Built in flash tips??

stabo

Looking for any tips people use like a gel or paper on the flash?? Doing a gig the weekend and want to use the flash sometimes. Its a fairly dark club.Tryed it a few weeks ago and got a bluey color on peoples faces. Will be using the 50mm f1.8.450D.

Lunar_Wolf

Never really used my built in flash much. Only tip I could remember was using something to reflect the light to expose more of your surroundings. White sheets of paper help with that. Also not sure about the face being blue, try change your white balance.

Fionn

you could experiment with something like this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natuurplaat/10362363/

melekalikimaka

Lunar_Wolf wrote: »

try change your white balance.

shoot raw so ya can adjust it, seems like wb unless there was a blue spot on there. a piece of paper held over, foldered over to decreased power, unfold to increase works well diffusing and keeping colour.

here some i made earlier hehe

stabo

Thanks Fionn.Thats a great idea,must try it.

AnCatDubh

As much as i've tried I can never get 'on board flash' to give me results that i'm happy with so my tip is to NOT use it even flash units off camera can give difficulty to get good results - although infinitely better. Have you decent lens and up the iso maybe. I think i'd prefer noisey image to post process than hideous shadow. Flash mightn't be popular at gigs - depends on the venue / band.

melekalikimaka

AnCatDubh wrote: »

As much as i've tried I can never get 'on board flash' to give me results that i'm happy with so my tip is to NOT use it even flash units off camera can give difficulty to get good results - although infinitely better. Have you decent lens and up the iso maybe. I think i'd prefer noisey image to post process than hideous shadow. Flash mightn't be popular at gigs - depends on the venue / band.

I'd agree wholeheartedly

BanzaiBk

1) Get one of those clear plastic 1ltr/2ltr milk cartons (empty, lol)
2) Take the measurements of the flash area (e.g. height and width)
3) Cut out measured area on milk carton, slightly bigger than the initial measurements
4) Apply piece of plastic to flash and secure with sellotape (clear) and trim till you're happy with the fitment.

I used do this ALL the time on my 350D back in the day, for parties etc with the 50mm. Gives a more "pink" effect rather than "blue". Also, your flash can still close with this thingy on it. I imagine this is very hazordous however, and I take no responsability for any damage caused

homerun_homer

I have the same lense - 50mm f1.8 for a Canon EOS 400d which I think works great at any show I've brought it to.
The only time I have used flash recently was when I took the 1st shot below with the 18-55mm kit lense, as I couldn't get a wider shot with the 50mm.
I don't like using flash and in cases like this only used it to see how it turned out. I'm sure the home made tips mentioned above would help if you still struggle with the light at the venue.

With flash


Without flash - 50mm f1.8 lense

cuaifeadh

..if I'm forced to use my built in flash, I'll ofter use an elastic band to hold a receipt in place in front of the bulb. This softens the light, but you're never sure what you'll get. Saving up for some external flashes one of these days