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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 159 - Creative Use of Flash >> Challenge 159 - Eligible > I Am Speed
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09-MAY-2008 COAmature

I Am Speed

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
1s f/5.6 at 55.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 12-May-2008 17:08
Thanks for the comment and for jumping in here Cat. Great explanation. -Doug
Guest 12-May-2008 14:32
What a lively discussion here! Sorry, I am joining the party a little late. Thanks for compliment Doug! *wink**wink* but for the records, I am no king for anything.
I think Rod is approaching the topic as it should be and you are too, as you have shown here.
Any use of flash will qualify for the topic. But plain mundane shots which qualify but are not enhanced by use of flash may not go further in the ranking scale. I think wise, intelligent use of flash, knowing why you used it and what would you loose if you didn't use it and also to add an extra effect by using flash as a tool would earn extra marks during voting. One is a strategy to qualify and the other is strategy to learn something new as well as qualify. You are attempting the second path. Good for you!

Now about this photo. It does give a great sense of motion! and the flash helped in freezing a moment in it. I would say that is great use of flash here, because you had to plan it and then use it properly. The flash didn't automatically pop up here may be because the EV was too low or something... you used it. That's what I would say creative use.
-Cat
Guest 12-May-2008 14:28
I couldn't label "The" king of photography but to "one of" the kings of photography you just have to be better then me. These galleries are full of kings and queens. -Doug
Rod 12-May-2008 12:27
Wot standard does one have to reach to earn the title King of Photography Doug:-)
ctfchallenge11-May-2008 03:15
Well then. That is a load off my shoulders. Cats is one of the kings of fancy techniques so I jumped to conclusions. Cats is also one of our kings of photography and I lost sight of that. I think Lightning McQueen here is going to stay though since he sparked some nice conversation. -COAmature
Rod 11-May-2008 02:55
The term "Creative use of flash" really has no meaning of itself, it's more what the final picy looks like that carries the word "Creative" If you were sitting an exam after doing a course on flash techniques then this picy would be a great example for the motion blur technique & get high marks but if you entered it a photo competition it may not do very well. (You're not alone here as my early attempts testify) I think it unlikely that Cats would set such a restrictive topic where we have to show fancy techniques with the flash especially as most of us only have a flash mounted on the camera. So I would think any picy where the flash has helped to light the shot is on topic.
ctfchallenge11-May-2008 02:34
Thanks to all of you for your support and kind words. Maybe I am misunderstanding this topic or making it more difficult. My understanding is that we are looking for creative ways to use flash. Finding situations where flash is necessary isn't difficult. My landscape example was a poor example. In the forground lit rock elaboration I understand that this would make it on topic but is it what we are shooting for? Or are we looking for out of the box thinking for uses of flash? -Doug
Rod 11-May-2008 01:33
I think you lost me here Doug "If I shoot a landscape or sunset and a useless flash fires is it on topic?" If you mean the flash didn't illuminate anything then yes it's off topic. I would wonder why someone would use the flash if there's nothing to illuminate. If the flash lit up a nearby rock in your sunset scenario then it would be on topic & depending on how it's done, creative too.
I don't think because Cats used the word "Creative" in his topic description that he means for us to show certain techniques of flash must be seen in the picy as just using straight fill flash that's not at all obvious in the picy would be on topic, & if the picy is good as a picy then it would be considered creative I would have thought. Lydias flower picy shows no sign of flash use & looks creative to me, Mary Anne's zoom shot is a sort of flash technique type picy that ends up looking like a creative picy. So for me it's the end result that makes something creative not the techniques used.
ctfchallenge10-May-2008 21:46
Capturing movement with long time exposure and first or second curtain flash is very creative use of flash indeed. Very well done, Doug. -Gerald
ctfchallenge10-May-2008 14:00
Looks like a 'proper picy' to me, Doug. I like it. ~Lydia
ctfchallenge10-May-2008 13:38
Nice shot CoAm! I really thought this was a second curtain. I also agree that creative shots like this, utilizing flash "technique", is what the challenge should represent (not just adding flash fill from your built-in on a routine landscape pic). Flash work is out of my comfort zone, so hopefully I will learn something new this week:=) - angioman
Jola Dziubinska10-May-2008 10:13
Very creative, bravo!
sue anne10-May-2008 09:58
Good one on the motion. I like it DOug. Now you could print this out for your kids. :)
ctfchallenge10-May-2008 05:28
Thanks friends. It is first curtain flash and then motion blurred with the camera. No Rod. Not really a proper picture but it clearly illustrates a flash technique. Here is my problem. If I shoot a landscape or sunset and a useless flash fires is it on topic? I say no. So this is the first thing I could think of that requires flash and gets my foot in the door. I'll find something to light up sooner or later that isn't a studio type shot. You know, "creative" flash as apposed to just flash. -Doug
Rod 10-May-2008 05:12
This is good for practising the technique but would you call it a picy Doug. Would look good in the kids room though.
ctfchallenge10-May-2008 04:58
Second synch ? looks good Doug - Debi
Guest 10-May-2008 04:23
Great one Doug. Terrific illusion of speed from a toy and well controlled use of flash. -tv