My get-pushed-34 challenge this week from @spirrowshoot was to "experiment with flash." So tonight was my first try using an external flash that I've had but never used. Still very simple, but I waited until night, darkened the room, then experimented with using the flash in different positions to see what came out. I also combined it with bubble shots, but they didn't work out so well. In the photo posted, I taped a card extending out from the top of the flash, to create more of a bounce. While this is pretty low-level, the push is getting me to start thinking about alternate lighting. Next step is to start learning the variations my external flash affords (article from my get-pushed partner: http://www.phototechnique.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-camera-flash/).
Flash! Yes, me, too. I even brought mine to Germany but haven't put it on the camera yet. I like how it captured the moisture on the top of the lemon rind, and the bubbles are present along the bottom, and I especially like how the rim of the glass is very subtly included. . . .
Thanks for including the info on how you captured this. I have a brand new flash sitting in my bag that I have no idea how to use. It's been in there for over a year - guess it's not so new anymore.
This is a great push challenge. I have no clue how to use a flash to get the best effect from it. I think you have a very nice result. The light looks very even. I don't see any harsh, glaring light that flashes can cause. The yellow is very true and pretty. Well done!
@jyokota Good to see you back online! There is SO much to learn about lighting now that I've just started looking into it. I'm thinking I need a course on it to better understand conceptual what the different kinds of lighting do as well as the really low-level things like, how do I take this flash which can be used externally and make that happen.
@barbsmith Thanks -- and I encourage you to take it out and try it. I was so intimidated but just figuring out how to turn it on, then to do the angle and bounce so it makes a difference, was a fun first step.
@pflaume Thanks so much! There were a lot of 'near misses' -- figuring out how to work in the dark and still capture the object you want was a first step. It helped to realize how useful a flashlight could be!
Nice one. The colours and the "wetness" of the lemons comes through nicely. I still don't tend to use flash a lot (and certainly never use the pop up flash which gives the most dreadful light!) but when I do, I find that using the camera and flash both on manual gives me a huge range of flexibility.
@steampowered Thanks for the positive feedback. I did this using aperture priority, and am hoping to use manual settings this weekend when I do more to understand how my flash settings work. Like you, I prefer ambient lighting, so this has been a good get-pushed for me.
This looks great, most importantly to me it doesn't look "flashy." There are highlights here and there which I really like, and overall it's just a great picture! I like how the curved rim of the glass ties in with the curves on the lemon, and the bubbles right at the bottom along with the color make it seem so fresh.
Hey, Taffy: we have one extra ticket to Tonight's (Saturday) member's open house for Museum of Science and Industry Animals Inside and Out (like Bodyworlds, but animals), if you can go and want to! We'd meet in the museum hall at just before 7. If you're interested, email danielwsc at hotmail .
@anwan Hi Anwan -- I emailed Daniel as that would be great for tonite! I'll check back on the site here if I don't hear from him, in case for some reason email didn't work.
