Photography question

[harmonyhex]

Looking for a bit of help from the photographers please !happy!

I took a few snaps to show off my new toy the other day but noticed I kept getting a big shadow.



I don't have any portable studio lighting yet and I'm assuming thats the reason I'm getting the shadows, is this right and is there any way to get around it?

Thanks xxxxxx

[Streetwise]

First thing to do would be to angle the flash so it bounces off the wall
Have a look at this for some more info
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Bounce-Flash ... hotography

[Sam Slater]

It's just the shadow from the flash, Harmony. I'm guessing you're using the cameras built in flash? Either get some cheap lights and don't bother with the cameras flash (best & cheapest option) or get a decent flash that pops on to the cameras hotshoe which you can bounce off the walls, or ceiling.

Next time you're on a shoot, just keep an eye on how the photographer sets up the lights.

[Lizard]

Better still, just keep flashing. We all like that.

[myson]

Bounce flash is one option Harmony.
However, if you're using the cameras built in flash (as on the Canon 400D) rotating the flash to use bounce wouldn't be possible.

Try using a "reflector" instead. This could be almost anything with a white surface (solid of course) such as a large white card (3'00" to 4'00" square) positioned off camera to one side. This would bounce the flash back and reduce or eliminate the shadows.

If you use this method you may have to position yourself further away from the wall. No shadows can give the illusion that you are actually touching the wall. Moving further away from the wall (or any other background) also tends to reduce shadows.

Hope this helps Harmony?

Myson

[Dave Wells]

Get me to take em ??

[harmonyhex]

Thanks everyone. Im using a 220 speedlite at the mo til I pick up my 580.

I will give the reflector thing a go.

At least you will all get plenty of piccies while I'm experimenting xx

[Jacques]

[Sam Slater]

Seriously though.

Get yourself some cheap floodlights

Get a couple of 500w and a 1000w to bounce off a card. You can get the whole set up for less than ?50 with some stands, they give warm skintones, and you can see where the shadows are falling before you even take a pic. You can experiment with the lighting and when you get the hang of it then go get some quality flash kits. You can still use the floodlights for video (they'd work well for your webcam).

The only downer is that they take ages to cool down, and can make a small room really hot in the summer months.

[Cenobitez]

The image you posted you looks a little under exposed to me, so maybe wanna increase it by a stop ?

You could try to just soften the flash with some tissue over the flash, which may help short term.

Try 1 layer then 2 and work up and see how it goes.

If the images appear darker than the one you posted, just change to +1 on the camera.