This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Chapter 4 Assignments
Try Bouncing Flash
One reason flash photography can look boring is that it dominates exposure by blasting the subject head on. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, you can bounce the flash (using an external model with that capability) to get a unique rendering of a scene. You can bounce the flash off an overhead ceiling or pivot the head to the side and bounce the flash off a wall. If no ceiling or wall is in sight, just use a bounce card to produce a similar effect as well as add dimension to the image.
Create Random Images with Long Exposure and Flash
Combining flash with long exposure allows you to produce one-of-a-kind situations in every photograph. The reason is that you’re dealing with various random elements in the scene that can work to your advan-tage. Take a portrait against the backdrop of moving traffic; photograph a subject on a moving vehicle to capture a blurred background; or illuminate a stationary object in front of a fireworks display. Regardless of how many frames you expose, each one will be unique due to the variables of moving objects. And when you consider facial expressions, the possibilities for originality in each frame become endless.
Capture Motion with Flash
Experiment with capturing motion with your flash unit during a long exposure. Even a one-second exposure time will freeze the subject illuminated by the flash and show some motion during the ambient part of the exposure. If you’re using a more sophisticated flash, try capturing the subject with the flash set on the default setting (first curtain sync) and then switch to rear curtain sync (second curtain sync) to compare and contrast the difference.
Set the Camera on B and Pop Flash Manually
Another fun way to play with long exposure involves setting the camera on the B setting and manually “painting” the scene with flash. You can capture a subject moving through the frame in various positions. Or perhaps get creative and put different colored gels over the flash head to make a colorful rendering of the scene.
Share your results with the book’s Flickr group!
Join the group here: flickr.com/groups/timelapse_longexposure_fromsnapshotstogreatshots/
