Remote (wireless) flash vs mounted flash

[NeilF]

So, I'm looking at investing in a flash unit. Can I ask those among you who have units, how often you use a remote wireless flash? (For general amateur use)

If you're taking photos of the kids for example (indoors) would the flash just being left on a nearby table to wirelessly flash be preferencial to having on the camera?

I assume in both these cases a diffuser/ceiling bounce would be employed, but would the photos/lighting benefit from the source being remote to the camera, instead of on the camera.

I've no direct experiece but logic would suggest having the option to say light people from 45 degrees instead of directly from the camera, could give a nicer light?


Or am I just talking nonsense? So basically... do you find the flash just mounted on your camera and diffused/ceiling bounced sufficient for most photos?

ps: I'm very much an amateur user. ie: I'm going around do weddings and the like

 

[valve90210]

I have been wondering pretty much the same myself this morning, I'm also an amateur user but do some product photography from time to time. Normally I use amixture of homemade soft boxes, a lighting cube and desk lamps to provide light but was wondering about moving into using flashes and was wondering how good/useful an off camera flash would be for more.

 

[beermonster]

have a read/watch of this lighting 101

 

[NeilF]

have a read/watch of this lighting 101

That's all well and good, but really aimed - I suspect - and the more technically minded photographer. The section that was of interest was the "cross lighting" one, which I guess is what I was referring to in my OP.

I'm trying to work out if most people find the mounted on camera flash (for a fill in) sufficient/OK (with a bounce/diffuser), or do people actually wireless trigger their flashes for more of a cross fill.

And again, I'm talking about general photos of friends/family/kids/dogs stuff, not studio stuff.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

It completely depends what you are trying to do.

Personally, I use my flash off camera more than on it, purely because I am doing portrait shots, which are planned and setup. However, if I was taking photos at an event, which required me moving around lots, and generally being more flexible, then I would use it on my camera's hotshoe, bouncing it off the ceiling/walls where possible.

When I am doing portrait shots, I use a set of wireless trigger/receivers which I got from eBay (Yongnuo RF-602), which are cheap, but I find very very reliable. I usually use a diffuser on the camera, such as a shoot through umbrella, or a softbox. The flash, wireless receivers and diffuser sit on a light stand, of which I have a couple.

Personally, I would always prefer to use the flash off camera.

I don't know if this helps or not.

If you're taking photos of the kids for example (indoors) would the flash just being left on a nearby table to wirelessly flash be preferencial to having on the camera?

If I had time to set the shot up, I would get the flash off camera, even just at a 45 degree angle to the subject, and ideally with a light modifier of some sorts (softbox, umbrella etc.).

I assume in both these cases a diffuser/ceiling bounce would be employed, but would the photos/lighting benefit from the source being remote to the camera, instead of on the camera.

I've no direct experiece but logic would suggest having the option to say light people from 45 degrees instead of directly from the camera, could give a nicer light?

Having the flash off camera certainly gives you much more freedom/creativity with the light. It really depends what you're after.

Some examples:

Bounced off ceiling (it helped that she was looking up at me)


Softbox at 45 degree angle to the left


Ambient Light (I think I was quite lucky with the light in this one though)


Hopefully the above shows that anything is possible with whatever light you have. To me, all of the above look similar in terms of lighting.
I guess what I am trying to say is that whether you use bounced flash or off camera can sometimes be determined by the situation. However, as above, I would always prefer to use off camera flash. a lot can be done with a single off camera flash.

All of the above is me just rambling on though, and I am by no means an expert on lighting.