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July 16, 2009
[FLASH PARTIES]
Here's a thing to think about. Why do professional digital single lens reflex cameras not have built in, pop-up flashes?
Answer, in the immortal words of Sybil Fawlty, because they are no bloody good. Except, in the case of some cameras, as a trigger for off-camera flash guns.
We were reflecting on these things last week when we took a camera to a birthday knees-up. We dread this condition of invitation. Taking snaps at a party is not our idea of fun but if the ordeal is inescapable we have a few words of advice.
First, if all you have is a compact camera with in-built flash, say no. You'll only spend the night taking pictures of startled frolickers with werewolf-red eyes. Every skin flaw will be painfully illuminated. Hideous black shadows will fall on the wall behind. Don't do it.
If, however, you have a DSLR, then don't rely on the pop-up flash. The results will be much the same as for the compact. To do the job at all well you need a proper flash unit that mounts in the hot-shoe. And has a swivelling head.
A flash unit with the beam pointed straight ahead is only a more expensive version of the pop-up, in-built thing. A swivelling head that can be pointed upwards or turned sideways is essential for half-way acceptable flash photography.
Which brings us point two. Persuade the host to hold the party in a white room with white walls and a white ceiling. Then getting good flash shots is shooting fish in a barrel. Just point the flash head up to the ceiling or sideways onto a wall and bingo! You will get soft, diffused, flattering light. No red eye. No harsh shadows. No sharply defined pimples.
However, if you can't get the ideal venue then here is advice number three – invest in a flash diffuser. Flash diffusers are amazingly expensive plastic boxes that slip onto the flash head. Just keep in mind that this is not one-size-fits-all equipment. Every brand flash unit needs a unique diffuser, so it's best to take your flash into the shop when you go to buy one.
Then, fourth, when the diffuser is on the flash and the flash is mounted in the hot-shoe, point the flash head straight up. If the flash head is pointed forward toward the subject then the result will not be much different from using a flash without diffuser.
Mind you, even with the best set-up the party snapper's troubles have just begun. Images will tend to have elevated contrast and brightness which must be tamed in post-camera editing. And getting the colours of the ladies' clothes just right is virtually impossible. Best to work in black and white!
We had one particularly fussy subject to deal with who insisted that the colour of her shirt was altogether the wrong pink. We should have run some manual white balance checks in the venue before we started. Ah well, too late now. Back to Lightroom to see if we can make her happy.
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Posted by terry at July 16, 2009 09:49 AM
