Comments on: Back to Basics: Flash or no Flash http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/ the stories behind the images Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:30:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Osborne http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7150 Chris Osborne Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:19:25 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7150 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7071 Chris Garrett Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:45:31 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7071 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. 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.

]]> By: Brad Leclerc http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7068 Brad Leclerc Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:02:01 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7068 @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 :D @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 :D

]]> By: Mike Panic http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7066 Mike Panic Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:48:17 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7066 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 <i>works best for this situation</i>. 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.

]]> By: Brad Leclerc http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7065 Brad Leclerc Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:11:49 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7065 @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. @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.

]]> By: savvo http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7064 savvo Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:06:25 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7064 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. 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.

]]> By: Brad Leclerc http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7063 Brad Leclerc Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:46:46 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7063 @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. @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.

]]> By: Ross Goodman http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7062 Ross Goodman Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:44:38 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7062 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 ! 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 !

]]> By: Alan http://dslrblog.com/back-to-basics-flash-or-no-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-7061 Alan Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:29:21 +0000 http://dslrblog.com/?p=886#comment-7061 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 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

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