Camera flash. Yay or nay?

unreggd

Do you use camera flash a lot?

Are you for it or against it?

I'm all for it but my friends detest it!

even with a mono/tripod its hard to compensate for subject movement

afatbollix

hate it... saying that ive a crappy normal digital camera.... it makes everything over exposed and blue... stupid thing wont even white balance itself... but in dark condistions the shutter speed is very slow like a second or two.. crap camera...

elven

If someone were to give me a 580ex I'd be happy to use it

Only acceptable when you learn to bounce it or otherwise avoid that horrid, straight-on, no shadows, unnatural, shiny face effect.

rymus

I've used it more than ever in the last while after getting an off shoe cord. Given the choice I'd prefer not to use it but the ability to use it properly is definately an art form

magicbastarder

i used one at a wedding last year, but haven't used one since. i prefer to make do without.

Eirebear

If used properly it can be a very valuable tool.
That said, i generally can't use it properly

Elven: Welcome back hun...how was the hols?

DaireQuinlan

SB-26 and off-camera cord ... essential for macro :-) I've also begun to play around with bouncing, gelling, diffusing ... you name it ...

My SB-26 also has the ability to be triggered wirelessly by any other flash so its great as a slave for messing around with my digital P&S with its piddly on-camera flash.

Everyone should start reading the strobist immediately ...
http://strobist.blogspot.com/

elven

Eirebear wrote:

Elven: Welcome back hun...how was the hols?

Cheers big man... won't hijack thread, about to start my own so you can hear all about it there

sineadw

I'd love to know how to use one! And actually be able to afford a decent one. I think its all about what you do with it and not the tool itself..

5uspect

I'm planning on getting a 580ex sometime before the end of the year (maybe).
I've been reading this site for awhile and I really want to get into flash photography.

Fionn

i had read someplace that flash should be avoided at all costs, but really depending on what you shoot it can be an essential tool, I've found that i need it lots of times for shooting groups/events especially in darkly lit conference rooms etc. and where you want to freeze action in low light conditions. It can be very useful too for portraits and the like as it affords better control over the light available.

a major part of photography is about capturing, controlling and manipulating light - obviously the use of supplementary light can be a great addition to getting the light the way you want to!

pictured below is what i use utilising the Speedlight 580 EX wireless flash features and a removable soft box for diffused direct flash from the Speedlight 430 EX



apologies for the poor photograph taken in a dark room - as i had no flash

deaddonkey

unless it's a pro job, i hate flash, i hate how it looks

hate it so much
most of the time if you get the plastic fantastic you'll never need to use the flash anyway

Stephen

I only have a low-end flash (Nikon SB400) but it beats the pants off any built-in flash. The ability to bounce it off the ceiling makes flash photos look so much better.

Roen

Flash is probably the only source of light that you have full control over, why people object to it is beyond me. It's very under utilised.

ThOnda

The question is not IF you use it, but HOW you use it :-)
I use it anytime when it suits and help my idea and imagination. It's like filter, or focal lenght. Choose, what's good for the picture. And if you know how to do it properly, your picuture will be great!

eoin5

I perfer not to use it if I can, but indoors with poor patchy lighting you really do need something.

Fajitas!

I prefer not using it, unless needed for studio work, or for macros. But I'm all for experimentation...chcek my "What a Night" thread.

Borderfox

I am starting to come round to it and have experimented with it during the day to brighten what would be brightly back or side lit subjects.