Flash photography....

[Hitman]

I've been experimenting with the E-300 and the FL-36, the ability to use the on-board flash together with the FL-36 is an added bonus.

The only problems I had initially was with the ugly side shadows cast when using the flash in the portrait orientation. I've been reading quite a bit about eliminating ugly side shadows but I would like to know how do you guys avoid or eliminate the ugly side shadows when using the camera in the portrait orientation. For me, I simply flip the flash head directly upwards combine with the white card and rubber band.

And how about sharing the 'arsenal' of accessories that you guys have for flash photography? For me, I only have the omni-bounce and so far it had worked very well for me.

[tomcat]

I use the Lumiquest Softscreen with the E-300's pop-up flash to soften harsh shadows.



Details at their web-site :
http://www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm

This product (or another model quite similar to the one in pic above) is available at Cathay Photo for use with most DSLRs with pop-up flashes. It is actually not very fitting on the E-300 as the screen could not be hooked securely onto the camera body because of the placement of the flash on the E-300 (the flash is not directly above the lens on the E-300). You would have to hold the screen in place to ensure that it covers the flash properly. Much softer shadows could then be obtained with its use whether in landscape or portrait orientation.

[hammer_400]

Originally Posted by Hitman I've been experimenting with the E-300 and the FL-36, the ability to use the on-board flash together with the FL-36 is an added bonus. The only problems I had initially was with the ugly side shadows cast when using the flash in the portrait orientation. I've been reading quite a bit about eliminating ugly side shadows but I would like to know how do you guys avoid or eliminate the ugly side shadows when using the camera in the portrait orientation. For me, I simply flip the flash head directly upwards combine with the white card and rubber band. And how about sharing the 'arsenal' of accessories that you guys have for flash photography? For me, I only have the omni-bounce and so far it had worked very well for me.

btw, u can adjust the output of the internal flash and external flash... i ussually -0.7 to -1.0 ev on the camera (it reduces the pop-up flash output) and + the same value on the fl-36.... depends on the room... if its a small room ussually i never compensate but as the roof gets higher more compensation will result in a less harsh flash with barely a hint of shadow....

wrt to the portrait shadows, i find that most viewers dun realli mind or rather dun even notice it. what they notice is a well exposed face or the special candid moment caught... i think as photographers we tend to over blow some of this issues..

some photographers just shoot landscape for thier 'portrait' style photos and crop later...
i just try to use bounce straight up + internal flash..... and concentrate more on shooting than bothering about the shadows....

what also works is a flash bracket that rotates the flash or the camera around each other, such as the 'newton' flash brackets... i would'nt mind one except that thier rather costly
approx usd 200 + $$$ for off shoe camera cord + shipping..... (MO anyone?)

also WRT the omnibounce, i just dun seem to be able to get much satisfactory results... only indoors with lots of bouncable roofs/walls, but it sometimes throws the color balance off, giving a slight yellow cast.. however in these cases i prefer the look of normal bounce... in other cases direct flash seems to work better than with the omnibounce....

[Mikefellh]

The pros would use a bracket that places the flash high above the camera, and there are some brackets out there that work for both landscape and portrait shooting like this one:

http://bermangraphics.com/images/stroboframe-ani.gif

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by hammer_400 btw, u can adjust the output of the internal flash and external flash... i ussually -0.7 to -1.0 ev on the camera (it reduces the pop-up flash output) and + the same value on the fl-36.... depends on the room... if its a small room ussually i never compensate but as the roof gets higher more compensation will result in a less harsh flash with barely a hint of shadow....

That's a good suggestion!! Why didn't I think of that!! Thanks!!

[hammer_400]

Originally Posted by Hitman That's a good suggestion!! Why didn't I think of that!! Thanks!!

no prob dats wat the forums are for!

[digitalbuff]

Hi friends

Is there a more elegant way of attaching a white card (is there a better matierial than white card) and rubberband to attach to flash unit?

Thks

[tao]

Originally Posted by digitalbuff Hi friends Is there a more elegant way of attaching a white card (is there a better matierial than white card) and rubberband to attach to flash unit? Thks

use velcro?

well, most pros I met uses rubber bands and they don't seem to mind... the thick kind!

[hammer_400]

hey guys... I'm doing an MO for the Flip-It.... It would be able to help when doing portrait style shots by throwing the shadows down without a flash bracket... check out below at my sig

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by hammer_400 hey guys... I'm doing an MO for the Flip-It.... It would be able to help when doing portrait style shots by throwing the shadows down without a flash bracket... check out below at my sig

Bro, the link in your signature is not correct, should be this..

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=159790

[hammer_400]

haha.. thnx man...

[dnd8008]

Originally Posted by tomcat I use the Lumiquest Softscreen with the E-300's pop-up flash to soften harsh shadows. Details at their web-site : http://www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm This product (or another model quite similar to the one in pic above) is available at Cathay Photo for use with most DSLRs with pop-up flashes. It is actually not very fitting on the E-300 as the screen could not be hooked securely onto the camera body because of the placement of the flash on the E-300 (the flash is not directly above the lens on the E-300). You would have to hold the screen in place to ensure that it covers the flash properly. Much softer shadows could then be obtained with its use whether in landscape or portrait orientation.

How much did you pay for the lumiquest?

Thanks in advance

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by dnd8008 How much did you pay for the lumiquest? Thanks in advance

I believe it's about $20 after discount.

[chainsmoker]

dunno who told me, they use plastic bag.
go green, make use of it