Help my flash photography!

DRZ · 14 Jul 2006 at 00:50

I should start by saying that I dont really ever use a flash for anything. Partly because I know that the flash on my 300D is pap and partly because I have no idea how to correctly use a flash.

I have the WASIA firmware hack that lets me set FEC and I think I know how to use it but I am a bit unsure.

The only thing I really know is that blasting light at the subject = bad.

Tonight I have been mucking about trying to take some "product shots" of one of my mums latest cake designs and came a cropper when I needed to use a flash. I wasnt sure how to proceed so I took some shots of something else - the fake flowers on the table nearby...

Straight flash

Light bounced using a piece of white card. I was shooting portrait so I have no idea if what I was doing with the card was "right" or not. I cocked up the exposure trying to keep the shots the same (about three stops :eek:

) but it was rescuable (just) and then Noiseware removed the worst of the noise.

I have no idea what I should be doing to minimise the crapness of the 300D flash (Until I can get a 430EX or something) so I will be grateful for any hints/tips!

rG-tom · 14 Jul 2006 at 00:53

not a bad effort at all mate

With the card, try and get the light to bounce off of the roof is what i always try and do (assuming your roof is white). Best advice i can give really, a dedicated flash will always help you a lot though.

Tom.

Shimmyhill · 14 Jul 2006 at 08:58

rG-tom said:
not a bad effort at all mate With the card, try and get the light to bounce off of the roof is what i always try and do (assuming your roof is white). Best advice i can give really, a dedicated flash will always help you a lot though.

Tom.

Off the roof

I would bounce of ceiling in all honesty

Also make one of the MRK ghetto flash bouncing things as they work really well. However as you say the onboard flash is not great and a speedlite makes a stunning differnce (also makes you wonder why you never used flash in the past !!)

cyKey · 14 Jul 2006 at 10:10

Shimmyhill said:
Off the roof I would bounce of ceiling in all honesty

Also make one of the MRK ghetto flash bouncing things as they work really well. However as you say the onboard flash is not great and a speedlite makes a stunning differnce (also makes you wonder why you never used flash in the past !!)

lol

Yeah a Finn bouce would help a lot. This is the site but its dead I think. I still have mine which *might* fit a 300D with some tinkering.

gandhi · 14 Jul 2006 at 10:46

cut the bottom off of, and make a slit down the side of an old translucent film cannister, so you have a plastic cylinder with a slit down it's entire length. pops right over the flash and makes a handy diffuser!

I'm on blue peter next week btw

matty · 14 Jul 2006 at 15:18

tubberware pots make good diffusors too in this situation..(no, NOT white ones, the 'translacent' ones!)