
>>65092

What's the problem with it? I use it all the time and it works great.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>65092
>>65093
Well, problem that immediately comes to my mind is, what if the wall behind you is far away? Or has people in front of it? Or isn't there at all? Or you're wearing a hat bigger than the flash? Or you don't have a flash that'll turn that way?
>> Anonymous
>>65117

Now, in all fairness, I was cryptic in my description of this process. I made it sound like you're pointing the flash directly backwards, over your shoulder. What I should have explained is that you're tilting the flash head up and rotating it back, over your head. Preferably it should be where the wall meets the ceiling, ideally where three walls meet in the corner.

But a hat? Are you kidding me? I'll give you credit for creative thinking, but unless you wear a turban everywhere you go, I think you'll manage.

If there's no wall close by (which would be strange, considering most people would use a bounced flash indoors, usually in their house), then obviously this doesn't work. I guess you'd just have to move your subjects closer to a wall. Or put the flash on full pop, open your lens all the way up and raise your ISO to 800. But you'd be surprised what a GN of 141 can do. People standing in front of the wall don't matter since you're aiming above them. And the Canon 430EX (OP's flash) does swivel that way, which makes it immensely relevant to this thread.
>> Anonymous
Continued from>>65120

So, unless you're a) wearing a turban b) inside a hangar or outside c) using a vivtar 285HV on-camera (who knows why anyone would do this?), bounce your flash off the wall behind you, or to your right and left.

Benefits include:
1) soft, pleasing light. you're essentially lighting the whole room with an 8-foot soft box, or if you bounce it into a corner, a 4 foot parabolic umbrella. Remember, you're essentially turning your whole wall into a light source.

2) even lighting. Since the light is coming from about 6-10 feet behind the camera, you get much less pronounced light falloff.

3) Directional lighting. No matter how you bounce your light off the ceiling, it's still coming from directly above. If you swivel your lens 90 degrees to the left, then you get stronger lighting from the left. If you want lighting from the right, then you swivel to the right. You get the idea.

Drawbacks:
1) color cast. As someone already said, lulz raw. Easy fix in photoshop, harder to fix with film.

2) Decreased light output. Yes, you are losing light to falloff, bigger surface area, etc. But it's still the next best thing to just taking your camera off the hotshoe and triggering it with either a Pocket Wizard (not with this flash...) or with a proprietary infrared system (yes with this flash...)
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>65120
I actually wear a stovepipe hat whenever I'm on a photoshoot. I find that it makes people more comfortable if I look like Abraham Lincoln when I'm taking pictures of them.

"Hey, why the hell are you in the bushes outside my bedroom?"
"Four score and seven years ago"
"Haha. Yeah, Lincoln's awesome. Carry on."
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
This thread reminded me of this
>> Anonymous !Bjd0a/XWuE
>>65255

That is awesome, I want one! Along with the hot chick! :D
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
OP here. So I decided to do a bit more experimenting with my flash unit the other night and I used a really weak flash setting (-3) to achieve proper exposure. I'm satisfied with the result.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBELCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:07:27 23:40:17Exposure Time0.6 secF-Numberf/9.0ISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/9.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeAverageFlashFlash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length42.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width533Image Height800RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard