Here - Clickin Moms

While bouncing the light from your flash
effectively is important, it’s only part of the
equation. More often than not, on camera,
non studio flash looks best when some
ambient light is part of the exposure.
Settings Do Matter
Pointing the flash straight up at the
ceiling isn’t a good idea.
When you do this, the light falls down and
lights the subject from above which creates
dark eye sockets and generally unflattering
light. Bounce it behind you, over your
shoulder or 90 degrees to your left or right. Try
different angles and different surfaces (I love
windows). Just don’t point it straight up in the
air unless you are using a flash modifier that is
designed to be used that way.
f/2.5, ss 1/80, ISO 1250.
Flash modifiers are great but your pics
won’t look like the ones on the product’s
website if you don’t know how to
use your flash.
I have a ridiculous number of commercial
and home made diffusers that I once thought
didn’t work. Turns out, with the exception of
the one I made out of the bottom of a soda
bottle, they all work pretty well.
Neil van Niekerk and David Ziser are
wonderful teachers.
f/2.5, ss 1/250, ISO 1250.
I got a D700 and 24-70 2.8 in 2010 but van
Niekerk’s book On-Camera Flash and
Ziser’s Captured by the Light were the best
photography investments that I made this
year. If you’re interested in learning to use
your flash in 2011, I encourage you to buy their
books and check out their websites, www.
planetneil.com and www.digitalprotalk.com
and then practice! Your speedlite isn’t nearly
as scary as you think it is. I hope these tips
give you a head start (and save you some
head banging) and that 2011 is the year that
you and your flash become friends.
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f/10, ss 1/80, ISO 1250.