{"id":65,"date":"2007-08-23T00:55:45","date_gmt":"2007-08-23T00:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetneil.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/9-more-examples\/"},"modified":"2024-09-01T00:12:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T04:12:44","slug":"bounce-flash-examples","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/bounce-flash-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"Bounce flash examples"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/\"><strong>Flash Photography Techniques<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/flash-exposure-compensation\/\">Flash exposure compensation<\/a>\u00a0 ~ \u00a0Bounce flash examples \u00a0~ \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/best-flashgun\/\">Which flashgun is the best?<\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/icons\/divider-31-center.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/models\/carlyerin\/NV2_6491.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"599\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>More examples using bounce flash<\/h1>\n<p>How effective our bounce flash looks, depends largely on us being aware of the ambient light, and the direction of the ambient light &#8230; and then adding flash to it. Either as a fill, or as a main source of light.<\/p>\n<p>In the photo above, the light levels in the room was very low. To have the images from this photo session\u00a0be constantly sharp, additional light was necessary to lift the light levels &#8211; the least complicated, yet very flattering light, was on-camera bounce flash.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>camera settings: \u00a01\/100 @ f\/2.8 @ 1000 ISO &#8230;. on-camera bounce flash in TTL mode<\/li>\n<li>more images from this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/boudoir-photography-intimate-photo-session\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">photo session<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We can finesse the light from our flash\u00a0by specifically choosing the <strong>direction<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8242; bounce angle when it isn&#8217;t appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>So here are a few more examples to explain the thought process behind some of this.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"banner_ad\"><div class=\"adsbygoogle\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- Tangents-responsive --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"style=\"display:block\"data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5272216363056127\"data-ad-slot=\"2115071898\"data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); <\/script> <\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/jazzman1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This photo was taken in a restaurant in Brooklyn, overlooking the Manhattan Skyline. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit &#8211; 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.<\/p>\n<p>The next image shows my initial test shot &#8211; it will give a better idea of the effect of the added flash.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/jazzman2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The method: I firstly metered for the outside, and double-checked with a test shot.\u00a0I then added flash by bouncing the flash off the ceiling behind and to the right of me.\u00a0A\u00a0test shot (not shown here), indicated\u00a0I needed to add some flash exposure compensation, and\u00a0+0.7 EV looked about right.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>camera settings:<\/strong>\u00a01\/15 @ f\/4 @ 800 ISO &#8230; TTL flash @ +0.7 FEC<\/li>\n<li>Canon 1D mk2N<\/li>\n<li>Canon 16-35mm f\/2.8<\/li>\n<li>580EX speedlight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even though the shutter speed was low, I wasn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/weddings\/justine-kyle\/Justine-Kyle-1985.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"901\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Photographing the bride, Justine, against a Tungsten-lit background, I positioned her and myself so that I could get that warm halo around her.\u00a0Bounce flash. Dead easy. Of course I used the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/video-using-the-black-foamie-thing\/\">black foamie thing<\/a>\u00a0to make sure the light from the flash was indirect, yet directional. It&#8217;s a simple but effective way to work with on-camera flash indoors.<\/p>\n<p>I chose my camera settings such that the ambient light in the background registered, and then added TTL flash. The flash picked up the exposure to where it needed to be. I had to dial a positive FEC to compensate for the brighter tonal values dominating the center of the image.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>camera settings:<\/strong>\u00a01\/60 @ f\/2.8 @ 1000 ISO .. TTL flash @ +1.33 FEC<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nikon-d3s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikon D3S<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nikon-70-200mm-f2-8-vr-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II<\/a>\u00a0 \/ \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/canon-ef-70-200mm-f2-8-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canon EF 70-200mm f\/2.8L IS II<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0&#8230; used at 145mm<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nikon-sb-910-speedlight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikon SB-910 Speedlight<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\/ \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/canon-600ex-rt-speedlite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><div class='one_third'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/5-oncameraflash-ed2-250.jpg\" alt=\"On-Camera Flash Photography\" width=\"250\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='two_third last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>On-Camera Flash Photography &#8211; revised edition<\/h2>\n<p>This book is explains a cohesive and thorough approach to getting the best from your on-camera speedlight.<\/p>\n<p>Particular care was taken to present it all with a logical flow that will help any photographer attain a better understanding of flash photography.<\/p>\n<p>You can either purchase a copy via\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Amazon USA<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon UK<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0or can be ordered through Barnes &amp; Nobles and other bookstores. The book\u00a0is also available on the Apple iBook Store, as well as Amazon Kindle.\nAlso check out the Amazon Kindle store.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about\u00a0how\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/book-on-camera-flash-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the cover image<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was shot.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/Penelope-2013-014.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"1127\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A challenge that I have with myself when photographing on-location portraits, is to look for options where there appear to be none. To work with what appears to be limited locations, and then pulling out something that is hopefully surprising. With Penelope, the cutest 2-yr old, I scouted the lobby of the apartment her parents lived, before I went up to meet them. I liked the retro-cool decorations in the huge lobby, and thought it might make an interesting backdrop with a <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/85mm-best-lens-change-portrait-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fast short telephoto like the 85mm<\/a>\u00a0lens.\u00a0Then the background would melt away.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>camera settings: 1\/250 @ f\/1.4 @ 800 ISO<\/li>\n<li>TTL on-camera bounce flash, gelled with 1\/2 CTS gel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/Penelope-2013-024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"664\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To clean up the light on her, I used on-camera bounce flash. \u00a0Since the light there was a warm color because of the fluorescent light, (similar in\u00a0 look to Incandescent lighting), I gelled my flash with a 1\/2 CTS gel. This brings my flash&#8217;s color balance in line with that existing ambient light. (See the next section on gelling your flash.)<\/p>\n<p>The right-hand image\u00a0shows the existing light there (for the same exposure) as\u00a0comparison to how much difference the bounce flash made. The left-hand image was the initial pull-back shot. Then\u00a0we cleared out part of the lobby area to get a clean area to shoot, with a less cluttered background.<\/p>\n<p>Most people walking past there wouldn&#8217;t have thought of the options here for a portrait of anyone &#8211; but it is there. With the specific choices of lens, aperture, background and lighting, there is potential in surprising places.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/Jamie-4117-4119.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"664\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One more example of how we use <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/flash-exposure-compensation\/\">flash exposure compensation<\/a> to adjust our fill-flash. With these portraits of a model, Jamie, the ambient light was metered to be correct. (We used the histogram method, <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/exposure-metering-bride-and-brides-dress\/\">metering off her white shirt<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>Using fill-flash like this doesn&#8217;t really change the over-all exposure, but it certainly does change the contrast. In other words, the shadow areas are more filed with light. The spill light very often also changes the amount of light on the background, as seen here. The White Balance is also often affected as we add the colder light from the flash &#8230; which might have picked up other colors as it is reflected off the walls and other items in the room. The overall effect of the fill-flash can then be quite substantial.<\/p>\n<p>Camera settings: 1\/160 @ f\/2.8 @ 800 ISO &#8230; on-camera TTL flash bounced to right<br \/>\nFEC for image on left: -2 FEC<br \/>\nFEC for image on right: 0 FEC<\/p>\n<p>Notice how the change in FEC affected the exposure &#8211; as we bumped up the FEC, the flash became a more dominant light source. It also then helped make the image less contrasty, since the shadow areas were filled with more light.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Gelling your flash<\/h2>\n<p>Since I frequently gel my flashguns to turn the WB of my flash much warmer (usually for \u00a0Incandescent light),\u00a0I use these gels that I cut up and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/my-choice-of-flash-modifiers\/\">tape to the top of my speedlight\u2019s head<\/a>. One of these sheets (which aren&#8217;t expensive), will give you a lifetime supply of these filters. For me, these gels are an\u00a0invaluable part of flash photography. <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/lens-hoods-protection-for-your-lenses\/\">Tape the gels down on your lens hood<\/a> when not in use.<\/p>\n<p><div class='one_half'>\n\t\t\t\t\tYou can buy gels through these affiliate links:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/rosco-cinegel-12-cts-3442\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rosco Cinegel 1\/2 CTS #3442<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/rosco-cinegel-full-cts-3441\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rosco Cinegel full CTS #3441<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/rosco-cinegel-roscosun-12-cto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rosco Cinegel Roscosun 1\/2 CTO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/rosco-cinegel-roscosun-full-cto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rosco Cinegel Roscosun full CTO<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='one_half last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/rosco-cinegel-12-cts-3442\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/gel-3442.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Full CTS will bring your flash WB\u00a0down to around 2900K, more or less neutralizing the look of the Tungsten light.\u00a0\u00a0The 1\/2 CTS will bring your flash WB to around 3800K, which will leave your backgrounds still with a touch of\u00a0the warmth of Tungsten lighting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/icons\/arrow.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><span style=\"color: #6090b0;\">next section:<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/best-flashgun\/\">Recommended speedlights \/ flashguns<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Help support this website<\/h2>\n<div class='one_half'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you find these articles of value, please support this website\nby using these <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;tag=planeneilphot-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bhpho.to\/3yhq3Ig\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">B&amp;H<\/a><\/strong> affiliate links to order your photo gear.<\/p>\n<p>I also offer <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photography-workshops\/\">photography workshops<\/a><\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photography-workshops\/tutoring-sessions\/\">tutoring sessions<\/a>. There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/online-photography-tutoring-sessions\/\">video tutorials<\/a>, which are online workshops on photography.<\/p>\n<p>Join us on the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/tangentsphoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tangents Facebook group<\/a><\/strong> for further discussions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Neil vN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class='one_half last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608955702\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608955702&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=DVUUKIZHH2ZZ37FU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/3-qualityoflight-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608952789\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608952789&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=LE7N23FGFYQKFTUY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/2-offcameraflash-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Books by Neil van Niekerk<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608959538\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608959538&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=AVZEUKR4QV3W3EC3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/5-oncameraflash-ed2-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608958159\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608958159&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=UIBJYREFEL3NLJH5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/4-lighting-design-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flash Photography Techniques Flash exposure compensation\u00a0 ~ \u00a0Bounce flash examples \u00a0~ \u00a0Which flashgun is the best? 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 &#8230; and then adding flash to it. Either as a fill,&nbsp;<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/bounce-flash-examples\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read more inside&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32576,"parent":56,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-65","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52133,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65\/revisions\/52133"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}