softening light - Page 2 - Orchid Board

snowflake311 · #11 09-15-2015, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinator

I am currently using a Nikon D3300 with the normal lens that come with it and I only have an on-camera flash. I'll have to consider getting an off camera one someday.

I was like you. I tried putting a paper in front of my on camera flash I tried things but nothing gave me the light I wanted. On my Pentax k30 I could adjust the Flash intensity and that helped a lot.

If you want to get into Flash photography an off body flash is the only way to go. Make sure you get one there the head of the flash can move. I have 2 flashes so I can get really fancy and use one as a slave. Thats fun.

I know it seems like a lot of money for a flash but it makes all the difference in the world. I lived many years with out using A flash I would just use Sunlight and room lighting. I don't know what took me so long I LOVE MY FLASH! I have a Metz 52 AF-1 it's a great flash and the price is right.

This is one of the many Flower photos I took with my Flash.

Tolumnia Genting Pink Lady1 by Sarah Ireland, on Flickr

Ray · #12 09-15-2015, 05:04 PM

Beautiful photo, Sarah!

wintergirl · #13 09-15-2015, 06:49 PM

Really wonderful bloom picture.

Kevinator · #14 09-16-2015, 01:18 AM

Well there goes my hopes down the drain. I won't be able to get an off camera flash for some time. I experimented with the paper-over-flash method but the pictures just seemed worse than before. I have to say the only luck I had was with bouncing an LED desk light off of a white wall at close proximity. It was really uncomfortable to take the pictures because of the dimness of the light source but they seemed slightly better than the ones with paper over the flash. If I could get a brighter light, I might be able to pull it off, but then again,I'm not sure if my parents want any more expensive photography equipment in the house.

tropterrarium · #15 09-16-2015, 02:33 AM

If cost is an issue for external flash, consider getting the cheapest non-ttl flash, use it in manual mode connected via PC sync. Nikon has a $20 adapter from hot-shoe to PC sync (AS 15), PC sync cables are very cheap, then get some ancient Metz 60 or similar off e-bay or the rummage bin of your local camera store or swap meet. Lots of power but no electronics. Takes a bit of experimentation to get the flash power vs. distance right, but for static flowers with camera on tripod, is sure works. Diffuse by any means available: through cloth, bounce off white surface, use brightening card-board opposite light source. You want a pretty powerful flash, because the softening of the light will reduce intensity quite a bit.

estación seca · #16 09-16-2015, 04:41 AM

You want light. A separate flash attachment is convenient for many reasons, but cost can be an issue.

They don't use flash for movies. Get a really bright halogen work light and set it up where you would want to put the flash. Bounce it off walls or ceiling, or filter it through whatever you like.

Don't burn yourself nor your filter, and don't burn your house down. These things get incredibly hot, and stay hot long after they're turned off. You can get a severe burn just touching it for a fraction of a second.

Make sure the electrical circuit can handle an additional 500 Watts - i. e., pretty much nothing else on the circuit.

500-Watt Portable Halogen Light

Tindomul · #17 10-27-2016, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowflake311

I was like you. I tried putting a paper in front of my on camera flash I tried things but nothing gave me the light I wanted. On my Pentax k30 I could adjust the Flash intensity and that helped a lot.

If you want to get into Flash photography an off body flash is the only way to go. Make sure you get one there the head of the flash can move. I have 2 flashes so I can get really fancy and use one as a slave. Thats fun.

I know it seems like a lot of money for a flash but it makes all the difference in the world. I lived many years with out using A flash I would just use Sunlight and room lighting. I don't know what took me so long I LOVE MY FLASH! I have a Metz 52 AF-1 it's a great flash and the price is right.

This is one of the many Flower photos I took with my Flash.

Tolumnia Genting Pink Lady1 by Sarah Ireland, on Flickr

Amazing photo. I never considered using flash for my pictures. I never liked the way they come out so I have learned to take flashless pictures for the last 5 years. But now you all have me thinking.

tropterrarium · #18 10-27-2016, 02:21 AM

Re the "flash look", if not intentional, then it is poor technique. It takes some time to learn how to direct, diffuse, and reflect flash to get the desired look. The one major advantage of flash is the short duration, and therefore the sharpness of the resulting image.

For larger plants, it takes some rather serious equipment to get soft light. I recently invested into a Paul Buff Einstein 640 with a softbox, and it makes a world of difference.

Have a read of Hunter & Fuqua Light: Science and Magic. Very helpful.