Photography Blog site

[Mike Werner]

Found this interesting blog site on photography:

http://www.photographyblog.com/

Great photos !!

[Seamaiden]

Is there something like that flash soft-box for on-camera flash? I truly HATE the results with them!

[fish]

Is there something like that flash soft-box for on-camera flash? I truly HATE the results with them!
That thing is hilariously huge! :lol

http://www.photographyblog.com/images/reviews/lastolite_micro_apollo/product_shot.jpg

[Seamaiden]

I thought that's what she said? :wink

Sorry, I just couldn't resist! So, for onboard flash, is there something like a softbox?

[fish]

is there something like a softbox?
Nope...there's nothing like a softbox. :D

[Seamaiden]

Well, I've already tried my finger, and I can assure you that, unequivocally, it does NOT WORK. Do not try the "covering the flash with your finger" trick!



Pfff!!!

[pathfinder]

Nope...there's nothing like a softbox. :D
http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/eek7.gif I WILL assume you are resticting your discourse to photgraphy and if that is the case I will I have to disagree - try a Stofen adapter for your flash
http://www.stofen.com/Images/omni.jpg Look for them at B&H or http://www.stofen.com/Products/Index.html At the Blog site that was listed earlier there was a comparison with a Stofen and a softbox type adapter for on camera flash - the writer favored the Stofen and so do I. I almost never use my flash without it indoors - Outdoors I sometimes omit it to gain further flash throw since it does diffuse and hence knock down the light some what. I carry a Stofen for my 550EX and my 420EX in my pack one fits inside the other.

Even cheaper is simply taping a 3x5 card to to back of the flash along the top of the flash head to act as a reflector with the flash in bounce flash mode - this works well too, but is not as diffuse as the Stofen is.

This folowing image is an impromptu snapshot taken at a family Christmas get-to-gether with no light but an on-Camera 550EX with a Stofen diffuser - how is this for a on-camera flash picture?


http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/2274112-L.jpg

Sorry Fish!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif

[Seamaiden]

Pretty sweet, if ya ask me. :wink

[fish]

http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/eek7.gif I WILL assume you are resticting your discourse to photgraphy That would be a bad assumption. :wink


Yeah, I have the stofen, and it rocks. i can't imagine carrying around a tent for my flash. :rofl

[wxwax]

Seamaiden, to actually answer your question :wxwax I haven't seen anything that will soften the harshness of a built-in flash. The best I can suggest is papering over the flash. If you're game, you could try a paper towel, or paper napkin. You'll have to experiment with the thickness to see what what works best. Remember, the amount of light you need changes as your subject gets closer to or further away from your camera. I've done the paper napkin thing in the past, with passable results. It's about the only solution I can think of to help.

Does your camera have a manual white balance setting? If so, you might also try adjusting that for the non-flash shots. It might help.

When shooting non-flash, I assume you have the aperature all the way open (smallest f-stop number)? In addition to setting the fastest ISO that you can, you'll have to experiment with shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds = more light coming in. But there's a downside, of course - if anyone dares move, they'll be blurry. By the way, that includes you, too. That's why a tripod is sometimes an indespensible piece of equipment.

I got this one of Charlie on Thursday night, in normal room lighting, with the use of a tripod. I should have white balanced, but I get lazy and forget.

1/8 second shutter speed, aperture f2.2, dunno what the ISO was.







http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2940321-M.jpg

[wxwax]

A few weeks ago I read reviews of the camera mounted soft boxes, reflectors and Stofen boxes.

Bottom line: none work really well. The softboxes don't really diffuse the light very much, according to the reviewer. And the larger ones are too heavy for the flash head to stay erect. I have the Sto-Fen on a 420EX, and I agree with the reviewer. You still have to bounce the light off of a ceiling or wall. You cannot shoot directly with it, and expect good results. If you don't have a relatively low, neutral colored ceiling or a wall, you're out of luck. Odd colors will put a color cast on your shot, and distant ceilings or walls won't reflect usable light.

I learned two things. First, a small light source is a small light source, and will tend to give harsh lighting unless it's bounced. Second, there are no magic bullets for good lighting.

Anyone who's a noob like me, and who hasn't seen this series of short videos about lighting, might find them as educational as I did.
This link starts the first video. (http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/2003_luau_video/5_min_light/index.html)

[Seamaiden]

..head to stay erect.

Oh.. I.. well.. my, MY!

<sm gets to dialing up the beau>

[fish]

1/8 second shutter speed, aperture f2.2, dunno what the ISO was.

I wonder why the ISO doesn't show up in your EXIF data...or more precisely, why smugmug doesn't display it. :scratch

[wxwax]

I think I had it on auto. When it's on auto, it doesn't display the ISO.

[fish]

I think I had it on auto. When it's on auto, it doesn't display the ISO.
Ah...interesting. It does on my 10D in auto, but not on the S400.

[lynnma]

Seamaiden, to actually answer your question :wxwax I haven't seen anything that will soften the harshness of a built-in flash. The best I can suggest is papering over the flash. If you're game, you could try a paper towel, or paper napkin. You'll have to experiment with the thickness to see what what works best. Remember, the amount of light you need changes as your subject gets closer to or further away from your camera. I've done the paper napkin thing in the past, with passable results. It's about the only solution I can think of to help.

Does your camera have a manual white balance setting? If so, you might also try adjusting that for the non-flash shots. It might help.

When shooting non-flash, I assume you have the aperature all the way open (smallest f-stop number)? In addition to setting the fastest ISO that you can, you'll have to experiment with shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds = more light coming in. But there's a downside, of course - if anyone dares move, they'll be blurry. By the way, that includes you, too. That's why a tripod is sometimes an indespensible piece of equipment.

I got this one of Charlie on Thursday night, in normal room lighting, with the use of a tripod. I should have white balanced, but I get lazy and forget.

1/8 second shutter speed, aperture f2.2, dunno what the ISO was.







http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2940321-M.jpg
Interesting comments on the flash situation.... I can't wait to try some different fabrics over the built ins..
Very nice shot Sid, no flash right???
Lynn

[wxwax]

Si, no flash. Just grinder sparks. :D