Photographer's most difficult situations are where locations lack of sufficient light. As one solution external flashes can cover this gap offering more light than existing location does actually have. The following series show the effects when using various methods of using flashes to rectify gloomy lightings.
This test was made by a Konica-Minolta Dynax 7D digital camera with the 28-105/3.5-4.5 lens and Minolta System Flash 5600HS-D attached to. Using ABetterBounceCard.com as reference the bouncer was created using foam and black duck tape. Last is needed to get the special version called "feathered". The camera was mounted on a tripod and its shutter was released remotly by the RC5000L remote cord. The distance to the object was about 4 feet.
Light situation: this test happened with almost no daylight. A 60W bulb throwing tungsten light on the object from right side was the only permanent light source. The system flash was mounted on top of the camera for a direct illumination.
Bounce Card: The bounce card's material is made of a soft and flexible foam. You get this from Home Depot ore anywhere like this. It is then attached to the flash using a medium rubber ring or hook-and-loop tape. I recommend you using the last one.
Pictures: Following pictures show one object at different light situations. Check and compare each others. On all pictures the focus is on object's nose.
| Conditions during taking these pictures: | ||
|---|---|---|
| A: | No Flash / Program: A / ISO: Automatic (400) / Aperture 4.5 / 1s / WB: Auto (3400K) | |
| B: | Internal Flash, front / Program: M / ISO 800 / Aperture 5.6 / 1/30s / WB: Flash 0 (7850K*) | |
| C: | 5600HS-D, front / Program: M / ISO 800 / Aperture 5.6 / 1/30s / WB: Flash 0 (7850K) | |
| D: | 5600HS-D, 45° / Program: M / ISO 800 / Aperture 5.6 / 1/30s / WB: Flash 0 (7850K) | |
| E: | 5600HS-D, 90° / Program: M / ISO 800 / Aperture 5.6 / 1/30s / WB: Flash 0 (7850K) | |
| F: | 5600HS-D, 90° + BC / Program: M / ISO 800 / Aperture 5.6 / 1/30s / WB: Flash 0 (7850K) | |
Picture "A" shows normal light situation without using any flash. All other pictures were taken with the (system) flash. If you look at "B" and "C" see the normal flat light coming out of the flash toward the object. The object looks unnatural and illuminated like a spot light does. In this situation it really doesn't matter if you pull up camera's internal flash or mount a system flash on top. Picture "D" shows the object while turning the head of flash 45° up. Similiar situation on picture "E" with the head turned up 90°. On this setup the illumination of the object looks a little bit spotty and not really uniform compared to 45° position of flash. Picture "F" comes with a setup where the Better Bounce Card was used. Compared to picture with head turned up 45° ("D") it looks very similiar in illumination. Furthermore the cast shadow the right foot throws is more soften than on direct flash.
How the Better Bounce Card affects portraits in real life situation is shown on this picture. It was taken during the Studio Shootings in Frankfurt/Offenbach. The exposure was 1/60s at f=2.4 and ISO400. The system flash was attached on top of the camera and the head was turned 90° upwards. This results in a smooth and soft environmental illumination while the Better Bounce Card gives te face a bright and soft light at the front
To get those results you don't even have to spent more than one Dollar and couple of minutes to create the Bounce Card. This is a really interesting option instead of spending big bucks for commercial products. It makes a lot of fun to do handicrafts and you can see the results right away. what a glorious feeling! That's why I recommend you to do so too, read the web page and get same great results - it doesn't hurt at all ;)
| © 2005-2008 Torsten Mann, Pfingstbrunnenstr. 10, 65760 Eschborn, Germany. | Last Update: April 26th, 2008 |