flash or natural light photography?

jonneymendoza · 13 Mar 2012 at 22:11

Clown said:
Some pictures can only be done with flash so I don't agree with this. I've just entered the strobist world so I'm going to enjoy learning using off-camera flash. I want to master that. And then when I master natural light, I will be a god.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clwn/sets/72157629492026353/

Still learning.

spot on, i just ordered some remote triggers and will try and do same stuff your doing. getting bored of steer pics

Nexus said:
As a Photographer, light is the main tool you work with.

I don't have a preference for natural light or flash, you just use whatever you need to get the job done and achieve the look you want.

well said

An Exception · 13 Mar 2012 at 22:47

Rojin said:
Nice shot, about as obvious as a flash shot can be though

Indeed, but for me light is light, so it's either good light or bad light (or somewhere in-between).
I'd rather deal with ambient because it's usually less hassle and soft window light ect. does look nice, but I'm quite happy using flash if I need to, and don't feel that I really sacrifice anything if I do.

Below is another example of bounced flash...

Rojin · 13 Mar 2012 at 22:57

We were discussing how you could use flash in an unobtrusive way. Of course there are times when flash is the only way as you've shown.

xaldub · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:04

Nicely balanced lighting there. Wish I could contribute to this thread, but it wouldn't be safe for work viewing lol.

@Jonney : try getting a 2nd flash and using both off camera. Use one as a key light to give directional lighting, and the other for some fill. Try different lighting ratios eg. 2:1 ( key:fill ), 3:1, 4:1 Once you have mastered a two flash set up it gets more fun adding in a third, for say a hair light or kicker light to give the subject separation from the background. Then a 4th .... for lighting the background with a coloured gel perhaps. Build up your lighting in layers.

Rojin · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:38

I'm intrigued now!

One of the little one with bounced flash, probably angled backwards if I remember rightly. Catchlights really gives it away again, but at least the polo neck hides some of the under chin shadow.

Jennie by jj_glos, on Flickr

Rojin · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:42

I have actually got a couple of stands, umbrellas, 3 flashes and triggers. I've only messed around with them a couple of times. I just don't have the room to set anything up

I keep meaning to try some car stuff... It would be good to have a room I could just mess around in, rather than having to re-arrange the front room if I want to do anything

Dark 2 by jj_glos, on Flickr

D.P. · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:55

Clown said:
Some pictures can only be done with flash so I don't agree with this. I've just entered the strobist world so I'm going to enjoy learning using off-camera flash. I want to master that. And then when I master natural light, I will be a god.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clwn/sets/72157629492026353/

Still learning.

This seems to be taken the wrong way by some people so maybe I should clarify.

Firstly, it is only an opinion. I dislike over the top HDR or extreme photoshopping, others like that kind of stuff. Horses for courses.

What i dislike in photography is anything that looks unnatural. This may mean an awkward position of a model that clearly isn't comfortable/natural, any kind of lighting that just looks odd or wrong in some sense (perhaps weird shadows, specular highlights/plasticy skin, etc), over the top HDR, etc. I prefer photojournalist styles for capturing people rather than forced posses as I feel it looks more natural. I also don't really dig the whole light painting thing, although I agree the results can be great and I have nothing against it, it is just not a technique that I like to employ.

If flashes and lighting are used well and the lighting is good and looks natural, then that is fine, and a great skill which i don't really have.
For my type of photography if the lighting is not good then I will wait for a change in the lighting and try to orientate myself the best I can. this may mean waiting until summer or winter, or fall, coming back at sunrise or sunset, climbing a different part of the mountain, coming back next year and hoping for different weather.

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 00:15

Rojin said:
I have actually got a couple of stands, umbrellas, 3 flashes and triggers. I've only messed around with them a couple of times. I just don't have the room to set anything up I keep meaning to try some car stuff... It would be good to have a room I could just mess around in, rather than having to re-arrange the front room if I want to do anything

Dark 2 by jj_glos, on Flickr

Rojin said:
Nice shot, about as obvious as a flash shot can be though

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 00:18

It's moonlight honest

The thread had moved on, do keep up

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 00:30

Flash colour balanced, the purple fringing on the fur is the light from the TV.

D.P. · 14 Mar 2012 at 00:34

cute kitten and well lit except for the purple TV glow.

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 00:51

Another one but without the TV light.
Catchlights are a mixture of flash & ceiling lights...

D.P. · 14 Mar 2012 at 01:07

Adorable!

alexthecheese · 14 Mar 2012 at 06:33

Ha, that is a cute kitten!

Clown · 14 Mar 2012 at 07:31

I'm a believer in working with what you've got to get the picture you want. Horses for courses.

jonneymendoza · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:23

xaldub said:
Nicely balanced lighting there. Wish I could contribute to this thread, but it wouldn't be safe for work viewing lol.

@Jonney : try getting a 2nd flash and using both off camera. Use one as a key light to give directional lighting, and the other for some fill. Try different lighting ratios eg. 2:1 ( key:fill ), 3:1, 4:1 Once you have mastered a two flash set up it gets more fun adding in a third, for say a hair light or kicker light to give the subject separation from the background. Then a 4th .... for lighting the background with a coloured gel perhaps. Build up your lighting in layers.

yea i may buy a second flash, a 580ex2. they should go down in pric enow that canon are about to release a 680ex

Rojin said:
I'm intrigued now!

One of the little one with bounced flash, probably angled backwards if I remember rightly. Catchlights really gives it away again, but at least the polo neck hides some of the under chin shadow.

how can we get rid of catchlights on peoples eyes?

snow patrol · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:44

An Exception said:
Indeed, but for me light is light, so it's either good light or bad light (or somewhere in-between).
I'd rather deal with ambient because it's usually less hassle and soft window light ect. does look nice, but I'm quite happy using flash if I need to, and don't feel that I really sacrifice anything if I do.

Below is another example of bounced flash...

i absolutely love this shot mate! Did you bounce the flash off the wall opposite or the ceiling? Manual or ttl?

I'm trying to get more knowledgeable about using flash (have a couple / stands / brolly / triggers etc) but sometimes find it quite overwhelming

jonneymendoza · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:48

snow patrol said:
i absolutely love this shot mate! Did you bounce the flash off the wall opposite or the ceiling? Manual or ttl?

I'm trying to get more knowledgeable about using flash (have a couple / stands / brolly / triggers etc) but sometimes find it quite overwhelming

Looks to me like an off camera flash was triggered and bounced off the cieling on the left

An Exception · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:15

jonneymendoza said:
yea i may buy a second flash, a 580ex2. they should go down in pric enow that canon are about to release a 680ex

how can we get rid of catchlights on peoples eyes?

You, don't want to get rid of catch-lights, but to make them more appealing.
Eyes lose their sparkle without a catchlight.

Rojin · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:27

jonneymendoza said:
how can we get rid of catchlights on peoples eyes?

You can't unless you PP them out. They don't bother me to be honest, it's the harsh shadows and specular highlights you get with a flash that I don't like.