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DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Suggestions >> Single flash on Camera only!
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10/28/2012 05:54:28 PM · #1
Flashes are one of those accessories that many people have but don't use enough. They can be daunting to learn, but flashes freeze motion, add catchlights, and of course help knock out shadows and illuminate a subject.

If you own a digital camera, you own a built-in flash and if it's a dslr, it will also have a hotshoe. Use only ONE flash - either your built-in flash or one mounted to your camera's hotshoe - to get your shot this week. Diffusers and reflectors allowed; remote flashes aren't.
10/28/2012 05:56:54 PM · #2
Title: Onboard flash only!

Description: Use only ONE flash - either your built-in flash or one mounted to your camera's hotshoe

This would be a case where the title potentially contradicts the description. How about just "Single Flash" for the title?
10/28/2012 06:02:08 PM · #3
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Title: Onboard flash only!

Description: Use only ONE flash - either your built-in flash or one mounted to your camera's hotshoe

This would be a case where the title potentially contradicts the description. How about just "Single Flash" for the title?


Good point...how to change the title though?
10/28/2012 06:04:08 PM · #4
Flashes frighten me. I would shot for this.
10/28/2012 06:04:47 PM · #5
Originally posted by snaffles:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Title: Onboard flash only!

Description: Use only ONE flash - either your built-in flash or one mounted to your camera's hotshoe

This would be a case where the title potentially contradicts the description. How about just "Single Flash" for the title?


Good point...how to change the title though?


//www.dpchallenge.com/help_contact.php - reference this thread, ask for title change.
10/28/2012 07:13:57 PM · #6
II would change it to single flash on camera, however, otherwise you'll get the people that dont bother reading the descriptions doing lovely, off camera single flash sidelighting. On camera flash is pretty lousy unless you bounce it, so you want to stay as specific as possible.
10/28/2012 08:55:39 PM · #7
Really cool idea!
10/28/2012 09:04:23 PM · #8
But that would be the whole point, Wendy. Too many people are afraid of flashes because they can be difficult to learn - the SB-910 is my first real flash, so it's taking me awhile to learn how to use it.

And yes, those built-in flashes ARE crap...so in order to get a good, creative entry that doesn't have that cheesy, whiteout effect on gthe subject, and dark hard shadows around them, people will have to learn how to effectively use their exposure comp, sync curtains etc. Even an old ping-pong ball or a snood made of black cardboard can make for interesting lighting effects. It would, I feel, give a lot of people confidence, if they learn how to make the most of the on-board flash.

For example, a few weeks ago I was shooting wildlife and had the SB-910 up. Soon I had shot it out, though, and didn't have fresh batteries. So I used the built-in flash and, I am glad to say, have had trouble telling the ones that I shot with the pop-up flash apart from the ones I shot with the pro-level flash.

As for off-camera single flash...why not have a follow-up challenge with that?

Message edited by author 2012-10-28 21:08:40.
10/28/2012 09:56:15 PM · #9
Originally posted by snaffles:

But that would be the whole point, Wendy. Too many people are afraid of flashes because they can be difficult to learn - the SB-910 is my first real flash, so it's taking me awhile to learn how to use it.

And yes, those built-in flashes ARE crap...so in order to get a good, creative entry that doesn't have that cheesy, whiteout effect on gthe subject, and dark hard shadows around them, people will have to learn how to effectively use their exposure comp, sync curtains etc. Even an old ping-pong ball or a snood made of black cardboard can make for interesting lighting effects. It would, I feel, give a lot of people confidence, if they learn how to make the most of the on-board flash.

For example, a few weeks ago I was shooting wildlife and had the SB-910 up. Soon I had shot it out, though, and didn't have fresh batteries. So I used the built-in flash and, I am glad to say, have had trouble telling the ones that I shot with the pop-up flash apart from the ones I shot with the pro-level flash.

As for off-camera single flash...why not have a follow-up challenge with that?


Yup -- that's why I recommended the additional "on camera only" addition to the title. Otherwise people would have an easier time of it. :)

My first reaction was: why would we do this? I'm trying to learn flash, and every book says Take the flash off the camera!!!

But then again, I realized that I don't always have the equipment to do that, and sometimes you just have to do it.

And actually, Roz uses an on camera 580ex for her bug shots, that would be fun to try.
10/28/2012 10:44:44 PM · #10
Originally posted by vawendy:


Yup -- that's why I recommended the additional "on camera only" addition to the title.

Just keep in mind that quite a few us do not HAVE an on-board flash :-(
10/29/2012 12:12:45 AM · #11
Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by vawendy:


Yup -- that's why I recommended the additional "on camera only" addition to the title.

Just keep in mind that quite a few us do not HAVE an on-board flash :-(


nonononno... wasn't my idea. That's what the OP wanted, either an on-board flash or a hot shoe flash on Camera. I just recommended that it say that as the challenge title, not just "single flash", or she wouldn't get the challenge about which she was speaking.

The 5D doesn't have an onboard flash? Do you have a hot shoe flash?
10/29/2012 03:33:50 AM · #12
so as long as i mount my 1200 watt monoblock on my camera is alright, or ring light or ettl cord? or a large metz side mount hehe

built in flash or hotshoe mounted speedlights....
10/29/2012 03:57:00 AM · #13
If it requires this much clarification, it's probably not a good idea for a challenge. Good for a side challenge, though - especially to Wendy's point about learning to deal with the one flash on camera in certain situations.
10/29/2012 04:11:47 AM · #14
I got a blue ribbon with a single flash mounted on camera (wide angle minimal challenge) but I have to say that it's the worst way to use a flash. But what mostly worries me is that fact that many people won't follow this rule and a lot of voters, as usual, won't notice it.
10/29/2012 04:25:45 AM · #15
Originally posted by Alexkc:

But what mostly worries me is that fact that many people won't follow this rule and a lot of voters, as usual, won't notice it.

Valid point. And an important one. Challenge topics that can't be validated by viewing the image during voting tend to create a lot of chaos and drama. ...so +1. :P
10/29/2012 05:26:39 AM · #16
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Alexkc:

But what mostly worries me is that fact that many people won't follow this rule and a lot of voters, as usual, won't notice it.

Valid point. And an important one. Challenge topics that can't be validated by viewing the image during voting tend to create a lot of chaos and drama. ...so +1. :P


Are you planning to burn some houses/villages? ;)
10/29/2012 05:34:12 AM · #17
Originally posted by Alexkc:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Alexkc:

But what mostly worries me is that fact that many people won't follow this rule and a lot of voters, as usual, won't notice it.

Valid point. And an important one. Challenge topics that can't be validated by viewing the image during voting tend to create a lot of chaos and drama. ...so +1. :P


Are you planning to burn some houses/villages? ;)

Always. But that has nothing to do with this topic. :)

In truth, I was joking about the +1. I really don't care for the "honor system" challenges.
10/29/2012 05:49:45 AM · #18
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Alexkc:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Alexkc:

But what mostly worries me is that fact that many people won't follow this rule and a lot of voters, as usual, won't notice it.

Valid point. And an important one. Challenge topics that can't be validated by viewing the image during voting tend to create a lot of chaos and drama. ...so +1. :P


Are you planning to burn some houses/villages? ;)

Always. But that has nothing to do with this topic. :)

In truth, I was joking about the +1. I really don't care for the "honor system" challenges.


Yeah, I was joking too :)
10/29/2012 09:32:16 AM · #19
Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by vawendy:


Yup -- that's why I recommended the additional "on camera only" addition to the title.

Just keep in mind that quite a few us do not HAVE an on-board flash :-(


Oh duh me, you're right, I forgot about full-frame cameras like the 5D series...however you could rent a flash for a weekend, surely?
10/29/2012 09:38:06 AM · #20
Originally posted by vawendy:

...My first reaction was: why would we do this? I'm trying to learn flash, and every book says Take the flash off the camera!!!

But then again, I realized that I don't always have the equipment to do that, and sometimes you just have to do it.


???Books on learning to use a flash, say to take it off-camera? Yes, I can see where it makes sense, like studio work, but it seems to me in real life that it makes more sense to keep your flash on-camera. Like during shooting a wedding where you're usually moving around a lot.
10/29/2012 09:49:20 AM · #21
Originally posted by snaffles:

???Books on learning to use a flash, say to take it off-camera? Yes, I can see where it makes sense, like studio work, but it seems to me in real life that it makes more sense to keep your flash on-camera. Like during shooting a wedding where you're usually moving around a lot.
Outside of the studio, I almost always have the camera in one hand, flash in the other.

After watching this, I had to go out and try it myself.
10/29/2012 10:14:11 AM · #22
Originally posted by Venser:

Originally posted by snaffles:

???Books on learning to use a flash, say to take it off-camera? Yes, I can see where it makes sense, like studio work, but it seems to me in real life that it makes more sense to keep your flash on-camera. Like during shooting a wedding where you're usually moving around a lot.
Outside of the studio, I almost always have the camera in one hand, flash in the other.

After watching this, I had to go out and try it myself.


This is my preferred style.

Of course, since my first couple of flashes didn't have a slave mode, I was reduced to manually triggering the flash when using it with my S95- quite tricky really, but the results speak for themselves.



..

As for the challenge?? Why not two weeks of challenge, first week - On Camera Flash, second week - Off Camera Flash.
10/30/2012 06:26:09 AM · #23
Originally posted by vawendy:


The 5D doesn't have an onboard flash?


No, it doesn't!! Isn't that just so crazy? A fancy schmanzy full frame camera worth oodles of money, yet no flash :-(
I realize an on-board flash is the work of the devil, but there are times I wish I had one, anyway.
10/30/2012 07:36:10 AM · #24
Originally posted by Beetle:

No, it doesn't!! Isn't that just so crazy? A fancy schmanzy full frame camera worth oodles of money, yet no flash :-(
I realize an on-board flash is the work of the devil, but there are times I wish I had one, anyway.


Nikon doesn't have flash only from D3/D4. It sounds like - you spent so much money on a camera, you should have an external flash. I'd prefer having a built-in flash, it can always useful sometimes.
10/30/2012 08:13:19 AM · #25
Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by vawendy:


The 5D doesn't have an onboard flash?


No, it doesn't!! Isn't that just so crazy? A fancy schmanzy full frame camera worth oodles of money, yet no flash :-(
I realize an on-board flash is the work of the devil, but there are times I wish I had one, anyway.


Canon is protecting people from themselves.
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