Photo Source: http://flickr.com/photos/billselak/987323495/
Admittedly, I hate using the flash unless it’s absolutely necessary, so I may be biased when I say that I think people use the flash FAR too much. Often to the detriment of the photo they are trying to take. There are exceptions of course, but it’s very VERY rare that you actually need to use your flash under normal circumstances if you’re setting up your shot properly using a combination of the ISO setting, aperture setting, and shutter speed. To me the flash is a last ditch effort to save a photo that cannot be taken any other way, and should be avoided whenever possible.
I have worked as a professional photographer off and on (I will admit, I’ve been “off” for more of less 2 years now), and I am always amazed at just how fast many people will jump to their flash before even attempting to properly setup the shot without it.
Maybe I’m too much of a “light purest”, or whatever you want to call it, but I just don’t like destroying the natural light of the photo if it can in any way be avoided, and I would highly suggest that people only use their flash as a last resort, or as a means to get a specific lighting effect, and not as a be all and end all way of “getting the lighting right” or some other excuse to be lazy with the setup of the shot.
For the sake of natural light everywhere, I implore you, use your flash sparingly, and only when it’s absolutely needed to get the shot you want. You’ll thank me later when you don’t end up with a bunch of photos that are flooded in artificial light and almost certainly ruining at least some of the magic of the original moment. Or maybe you won’t, and you think I’m an idiot for suggesting it, who knows. By all means chew me out in the comments…you might even convince me.
9 Comments
Or move your flash off camera, that’s when the magic begins:
I love this guy’s work, with a simple off camera hard flash:
http://www.stateofthenation.co.nz/?cat=2
and of course David Hobby’s site:
http://www.strobist.com/
You can start here:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
I used to have exactly the same attitude as yourself until I got my SB800 and Cactus radio triggers. Now, I’m trying out flash more and more.
I laughed so hard at the Edinburgh Tattoo this year watching all the flash firing from the stands knowing that there is no way the light is hitting the floodlit arena and the cameras are assuming a nice even flashlit subject !
@Alan – Definitely some great stuff that can be done with an off-camera flash (when used properly, of course). And thanks for the links…pure awesomeness.
I’d never thought of taking the time to light a shot correctly as being an “excuse to be lazy with the setup of the shot.”
Obviously I wasted my time in all those pointless hours learning how to light. Thanks for opening my eyes.
@savvo – If you’re taking the time to use a flash (or other lighting for that matter), to light a shot how you want it, then that is definitely not being lazy. It’s the people that use a flash as an excuse to not bother setting up the other aspects of a shot (aka shutter speed, aperture, natural lighting if appropriate, etc etc) that I would call lazy, and there are far too many of those people.
This argument can go two different ways.
1. most people with p&s camera’s need to use a flash more often. Those cameras simply can’t do acceptable ISO over 200, some may squeak out 400, but that’s it. Vacation photos of a happy couple on the beach at sunset need a flash, sorry.
2. most budding photographers and semi-pro’s don’t know off camera lighting well enough to effectivly use it, thus resulting in hotshoe mounted flashes that look flat and ugly.
Being a fan of both flash and strobist, I use flash, a lot. Primarly I shoot fashion / fine art nude and have been doing more and more on location. I have no problem throwing a speedlight on a tripod with an umbrella and using it as an accent light. Sometimes it makes much more sense than a 60″ reflector (especially if I don’ thave someone working with me) and much more portable than white foam core for out of the studio stuff.
My 2 cents, there is no right or wrong, there is a works best for this situation.
@Mike – I definitely agree with you when you say “there is no right or wrong, there is a works best for this situation.”
There are, of course, times when a flash is needed (or wanted for a specific effect). I just much prefer working without one whenever possible, and for a beginner a flash can be downright destructive to their photos if used haphazardly (which is sadly the case more of then than not from what I’ve seen). Thanks for dropping by
I think the key here is intention. If you are using flash or not using flash intentionally then you will likely get a better shot because you are thinking about it. That said, at a blogging meetup I was taking full-auto-with-flash pics like a mad man and enjoyed doing it.
Back in the archives you will see I stopped enjoying photography because I became so anal about it, partly because my stock photography and pro photographer friends were watching and partly because I was too serious about it. My hobby was ruined for me.
Sometimes it is nice to just snap and not care. Sometimes you have to take care over the result. It took me a while to figure that out.
Most of the time, it’s no flash for me. Not all by my choice since a lot of sports won’t allow flash photography. But not being allowed to use the flash there really taught me how to not need it other places as well.