Comments on: 04 – bouncing flash http://neilvn.com/tangents photography by Neil van Niekerk Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:27:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-403 Neil Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:50:41 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-403 <blockquote>It's like George says there. TTL metering with digital depends on a preflash. Before the main burst of light, the flash emits a preflash sequence, and the camera then meters this. Based on how much light is reflected, it will adjust the actual exposure. You can see the preflash here in this timing diagram: .. <a href="http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/2009/12/13/do-not-use-rear-curtain-sync/" rel="nofollow">and it can also have a side-effect when using rear-curtain flash sync</a>. Neil vN</blockquote>

It’s like George says there. TTL metering with digital depends on a preflash. Before the main burst of light, the flash emits a preflash sequence, and the camera then meters this. Based on how much light is reflected, it will adjust the actual exposure.

You can see the preflash here in this timing diagram:

.. and it can also have a side-effect when using rear-curtain flash sync.

Neil vN

]]> By: George http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-402 George Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:52:05 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-402 Alvin, ETTL flash does a pre-flash and measures the exposure based on that. Distance does not get calculated. Alvin, ETTL flash does a pre-flash and measures the exposure based on that. Distance does not get calculated.

]]> By: Alvin Ngan http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-401 Alvin Ngan Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:17:05 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-401 Hi Neil, I was wondering how ETTL works when using bounce flash. Since there is no actual measurable camera flash to subject distance, how does (or does it not?) ETTL know what the correct flash exposure is? Hi Neil, I was wondering how ETTL works when using bounce flash. Since there is no actual measurable camera flash to subject distance, how does (or does it not?) ETTL know what the correct flash exposure is?

]]> By: Jeff P http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-396 Jeff P Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:27:00 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-396 Neil, I came up with a solution for those times when I will have to shoot direct flash, especially when I have to move about and have no time for setup. I purchased a soft box attachment that measures 8.5 inches across, and I then mount the flash on a bracket that holds it above and to the left of the camera about 15 inches from the lens, and wired via a shoe cord. I had to change the bracket so it holds the flash to the left instead of directly over the lens as it was designed to do. In combination with the soft box, I tape some warming gel over the flash head, and pull the diffuser on the flash unit down. You still get harder shadows than is ideal, but alot better compared to direct flash. The closer to the subject you are, the better this setup works. Jeff P Neil, I came up with a solution for those times when I will have to shoot direct flash, especially when I have to move about and have no time for setup. I purchased a soft box attachment that measures 8.5 inches across, and I then mount the flash on a bracket that holds it above and to the left of the camera about 15 inches from the lens, and wired via a shoe cord. I had to change the bracket so it holds the flash to the left instead of directly over the lens as it was designed to do. In combination with the soft box, I tape some warming gel over the flash head, and pull the diffuser on the flash unit down. You still get harder shadows than is ideal, but alot better compared to direct flash. The closer to the subject you are, the better this setup works.

Jeff P

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-397 Neil Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:35:31 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-397 <blockquote>Margaret .. when I encounter one of those 'impossible situations' for bounce flash, then I use other means. Ideally, off-camera lighting or additional lighting .. but sometimes that's not possible. Then I might use a wireless TTL transmitter on my camera, and use my speedlight in my hand, held aloft, with a diffuser on my speedlight. As a very very last desperate resort, maybe direct flash .. but those would have to be desperate measures to use direct flash on-camera like that while indoors. Neil vN</blockquote>

Margaret .. when I encounter one of those ‘impossible situations’ for bounce flash, then I use other means. Ideally, off-camera lighting or additional lighting .. but sometimes that’s not possible. Then I might use a wireless TTL transmitter on my camera, and use my speedlight in my hand, held aloft, with a diffuser on my speedlight. As a very very last desperate resort, maybe direct flash .. but those would have to be desperate measures to use direct flash on-camera like that while indoors.

Neil vN

]]> By: Margaret http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-400 Margaret Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:48:04 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-400 Hi Neil, I love your site and have found it so helpful in laying things out in layman's terms. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was wondering what you do when you don't have the option of bouncing flash - say the building is all glass and you need to shoot inside or you're outside and just want to use your speedlite on camera and not bring in off camera lighting. Would you use something like the flip it (http://www.dembflashproducts.com/) and stay in TTL? Or would you just point the flash toward the subject in TTL? What do you think produces the best results? Many thanks for your help! Hi Neil,

I love your site and have found it so helpful in laying things out in layman’s terms. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was wondering what you do when you don’t have the option of bouncing flash – say the building is all glass and you need to shoot inside or you’re outside and just want to use your speedlite on camera and not bring in off camera lighting. Would you use something like the flip it (http://www.dembflashproducts.com/) and stay in TTL? Or would you just point the flash toward the subject in TTL? What do you think produces the best results? Many thanks for your help!

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-399 Neil Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:24:21 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-399 <blockquote>Genevieve .. I just posted an article on <a href="http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/2009/10/12/how-much-flash-exposure-compensation/" rel="nofollow">the decision process about how much flash exposure compensation to add</a>. It also goes over the 'why'. Neil vN</blockquote>

Genevieve .. I just posted an article on the decision process about how much flash exposure compensation to add. It also goes over the ‘why’.

Neil vN

]]> By: Genevieve http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-398 Genevieve Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:55:49 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-398 Hi Neil, In bouncing the flash in TTL mode, the flash will automatically compensate its output. So, why do you use a + EC in your first and last photos? I admire your work and I am thrilled that I have found out about your tutoring site. Thanks. Genevieve Hi Neil,

In bouncing the flash in TTL mode, the flash will automatically compensate its output. So, why do you use a + EC in your first and last photos?
I admire your work and I am thrilled that I have found out about your tutoring site. Thanks.

Genevieve

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-395 Neil Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:47:11 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-395 <blockquote>Chris .. those are your options. You would either have to add a lot more light via a larger flashgun (or more flashguns) .. and this isn't necessarily practical. Or else you'd have to use a tripod to stabilize your camera for a slower shutter speed / smaller aperture. Neil vN</blockquote>

Chris .. those are your options. You would either have to add a lot more light via a larger flashgun (or more flashguns) .. and this isn’t necessarily practical. Or else you’d have to use a tripod to stabilize your camera for a slower shutter speed / smaller aperture.

Neil vN

]]> By: Chris Brown http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-393 Chris Brown Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:18:50 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/#comment-393 I have been using flash indoors at a trade event I kept the shutter speed at 125 so that I could hand hold the camera. I set the iso at 800-1000 to allow for movement of subjects. The problem I have is depth of field. I have a very shallow depth of field and only some parts of one person are sharp. How can I increase the depth of field? Is it just a case of take a tripod and slow the shutter or just set up f8 or f9.5? I have been using flash indoors at a trade event I kept the shutter speed at 125 so that I could hand hold the camera. I set the iso at 800-1000 to allow for movement of subjects. The problem I have is depth of field. I have a very shallow depth of field and only some parts of one person are sharp. How can I increase the depth of field? Is it just a case of take a tripod and slow the shutter or just set up f8 or f9.5?

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