Flash or Not?

Week 5: Light and Exposure/Flash Photography

LightDigital photography is easy-

when you have plenty of light and the conditions are ideal.

The flash is the biggest solution- not only does it interfere with your “moment” socially and artistically, but the flash can flatten out your digital images.

A good way to combat the problem in low light you can try using a higher ISO

Flash: Flat – no contrast – washed out No Flash: Natural warm colors - contrast

Non-Flash

Non-Flash TechniquesCrank ISO as high as it will goShoot RAW if possible (if post

editing is used)AV with the lowest f-stop on

fastest lens Noise reduction in post

processing to help on the grain/noise

And although a fast lens can be very expensive, there are affordable primes out there, like the Canon f1.8 50mm.

Indoor Shots

Take advantage of candle light’s available illuminationHave some additional room light, set in AV mode and IS.Choose perspectiveSupport yourself

Sleeping FacesCapture these

precious moments without a distracting flash.

Watch for blurred imaged caused by slow shutter speed.

Choose AV mode, use IS

Aim for eyelashes

Effects of Flash - Skintone

Flash

Washed out

No Flash

Warm skin tones

Flash or Not?Major events at night and watch the

grandstands.The digital camera decided there was not

enough light, so the camera flash fired automatically.

Expected max distance for inbuilt camera flashes-ten feet.

No Flash– Low lighting Decision

No Flash – No window glare

Keeping the Camera StillOften it is not practical to use tripods

in some areas (grandstands-train station).

Balance your body and, if possible, brace yourself against something solid, such as a wall or seat.

Then bring your elbows in firmly against your chest, and using the viewfinder hold your camera firmly against your head. Finally breathe, not too deep, and then hold it while you squeeze the shutter release.

Flash

Flash BasicsBuilt in (good for 10 feet away, not good close up)Hot shoe

Higher end camerasExternal flashElectronic contact pointsSynchronized

TTL metering: the camera measures the light in the scene based on the light coming through the lens. The camera is smart enough to meter the subject, do some quick calculations and then tell each (slave and master)(infrared) flash how bright they should fire.

External FlashDirect – can produce a harsh image Shadow

behind subject Wall Bounce – Brings out subject shapeCeiling bounce -Off-camera

Off camera shoe cord $70Wireless transmitter $200

Flash bracketsDiffusers

Nikon SB-400Very simple,

very high quality flash

Tiny, liteBounce FlashNo sideways

tilt, so bounce goes horizontally for vertical shots.

$120

Canon 580EXII SpeedliteTop-of-the-line, professional

grade external flash Wireless controlMaster/slave remote flash

setting$420

Light AnglePortraits – add mood, give contrast and provide

interest.Can be used to dramatically alter the mood of the

modelAngled light: Dynamic variation between highlights

and shadows to give a dimension and depthAvoid straight on flash which washes out the subjectStrobes, speedlights, or LEDs: The main light should

be strongest, and the second light should simply provide a nice fill

Most dynamic photographs are the ones in which the audience can walk into the scene – lighting and shape most emphasized by side light.

Flash Angles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanmcfoto/577531995/From Sean McCormack (Flickr):

Red EyeLight bouncing off the blood vessels in the

back of the eyeLens axis flash causes this

Red Eye Red Eye Deleted in Photoshop Elements

Flash IndoorsChristmas Tree in the Background

For indoor light displays or shots of the tree, slow down the shutter speed to allow ambient light to come into the camera. Always use a tripod. The flash usage depends on the situation; don't use a flash if you are just shooting the tree or the lights, but use the flash if people are in front of the tree.

Flash Indoors

With camera flash: External flash bounced off the ceiling would produce a more evenly contrasted image

Flash OutdoorsLight up close subjectsArtificial lookingSoftens hard shadowsEye sockets at noon hoursExcessive backlight

No flash - silhouette

Fill flash – Subjected highlighted

Flash Outdoors

Shooting into Direct SunlightMove into the shadeUse fill in flashChange your perspective

• Lens hood• Filters• Spot metering/Exp compensation• Shoot silhouettes

silhouette

Use light to direct the viewers eye

Metering ModesEvery time you point your camera at a scene it needs to take a guess at what is important to you in the picture and which part you want to be exposed optimally

Overall Metering (Multi Segment/Zone Metering)camera attempts to take into consideration everything in your frame

Spot Meteringcamera to do it’s metering from a very small ’spot’ in the scene

Center Weighted Meteringtakes a little from both ends of the spectrum and tells the camera to focus it’s metering decisions upon the center of your image1

Prophotolife.com (Video Library)http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/08/18/video-episode-25-outdoor-portraits-1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prophotolife/2772496402/in/set-72157606789008888/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prophotolife/2771648827/in/set-72157606789008888/

One-Cent Soft Box (Bounce Card)

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb400.htm#card

Ken Rockwell.com

Studios

Adorama Deshadow BoxPortable Still Life

Studio16 x 16Halogen Lamps$40

Light Box/Tent

http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent

Budget StudioAdorama Budget Studio Monolight Softbox Kit #12, with 2 100 Watt Flashes, Light Stands & Two 12 X 12 Softboxes, $160

Other itemsWhite umbrellaCollapsible Disc Reflectors

$20 - $40Backgrounds

Turn off FlashCanon

In auto (green box) mode, you can't turn it off. It will pop up if the camera deems it necessary.

In P mode, M, Av, and Tv, it won't fire unless you push the button to make it pop up. If you don't want it to fire, push it back down.

NikonWhen the flash is up press the flash button

until the LCD says off in the flash section.

White Balance (WB)The process of removing

unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo. 

Proper camera white balance has to take into account the "color temperature" of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth or coolness of white light. 

Our eyes are very good at judging what is white under different light sources, however digital cameras often have great difficulty.

White BalanceAuto white balance (AWB)An incorrect WB can create

unsightly blue, orange, or even green color casts. 

Incorrect Correct

From Tutorial on White Balance: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm

White Balance

AssignmentPost a photo on Flickr with the flashbeing fired outside to highlight aclose object (Fill Light)

or

The flash not being fired inside to use the existing natural light

available.