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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 78: Think Inside The Box >> Challenge 78:Eligible > In The Red Corner *
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6th April 2005 iso3200

In The Red Corner *


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Rod 09-Apr-2005 22:33
You waffle on more than I do Olaf, the main difference being is that you know what you're talking about:-)
Guest 09-Apr-2005 19:42
Photonut, I used to be one of those people who hated flash-shots. The reason is quite simply that getting pleasing lighting with flash(es) is a lot harder than with natural (or any continous) light. First of all you can't "see" the light and how it affects your scene and subject until after the fact, unless you have studio-strobes of a certain caliber, with proportional, continuos "guide-light". Did you ever take a flash-photo of a candle light dinner? The atmosphere just gets blown away by the foreign light source, and you get disappointed when you see the photograph... Secondly there is the issue of direct flash light. The small size of the light source makes for harsh and deep shadows (hard light) which is usually not very pleasing - at least not with human subjects. Also, direct flash is usually close to the lens, even if it is an external flash in the flash shoe. This leads to a "flat" almost shadowless light, which rarely is the most pleasing kind of light. And of course, if the flash is really close to the lens (think pocket camera) you get the additional issue of red-eye. I think when people say the hate flash photos, it is because they think of photos taken with direct camera-mounted flash. When they see studio shots, they don't even think of them as being flash photos. To get good flash photos, you need to think of your flashgun as a hard source of light that has to be modified to your needs and usually, also placed somewhere else than on your camera. The first step, in improving your flash photos, is using an external flash with a tilt-and-swivel head, so that the light can be bounced off larger, bright and neutral colored surfaces. The next step is to add a little card on top of the flash-head. This will give _some_ direct light and produce "catch-lights", in the eyes of a person for example. Next step up is getting the flash away from your camera, maybe adding more flashes and so on... What turned me around (I don't hate flash-shots anymore) was when I got an external flash (EX420 and EX550) and remote control (ST-E2) for my G1 (later updated to a G2, which I still have). It allowed me to take lots of pleasing photos of my son while he was a baby - photos I could not have taken in the light available. I had the EX550 mounted on a lightstand and had it sitting out permanently. While at home, the ST-E2 was sitting on top of the G1 permanently and whenever I saw opportunity for a photograph - I would be ready in no time.
iso320008-Apr-2005 21:48
Probably it's just onboard P&S flash can be a bit coarse looking. I love flash. This is shot with a ringflash. The only reason I bought my first digital camera was to learn studio lighting without all the processing costs. Seems I've gone full circle now - I've just bought a film processor!
PhotoNUT 08-Apr-2005 16:04
iso,

Just wondered about the flash. I know in the point and shoot arena, when you take a flash photo, even just for a fill flash, people seem to think less of the shot. I know you can’t compare studio flash to point and shoot flash. Every time I have had portraits done, they have always used a flash. But why are some people so opposed to a flash, or is it just me?
~elements 08-Apr-2005 10:58
a square smilie at last :)
love the shot
iso320008-Apr-2005 09:02
Nutter - I think I'm missing something with your comment ????? Rich - no self timer here. It's not me (for once). I'm not really a suit person.
PhotoNUT 08-Apr-2005 03:37
Nice shot, but why did you use a flash? Just wondering.

: )
ctfchallenge08-Apr-2005 02:00
Iso, I like the composition, your smile, your beady eyes, your yellow gloves, your red buttons on the shirt AND your headphones too :-) -Cat
ctfchallenge07-Apr-2005 22:12
It must be interesting setting the timer with those gloves on. :-) Rich
Don Ellis07-Apr-2005 04:49
Boxing clever, are we? It's a knock-out photo.
Shu07-Apr-2005 00:31
I always wanted to know what you look like!! I like the yellow! Neat shot! Shu
ctfchallenge06-Apr-2005 23:54
LOL. Nice vivid color. theFly
alexeig06-Apr-2005 19:47
Impressive color and creative disharmony, play of words too