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Tangents

09 – more examples


flash photography techniques
exposure compensation ~ more examples ~ just ambient light

More examples using bounce flash …

How effective our bounce flash looks, depends largely on us being aware of the ambient light, and the direction of the ambient light … and then adding flash to it. Either as a fill, or as a main source of light.

And we can finesse it by specifically choosing the direction in which we bounce flash. We can add to the ambient light, or we can bounce from an opposite direction to lift the shadows a bit.

Any way we decide on it, the image will look better if we put some thought into it, instead of shooting direct flash .. or just as bad, in a 45′ bounce angle when it isn’t appropriate.

So here are a few more examples to explain the thought process behind some of this …

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This photo was taken in a restaurant in Brooklyn, overlooking the Manhattan Skyline. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit – and even with the rainy early evening skies, the outside was brighter than inside. Using my on-camera flash, I had to balance the two areas.

The next image shows my initial test shot.
It might give a better idea of the effect of the added flash.

I firstly metered for the outside, and double-checked with a test shot.
My settings were 1/15th @ f4 @ 800 ISO, with an ultra-wide angle zoom lens.
( Equipment: Canon 1D mk2N; 580EX speedlight; Canon 16-35mm f2.8)

I then added flash by bouncing the flash off the ceiling behind and to the right of me.
A test shot showed me I needed to add some flash exposure compensation.
+0.7 EV looked about right.

Even though the shutter speed was low, I wasn’t too concerned with camera shake, because the piano player would be too dark (without flash) for camera shake to be noticeable if I handled my camera carefully.

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This photograph was taken during the ceremony in a church where the light was enough to squeeze the photos at :
1/80th @ f2.8 @ 16oo ISO

But since the walls were light coloured, I was able to bounce flash and get some candid portraits of the bride with flash.

If you look at the direction of the light on her face, you’ll immediately see where I bounced the flash from – the wall to my above right.

specific settings:
Canon 1D mk2N
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
Canon 580EX speedlight
1/160th @ f2.8 @ 800 iso
TTL flash: +1.3 exp comp

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This next image is part of the portrait series I took of the bride and groom of their wedding in Aruba. The sun had already set, leaving the colours too cool. I had my daughter hold up a gold Lastolite reflector about 2 meters behind me, and bounced my flash into that. This gave a lovely warm colour to the flash, hopefully mimicking the setting sun of 5 minutes before. The shadow is more distinct, but still soft enough, and I think it looks natural in this scenario. I also made sure that the amount of flash would blend with the amount of ambient light left.

Specific settings: Canon 1D mk2N; Canon 24-70mm f2.8; Canon 580EX speedlight
1/100th @ f4 @ 640 iso; TTL flash: +0.3 exp comp


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Earlier in the day, I used the colourful backdrop of Oranjestad’s quaint architecture, while photographing the same couple.

The sun was bright and overhead, so I had to use flash to lift the shadows. I used direct flash, since there wasn’t anywhere to bounce the flash off.

I also needed to work fast, so the direct flash was a compromise because I had to make the images work.

specific settings:
Canon 1D mk2N
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
Canon 580EX speedlight
1/1000th @ f4 @ 100 iso
TTL flash: -3.0 exp comp


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The execution of this next photo, is similar to the previous photograph of the bride in the church. I had to decide exactly where I want to bounce my flash off. This would then dictate the direction the light would appear to come from.

The bridesmaids were standing in the open doorway watching her – so with a bit of luck I was able to bounce my flash so that it lit the bridesmaids in the background. I bounced my flash over my left shoulder, hitting part of the ceiling and bedroom wall behind me.

Bouncing the flash like this made the light appear directional on the bride, and give some modeling.  Simply bouncing my flash upright would’ve given flat lighting, and caused shadows under the eyes.

Specific settings: Canon 1D mk2N; Canon 24-70mm f2.8; Canon 580EX speedlight
1/80th @ f4 @ 640 iso; TTL flash: +1.0 exp comp

From the flash exposure compensation alone, it should be obvious by now that the flash was my main source of light here. Even then, my settings were chosen so that some ambient light would register.

And just when we get the hang of this flash thing, we switch it off …

Neil van Niekerk

If you need more direct help or instruction on flash photography, I do present workshops and seminars, and I also offer individual tutoring sessions.

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