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12/19/2004 08:56:09 PM · #1 |
First off I should say that in general I donĂ¢€™t like the look for flash photos when the cameraĂ¢€™s built in flash is used. When I am being lazy I will still use this but the photos end up looking very flat to me.
What works well is a flash well off to the side such as was used for this photo. 
In theory this is pretty easy to do, just use a slave flash that triggers on the cameraĂ¢€™s flash, but my camera like so many has a pre-flash that can not be turned off, this triggers the slave flash before the photo is taken.
There are slave flashes that are meant to be used with digital cameras but I have found a way to use any old slave flash (they are cheaper then the special ones that work with digital cameras). My camera has a hot shoe, for attaching a flash, and when this is used the camera does not pre-flash. I bought a $20 flash to put on this hot shoe and then either point it backwards or mostly cover it, so it does not flood the subject with light. I can then either put the slave flash on a small tripod or just hold it to the side. You can by slave flashes for as little as $20 or you can put a slave controller on a flash you already own for around $15.
This will only work for cameras that have a hot shoe and then I am not sure it will work for all of those but for my camera it works great.
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12/19/2004 08:57:40 PM · #2 |
Could you not just get a hotshoe extension cable? The you'd not need to carry the extra flash around?
E
edit: oh, but you're absolutely on the money about the light.
Message edited by author 2004-12-19 20:58:04. |
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12/19/2004 09:00:27 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by e301:
Could you not just get a hotshoe extension cable? The you'd not need to carry the extra flash around?
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An extension cable would work but I find I am using two or more slave flash units much of the time. I will also have the slave a long way away from the subject at times. |
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12/19/2004 09:15:59 PM · #4 |
Fair enough.
Have you tried using any kind of diffuser on those flashes? The only criticism I'd have of what is a wonderfully honest portrait - really skillful, I think, to get that sense of the natural into it - is that the shadow of his nose across his face, and of his glasses, would benefit from being softened some.
E |
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12/19/2004 09:17:07 PM · #5 |
or perhaps another less powerful flash on the other side to soften the shadows.
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