Natural Flash for Portraits

[Edward Bussa]

I purchased a Demb Diffuser. These pictures are taken with it.

However, these are NOT slow-sync photographs. These are taken at the X-Sync or High Speed Sync - 1/180s. In other words, the flash is supplying a significant portion of the light. The exposure for the ambient light was 1/30s in this room that day.

The technique I used involves the Demb to reflect front fill, but also aiming the flash head to bounce from the same direction as the ambient light source.

I was pleased with the results and I am wondering if this is "Flash Bounce 101" for the more experienced here. The key thing for me is the natural look at full-sync.

What do you think!?

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

The technique I used involves the Demb to reflect front fill, but also aiming the flash head to bounce from the same direction as the ambient light source.

I was pleased with the results and I am wondering if this is "Flash Bounce 101" for the more experienced here. The key thing for me is the natural look at full-sync.

What do you think!?

They look fine. The third shot is very cute.

As to the light. Generally to get a natural look to light one simply needs lots of diffusion (the sky is a very large light source). This diffuser looks like an interesting tool. But similar effects can be achieved using a Gatorade bottle with the lid cut off to fit onto a flash head (a giant Sto-Fen Omnibounce).

The big thing you are getting here is that the fill panel bouncing light forward is larger than the flash head which results in a larger light source. And a larger light source generates softer more diffuse light. Albeit, the studio modifiers are not good for action work (at least without an assistant).

One can also use wireless flash triggers and studio light modifiers (small umbrellas and soft boxes) to gain even more control. Using studio tools one can also control the shape of the generated specular highlights. You might try a piece of black construction paper on the forward bouncing surface to create specular highlights shaped like a window frame rather than a truncated wedge for an even more natural look.

enjoy your day,

Sean

 

[Asher Kelman]

They look fine. The third shot is very cute.

You might try a piece of black construction paper on the forward bouncing surface to create specular highlights shaped like a window frame rather than a truncated wedge for an even more natural look.

enjoy your day,

Sean

Great post. Any other like modifiers or commercial cutouts as described?

Asher

 

[Edward Bussa]

This diffuser looks like an interesting tool. But similar effects can be achieved using a Gatorade bottle with the lid cut off to fit onto a flash head (a giant Sto-Fen Omnibounce).

Like a lightsphere... I don't think my subjects would be very impressed by the gatorade bottle though! My wife already says I look like a geek with all the devices (battery grip, external flash, demb)

You might try a piece of black construction paper on the forward bouncing surface to create specular highlights shaped like a window frame rather than a truncated wedge for an even more natural look.

Interesting though - when I look at my photos close-up, I don't see a "truncated wedge" highlight from the fill... However, it seems like the cut-out you suggest would be useful in creating a homy feel from a studio softbox!?

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

Like a lightsphere... I don't think my subjects would be very impressed by the gatorade bottle though! My wife already says I look like a geek with all the devices (battery grip, external flash, demb)

On the nose. That is where I got the idea (comments about it online).

Interesting though - when I look at my photos close-up, I don't see a "truncated wedge" highlight from the fill... However, it seems like the cut-out you suggest would be useful in creating a homy feel from a studio softbox!?

They are called gobos (scroll down past Broncolor for singles rather than larger sets). My suggestion just costs less and lacks durability. But for experimentation to see if such a tool is what you want crafts are the way to do it. One can also use wireless or PC cords (needed with big gobos too) and use actual window frames or such too for the added realism. I would suggest a softbox or bouncing off a reflector or sheet of foam core in that case.

enjoy your day,

Sean

 

[Edward Bussa]

A gobos! If you're lucky, you learn something new every day. Thank you.

I think I've found my tool of choice for "highly mobile" flash photography. You have gotten my thinking started on ways to move towards studio setups.

Also, the gatorade bottle has piqued my curiosity! Did you post any examples from your experiment?