Many of us 365ers have a rule of never ever using the on-camera flash. Never ever. It just ruins the pictures by creating an unnatural harsh blast of light straight ahead. Nothing is more annoying than trying to take a quick pic and the DSLR decides to pop up the flash - SPROINGGG! On-camera flash pretty much sucks. Or does it ? Can it be used as a tool ?
The new challenge is - Take a pic, using the on-camera flash as the *main* light source. Feel free to use diffusers or any other tools & tricks to get the lighting the way you want it to be. It would be nice if you add a description what you did with the on-camera flash.
Brendan @agima started a topic which I suggest you read to get some ideas how to avoid the obvious problems with on-camera flash :
Deadline is January 23rd, and I will then select 5 pictures for voting. To be considered as a finalist, the shot must be taken between Jan 9th - Jan 23rd. Remember to tag your entry as "breaking-the-rules-flash"
Sure, feel free to use diffusers etc., anything to make the on-camera flash work. It would be nice if you add a description to the photo, what kind of tricks you did to get the lighting.
Why don't we tag it "sproing" ;)? Just kidding... I went to see "Swan Lake" yesterday and people were actually taking pictures during the ballet with the flash. I couldn't believe it! And the tickets were expensive, it wasn't just a school play or something like that... Sorry for the ramble, I was just a bit bored. Can't wait to try the challenge :)!
I like the sproing tag too. And i like this challenge - missed the exposure one, but this should get me to take a few shots I've been wanting to that actually require flash. Plus I've been eyeing up this diffuser....
will try to force myself to do this: I don't know anything about flash and _always_ avoid to used it. I've seen a discussion about it today on the discussion page...
Gutted. I took a photo using my cameras built in flash yesterday, is it not possible to submit one taken on the 8th instead of 9th? Or am I pushing my luck xD
Haha my camera has a button that I need to press before it even considers using the flash :P But with these dark day this should be a challenge I'm joining!
Ermmmm I need to consult the rules before I break them as I dont know how to break them if i dont know whats set in stone.. Oh Bollox, I never knew any rules about flashes etc... ignore me, carry on regardless :) :)
@janmaki what fantastic idea for a challenge. I think people should embrace the flash especially outside i full sun. At least there it is not so bovious that you are using one and it makes the image look different but people just can't quite put their finger on why.
I will be looking forward to the photo people come up with, and if anyone wants some input just let me know and I would be more than happy to assist.
Here is my entry - I was in a hurry for this shot so that I could edit and post it, and I was fighting with my studio lighting, so, not only did I break my on-camera flash rule, I SHOT IT IN AUTO.
Yeah, there. I said it. I'm sure it'll be the last time I ever do it, so enjoy it while it lasts!
This is my shot! I used the Slow Synchro flash setting and was able to get the snow in this one. I should save this one since I know I broke several rules with this pic.
achieved this as a SOOC simply by holding a bottle of Big Red soda directly in front of the flash with a black background behind the statuette. I've been having fun experimenting thanks to this challenge!
I don't have any lighting equipment and the light in my house isn't that great in the evenings.. So I had to use the on-camera flash for this one. Its my one pic take on Macbeth
All shot with on-camera flash only. All images shot using a Nikon D200 with 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. The same white background used for all four shots.
From top-left:
1) 1/250s @ f/5, flash +1 ev. Shot with the camera in portrait orientation to throw the shadow to camera right. On-camera flash directed through a coiled paper cone used as a snoot. Shot from further back than the others to produce a closer and harder shadow.
2) 1/250s @ f/5. Flash thrown to camera right using a mirror, subject lit with a homemade foil reflector to camera right and a secondary white plastic reflector to camera left.
3) 1/2s @ f/5. Background exposed to white using a slow shutter speed. Flash bounced up using a mirror, with reflectors placed above and to the right and left of the subject.
4) 1/250s @ f/5. Shot front-on using on-camera flash only, camera in landscape orientation.
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Sure, feel free to use diffusers etc., anything to make the on-camera flash work. It would be nice if you add a description to the photo, what kind of tricks you did to get the lighting.
@jannaellen EEEk! really?! that's awful.
I will be looking forward to the photo people come up with, and if anyone wants some input just let me know and I would be more than happy to assist.
Yeah, there. I said it. I'm sure it'll be the last time I ever do it, so enjoy it while it lasts!
achieved this as a SOOC simply by holding a bottle of Big Red soda directly in front of the flash with a black background behind the statuette. I've been having fun experimenting thanks to this challenge!
All shot with on-camera flash only. All images shot using a Nikon D200 with 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. The same white background used for all four shots.
From top-left:
1) 1/250s @ f/5, flash +1 ev. Shot with the camera in portrait orientation to throw the shadow to camera right. On-camera flash directed through a coiled paper cone used as a snoot. Shot from further back than the others to produce a closer and harder shadow.
2) 1/250s @ f/5. Flash thrown to camera right using a mirror, subject lit with a homemade foil reflector to camera right and a secondary white plastic reflector to camera left.
3) 1/2s @ f/5. Background exposed to white using a slow shutter speed. Flash bounced up using a mirror, with reflectors placed above and to the right and left of the subject.
4) 1/250s @ f/5. Shot front-on using on-camera flash only, camera in landscape orientation.