Interior shots using on-camera flash-revisited

[Digital]

Manfred, although my demonstration worked out, I believe that a diffuser is better for my purposes. I do have a Gary Fong Lightsphere; however I am leaning towards the Joe Demb Light diffuser. The Lightsphere scatters light 360 degrees while the Joe Demb system reflects most of the light foreward, from my understanding.


Bruce

[Manfred M]

Bruce - all of these devices; save perhaps a snoot, will work against what you are trying to do as they will drive more light into the room and will lighten it up/

I have a Rouge Flashbender, a couple of Lumiquest devices (you might want to look at these, as I find the design is superior to the Joe Demb, which I had a good look at too) and the Fong Lightsphere. They all effectively do the same thing; throw some of the light around the room to bounce off walls and ceilings and throw some of the light forward to provide direct lighting. That's all there is too it.

The softness comes from the bounced light (large light source) and the fill light (small / "harsh") will help with any raccoon eyes or harsh shadows from bounced light that is too intense.

The main reason I like the Lumiquest ones is that they let control the colour colour and quality and amount of light being thrown up and forward; but that is really the main difference. The Joe Demb is going to throw less light behind you, but overall, will give results that are somewhat similar to your Lightsphere; so I would try that first to see .


These are the two Lumiquest devices that I use. I tend to use the 80-20 when I will be shooting in landscape orientation and the QuikBounce when I primarily shoot in portrait orientation. The Fong Lightsphere gets used in small to medium sized rooms and the Flashbender I use when I want to make my small light source a bit larger (direct flash) in large spaces or outdoors.

http://store.lumiquest.com/lumiquest...ceted_search=0

http://store.lumiquest.com/lumiquest...ceted_search=0

My large Rogue Flashbender is an instant snoot, if I need that.

[Digital]

Manfred, thanks for the comments. Now that I have found out that I could darken the background, I now believe that the direct flash is just to harsh for my current subjects (senior citizens). I have used the Gary Fong Lightsphere on some of my subjects; however I want more of the light from the flash to go towards the subject. As a result I have dug out a Wescott Light modifier (Micro Apollo) that I had for a number of years. I am going to give this a try.


Bruce

[jcuknz]

Once upon a time in days of yore, well before digital was invented, flash guns had respectable sized reflectors instead of these silly modern things designed to be compact for the poor weight conscious photographers of the 21 century
Think Courtney/ Original Mecablitz of the '50's.
But I am naughty to have such thoughts

[Digital]

Took this pic today using a Westcott Micro Apollo Light modifier. It was shot at f/8 @1/250. I was pleasantly surprised at how the background was darkened.
Any comments are welcome.
On further examination the BG was not darkened sufficiently for the person over the subject's left shoulder to be eliminated. I am still pleased with the BG, other than the person over subject's
left shoulder.

Bruce

[IzzieK]

Like this one better than the first one, Bruce...I was looking at some articles on blow out shots and I came upon this one which might help me too...

http://digital-photography-school.co...lash-blow-out/

Took this pic today using a Westcott Micro Apollo Light modifier. It was shot at f/8 @1/250. I was pleasantly surprised at how the background was darkened.
Any comments are welcome.
On further examination the BG was not darkened sufficiently for the person over the subject's left shoulder to be eliminated. I am still pleased with the BG, other than the person over subject's
left shoulder.

Bruce

[Digital]

Izzie, the first photo, and second photo in this thread were to demonstrate that a faster SS would darken the by controlling the amount of ambient light that the sensor received. In the second photo I was surprised to find that even with a diffuser over the flash the ambient light was darkened.
Although I know your comments are well intentioned, it appears you are missing the intent of my thread.

Bruce

[Digital]

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had did blow out the second photo. I had increased the exposure in LR in a room that is very bright. I should have awaited until after the sunset to check my exposure. Needless to say, by decreasing the exposure the pic was much improved.
As stated earlier my examples was to show how the ambient light could be controlled by a faster shutter speed, even indoors.
Izzie, I apologize. You were spot on.
Here is the photo with the decreased exposure.

Bruce